When I started kicking around ideas for how I wanted to showcase the stories of this community, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Whatever those expectations were, Jeff Thomas and Island House exceeded them beyond anything I imagined.
Located in Bonita Springs just west of 41 and Bonita Beach Rd, sits the Island House Bar & Restaurant. Walking into Island House, you may feel like you’re walking to a buddy’s house for a football game. Lined with TVs, Island House perfectly encapsulates their name. You walk in and instantly, you feel like you’ve been transported to a piece of old Florida where wondering what time it is, is just watching the sun set with a drink in your hand.
So I wondered…How did Island House come to be and what is the secret to the mozzarella sticks and onion rings? (More on that later)
Island House’s story starts as a hair care business that quickly turned into a hybrid fast causal restaurant selling coffee and donuts and then beer and hotdogs. Over time, the original owner put an addition on the house and converted the garage into what is now the boat bar. (If you’re a guy reading this, this is your sign to build that bar in your garage)
Then March 2020 came.
The original owner sold the property to a couple who defaulted on the agreement thus closing the business and stripping the inside clean. This is where current owner, Jeff Thomas’ chapter begins.
After initially only volunteering to renovate the inside for a potential sale, the original owner approached Jeff and asked if he was interested in buying the restaurant. The regulars, worried their local watering hole being in trouble, answered the call to help. They painted, built furniture, and invested their time and talent into making sure this amazing place could be reborn again. That’s not where their story ends, though.
September 28th 2022 gave way to Hurricane Ian’s landfall and destruction. It was unlike anything we’ve seen since Hurricane Charley. Jeff, dealing with damage of his own, did not blink when it came to helping out his community. By 9am the next morning with electricity, internet, and TVs; he opened his doors to a few people… and then a few more people… and a few more until more than 200 people were watching the news, eating, drinking, and finding company after a devastating event.
On the barrier islands, many families and businesses will be working to build back for a couple more years. It won’t be easy and there will be setbacks, but with restaurants like Island House and people like Jeff, we all know Southwest Florida will be built back better than ever.
I asked Jeff what message he had for everyone: “If you’re looking for a piece of old Florida and want to have a little fun dancing, dining or drinking - you’re are going to find it at the Island House.”
So go to Island House. Go there to root for the Michigan Wolverines. Go to listen to their amazing live music. Go eat one of their amazing burgers. Finally, go to support one of Bonita’s best laid back beach vibe restaurants. When you do, you support this community in so many ways.
Oh, and the secret to the mozzarella sticks and onion rings? Jeff’s amazing cook, Kristen, isn’t giving that away just yet. This amateur website blogger will continue his mission on finding the recipe. Like any good “journalist”, we won’t give up.
Heading to Island House soon? Check out their upcoming events:
Karaoke: Every Wednesday 5:30-8:30pm
Twisted Bingo: Every Thursday 7:00-9:00pm
Full Live Music Lineup: https://islandhousebarandgrill.com/bonita-springs-island-house-events
Even better, check out their upcoming food specials here: https://islandhousebarandgrill.com/bonita-springs-island-house-happy-hours-specials
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