New Cape Coral restaurant opening soon from former Duval Street owner

Joe Schmoe’s is not going to be your average Cape Coral restaurant, according to John Giaquinto.

“It’s going to be fun,” said the former owner of Duval Street in Cape Coral. “I want it to be inviting. We’ll have big parties in the parking lot, live music inside and out. I want to continue City Music Walk here.”

Giaquinto is hoping to open his new venture shortly after July 4 in the former home of the Chicago Beef Guy in Chandelle Square. It joins Englund’s Subs, China Wok and Kreips & Juices in the plaza just north of Domino’s on Del Prado Boulevard.

You can see more of that fun in the menu that includes signature hot dogs — including footlongs, Chicago, Memphis, German and Philly style — sandwiches, tacos, pizza, flatbreads, Phillys and salads. Leading the way is the Schmoe burger, a patty topped with a hot dog and pulled pork. The Schmoe chicken replaces the burger with fried or grilled chicken breast.

“Our burgers are rib, brisket meat which gives it a good flavor,” Giaquinto said. “We always had people rave about it at Duval so that is the same. And we sold a ton of flatbreads. The sauces are all the same, the smoked pulled pork is too. We brought our smoker over and it’s now out back.”

New food items on the menu

New items to the menu include chicken, steak or pork Phillys, a summer salad, some of the desserts, pizzas and adult milkshakes (think whiskey, vodka or rum in mudslide, Oreo, cookie dough and Oreo shakes).

“The Philly is going to be good,” Giaquinto said. “So are the stuffed chicken wings and the monster buffalo chicken.”

Other items include starters, baskets (fried shrimp, fish and chicken tenders), and spuds — specialty potatoes stuffed with pulled pork, Philly ingredients, chili and cheese and more.

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“Made fresh all day, every day is our motto,” Giaquinto said. “It’s all made fresh here. These are basically working people's meals. Bulky meals with lots of stuff. Things families like.”

New look at the former Chicago Beef Guy site

There will be chalkboards for doodling and six TVs “showing Sunday football games.”

The 2,500-foot space, seating about 100, is substantially smaller than the 4,100-foot Duval Street.

“I anticipated something smaller and this came up,” Giaquinto said. “I came in and cleaned it up.”

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The red walls and counter from the former tenant are gone. White and blue booths line one wall, separated from the extended, full bar by barrel-based tables with a steampunk feel.

Giaquinto brought his Duval staff with him to the new restaurant.

Joe Schmoe’s will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and closed on Monday. Breakfast is in the works too, so hours are subject to change. Follow along on Facebook for the latest updates.

“Three years ago at Duval I wanted to start Joe Schmoe’s as a smaller place, something I could franchise,” Giaquinto said. “Not have as much stuff as there. This will be a nice niche.”

Joe Schmoe’s, 1127 Del Prado Blvd. S, Cape Coral; thejoeschmoes.com; follow on Facebook

Robyn George is a food and dining writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send news to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Joe Schomoe's brings fun food to Cape Coral with new restaurant