Fort Myers hidden gem of a restaurant to close May 31: What we know

Shawn & Tony’s Kitchen in Fort Myers is closing its doors for good.

After business Friday, May 31, Shawn Leiva will no longer prepare orders of tostadas, Belize bowls, lunch plates or Cuban sandwiches at 8359 Beacon Blvd.

And Tony Clark won’t make his early morning quirky social media posts and mouthwatering desserts.

There will be no more booming greetings and parting hugs in The Gathering Place’s old location ― a former nurses’ station in a nursing home-turned-Beacon Executive Suites business park.

“Sometimes it’s just time to look at the signs and just kind of move on,” Clark said in a social media post Tuesday morning. “Been 10 good years and we thank you all.”

'We've been doing this for 10 years'

A post from a day earlier pointed to the “condition of this building” as the reason for the closure.

“I just can’t with this building no more,” Clark said in Tuesday’s post. “The conditions have … I just can’t.”

When Shawn & Tony’s Kitchen opened on March 20, 2023, it was a slimmed-down, simplified version of Clark and Leiva’s Gathering Place. That beloved restaurant with a dedicated and loyal following was open nine years before closing for good on Feb. 25, 2023.

Shawn & Tony’s Kitchen popped up in its place with counter seating, two tables and the personable duo running it all. While The Gathering Place’s earth tones were replaced with a more modern gray-brick graffiti feel, the popular scratch-made Belize and American menu remained intact.

“We’ve been doing this for 10 years between the two (restaurants),” Clark said from behind Shawn & Tony’s busy counter on Tuesday afternoon. “We started January 20, 2014.”

But don't worry. This may not be the last restaurant for Clark and Leiva.

Clark didn't suppress his enchanting grin when asked if we would see the duo again.

“Maybe,” he said. “I’m in talks but you know how that goes. Maybe something down the road. Could be a couple of months or a year.”

More: Five-month-old Bonita Springs restaurant suddenly closes its doors: What we know

A new restaurant coming?

He admitted it won’t be another Gathering Place or Shawn & Tony’s Kitchen.

“Maybe a diner type something,” he continued. “Probably in Fort Myers. There will still be really good Belize food. I created the menu here and some of it would come to a new place. It wouldn’t be typical diner food. It won’t be traditional.”

As of May 31 though, it’s so long for now and Clark has a few words for his loyal customers.

“Thank you,” he said. “Much love and thanks.”

We can’t wait to see you again.

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening, including any special order cakes Clark is making, at shawnandtonyskitchen.com and on Facebook.

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Shawn & Tony's Kitchen to close in Fort Myers on May 31