"A passion for serving others": Naples best known butcher, restaurant owner dies at 68

A Southwest Florida restaurant legend has died.

James Lee Pepper, better known in Naples and Bonita Springs as Jimmy P, the founding proprietor of his family-owned butcher shops and restaurants, died May 8 after a three-month battle with cancer. He was 68.

Son James Pepper, Jr., also better known as Jimmy, and his wife Crystal carry his legacy as professional partners of 22 years.

Jimmy P was a family guy who loved nothing more than his children and grandchildren, family members said.

And automobiles.

'Your neighborhood butcher'

“Jimmy P’s is truly your neighborhood butcher shop, where people came not only to buy the best cuts of Wagyu steaks but also to converse with Jimmy Sr. and his staff about anything from cooking his prized steaks to talking about their kids and grandkids, and even their cars," Crystal Pepper said in an email.

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James Pepper grew up in Indianapolis and learned the art of butchering from his father Frank Pepper.

Upon moving to Naples in 1985, he opened his first butcher shop, a luxury purveyor of certified Wagyu, exotic game meats and heritage brands in addition to high-end traditional cuts.

Jimmy P's expanded in last decade

Jimmy P's Butcher Shop & Cafe, tucked off Bernwood Drive and near U.S. 41 and Old 41 Road, opened in 2017 and a second Jimmy P's Charred opened in 2019 in Bonita.

Jimmy P's was among the first Naples retailers to create a national presence online for shipping its cuts across America. Two beloved steakhouse restaurants were created as Jimmy P’s Charred, adjacent to the stores and still packed with patrons daily.

According to a family spokesperson, Jimmy’s P’s casual burgers outpost on Piper Boulevard was sold in 2022 and is no longer operated by the Pepper family, though they still are suppliers of the quality meat that made it famous.

Pepper was also a purveyor to Two Fillets, the fish-cow mashup in North Naples owned by Phelan Family Brands.

A 'passion for serving others'

Grant Phelan met Jimmy when he was 15 years old.

“Jimmy was an incredible family man whose passion for serving others through his establishments was deeply personal and something every restaurateur tried to emulate," Phelan said in an email.

"The entire Phelan family grieves with the Pepper family. We will continue to honor his legacy in Southwest Florida by leaving visitors and locals with incredible dining experiences."

Diana Biederman is NDN's food & restaurant reporter. She always purchases her Thanksgiving turkeys at Jimmy P's Naples store. Connect via [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Butcher shop & restaurant owner James Pepper of Jimmy P's dies at 68