New Doc Ford's restaurant opens on Fort Myers Beach

COURTESY PHOTO New Doc Ford's Fort Myers Beach dockside. The owners of Doc Ford's Restaurant on Sanibel and the Beached Whale on Fort Myers Beach are set to open a new restaurant. Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille in the old Bridge Waterfront Restaurant underneath the Matanzas Pass Bridge on Fort Myers Beach opens this week after a complete overhaul, fresh paint, new fixtures and a tropical motif.

Doc Ford's is named after the hero from local novelist Randy Wayne White's popular mystery series.

Buoyed by years of success with the original Doc Ford's on Sanibel, Marty and Brenda Harrity and business partner Mark Marinello purchased the former Bridge Waterfront Restaurant.

"A down economy is an opportunity," Marty Harrity said. "We work hard at what we do. We have a wonderful product; we understand what people want."

The new restaurant, which seats 300, received a more than $500,000 overhaul and includes a downstairs and upper deck; indoor, outdoor or bar seating with a view of Matanzas Pass.

"I think it captures everything that represents what Doc Ford's is," Mr. Marinello said. "We're really excited about the whole Doc Ford's concept. I think people need to be entertained, certainly in this environment."