La Ola Surfside, the Fort Myers Beach restaurant destroyed by Hurricane Ian, is planning to replace its temporary shipping-container setup with a new two-story building along Estero Boulevard, construction on which is set to begin in May 2027. The centerpiece of the rebuild will be a two-story octagon-shaped tiki bar, with the goal of opening the new building in early 2028.
The restaurant was left in ruins after Hurricane Ian before reopening on Estero Island inside a shipping container, according to Gulf Coast News and Weather. That stopgap version is currently operating under the Times Square mural, the outlet reports, as owners work toward a permanent replacement at the same stretch of Estero Boulevard.
What the New Building Will Look Like
Plans call for panoramic views of downtown and the ocean from the second floor, while the first floor will include an open bar and seating area, per Gulf Coast News and Weather's report on the project. The station's report also details the octagon-shaped tiki bar that will anchor the design across both levels.
A separate account from news-press.com describes the rebuilt restaurant as a multilevel venue featuring a large live music patio, a second-floor tiki deck, and full-service bar and restaurant facilities. That outlet also reported that La Ola Surfside permanently closed its Bell Tower location in Fort Myers after business on Oct. 29, 2025, following more than two years of operation, a move the article says allows owner Tom Houghton to focus on rebuilding the original Fort Myers Beach location.
Residents React to the Rebuild
Fort Myers Beach resident Jim Redpath said La Ola Surfside brought happiness and relief to residents after Hurricane Ian, and he backed the new plans as long as Tom and Beth were happy with them. Fellow resident Laura Zienciuk expressed excitement about the changes and the prospect of keeping people coming to the beach, sentiments captured in Gulf Coast News and Weather's coverage of the project.
Timeline Questions and a Related Code Finding
Reports on the construction start date have varied in specificity. News-press.com described the restaurant rebuild, labeled Phase 2 of a broader project, as expected to start in the spring of 2027, while Gulf Coast News and Weather's more recent report pinpointed May 2027 as the construction start. The same news-press.com report notes that Phase 1 of that broader project, a wave mitigation wall, is scheduled to begin in May 2026, and that the Fort Myers Beach location remains open until construction begins, according to Gulfshore Business.
The rebuild follows a code dispute tied to the restaurant's temporary operation. The Town of Fort Myers Beach has stated that on Feb. 4, 2025, a Division of Administrative Hearings judge found La Ola Surfside Restaurant in violation of section 6-525 of the town's Land Development Code, according to an official alert from the Town of Fort Myers Beach. News-press.com has reported separately that KLC Surf LLC operates La Ola Surfside Restaurant at 1035 Estero Boulevard.
La Ola Surfside's rebuild adds to a string of post-Ian comebacks along the beach. Smokin' Oyster Brewery had planned to begin repairs after storm damage, Gulf Coast News and Weather has reported, while news-press.com reported that a separate gulf-side bar destroyed by Ian had been completely rebuilt and was set to reopen on July 4. The Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin has also reported that The Whale was completely rebuilt after being destroyed by the hurricane.
