FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2013) –Bob Grissinger, owner of Bennett’s Fresh Roast’s in Downtown Fort Myers is a thankful man.
The doughnut and coffee shop will celebrate its fifth year in operation on Monday, Feb. 11.
“We opened in February 2008 at the beginning of the country’s worst economic downturn in 70 years,” said Grissinger, former local morning disc jockey C. David Bennett. “It’s so gratifying to know that we’ve come so far in such a short period of time. We’re grateful from the bottom of our hearts for the way Southwest Florida has taken to our from-scratch doughnuts and fresh roasted coffee. Never in a million years did we anticipate the wonderful reception our business has received.”
To celebrate the shop’s milestone, Bennett’s will be offering one free doughnut and one free small cup of coffee per customer on Monday, Feb. 11 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. while supplies last. The shop will also offer a special anniversary doughnut and daily coffee specials for the week. The anniversary doughnut is a special favorite of Bennett’s customers from the past and is made with a special Mascarpone icing and three types of berries that are drizzled with honey.
“What better way to say thank you to our loyal patrons and happy birthday to us than to give away what they have come to love us for,” said Grissinger. “Our success is because of them. We don’t have a huge shop, and they patiently wait in line day in and day out to get our doughnuts and coffee.”
In addition to the giveaways, Bennett’s will also be unveiling plans for the next chapter in its doughnut and coffee roasting enterprise.
Bennett’s plans to open a second location at 1020 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island, just east of the Lazy Flamingo restaurant. The property, which has been vacant for several years, was most recently a real estate office but was initially built as a drive-thru restaurant in the 1970s.
According to Grissinger, the 2,700-squarefoot building needs major renovations including exterior landscaping improvements. Plans call for the shop to have both indoor and outdoor seating upon completion. He estimates the shop will open this summer. During the anniversary celebration on Feb. 11, customers will be able to see renderings and plans for the new building displayed at Bennett’s current location in Downtown Fort Myers.
“Of course we are very excited to not only be embarking on our second shop but also that it will be located on one our area’s most treasured islands, and we can’t wait to share the plans with our customers,” said Grissinger. “We currently have patrons who drive from Sanibel daily for our doughnuts and coffee, but now we will be able to accommodate them and our many visitors more conveniently.”
Grissinger said the new location will have the same hours and offerings as his current shop. He plans to hire an additional staff of 10 people to operate the Sanibel location.
In November, Bennett’s celebrated selling its millionth doughnut by presenting the lucky purchaser, Dan Sardinas of Cape Coral, with free coffee and doughnuts for life.
Bennett’s Fresh Roast has prided itself on its fresh-from-scratch doughnuts made daily and being the only Fort Myers’ shop to serve fresh roasted coffee from the finest beans resulting in the most flavorful and freshest cup of coffee around. For the past five years, the Bennett’s team has been known for unveiling delicious new doughnut concoctions from flavors including maple bacon, pumpkin spice, maple toffee crunch, s’mores and more. The shop has also become known for surprising offerings like its limited sale (which sold out) of Kopi Luwak coffee, often called “cat-poo coffee” after the prized bean from Indonesia that’s eaten by wild civets, passed through the animal’s digestive tract, and then collected and processed for brewing.
Located off West First Street at 2011 Bayside Parkway, Bennett’s is housed in a bright and colorful 2,000-square-foot shop inside a lovingly restored 1943 former home.
In addition to fresh roasted coffee and hand-cut-from-scratch doughnuts, Bennett’s also offers fresh desserts from Bob Grissinger’s own recipe book including praline bread pudding, lemon bars and pies, giving area residents an alternative for afternoon snacks. Bennett’s also features packaged whole bean or ground coffees, breakfast muffins, strata, oatmeal and breakfast sandwiches. On the weekends, Bennett’s Strata (a layered baked breakfast dish) is a regular sellout. Tea lovers can choose from a large variety of Harney & Sons Fine Teas.
Lunch offerings including paninis, soups, sandwiches and four signature salads are available Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bennett’s is open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, call Bennett’s Fresh Roast at 239-332-0077 or visit www.BennettsFreshRoast.com.
