FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 26, 2013) –Islanders won’t have to wait much longer for hand-cut-from-scratch doughnuts and fresh roasted coffee courtesy of Bennett’s Fresh Roast.
The doughnut and coffee shop is scheduled to move into its first Sanibel Island location in October.
Located just over the causeway bridge at 1020 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel next to the Lazy Flamingo restaurant, Bennett’s will include indoor seating for 40 people and patio seating for 10 people.
“We are very excited to not only be embarking on our second shop but also to have a location in one our area’s most treasured islands,” said Bennett’s owner Bob Grissinger, former local morning disc jockey C. David Bennett. “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.”
According to Grissinger, major renovations are underway on the 2,700-squarefoot building including exterior landscaping improvements. The new location will have the same hours and offerings as the current shop located in downtown Fort Myers.
“We opened in Fort Myers in February 2008 at the beginning of the country’s worst economic downturn in 70 years,” said Bennett’s co-owner Frank Albano. “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 to Southwest Florida.”
Albano, who will oversee the Sanibel location, said they plan to hire about 10 additional staff members to operate the new location.
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 Fort Myers’ location 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 treats. 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, three signature salads and Bennett’s new ‘Chicken & Donut’ and ‘Donut Dog’ 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.
Bennett’s new Chicken & Donut is a fresh made Bennett’s doughnut (without icing or glaze), halved and smothered in its fresh homemade chicken gravy. The gravy is made with fresh house-roasted and brined premium chopped chicken breast meat, cream, seasonings and vegetables including diced carrots, green beans and corn. It is served piping hot with a side of Bennett’s brand new homemade Pennsylvania Dutch pepper slaw.
The second new creation is Bennett’s Donut Dog. This is made with a “long john” doughnut split down the middle and loaded with a Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Hot Dog, Bennett’s homemade chili, BBQ sauce, honey mustard and cheddar cheese. This dog is served with Bennett’s exclusive Grandma Utz kettle cooked potato chips.
“Our Donut Dog was actually adapted from an item we made on Food Network Canada’s Donut Showdown earlier this year,” said Grissinger. “We are excited for our episode to air on Food Network soon.”
On Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 10 p.m., Grissinger and his assistant Lisa Bronchetti will appear on an episode on Donut Showdown on the Cooking Channel. On Donut Showdown, professional doughnut makers from across North America take the iconic fried dough delicacy to new heights, dishing out their wackiest creations in hopes of devouring the competition and taking home a $10,000 grand prize at the end of every episode.
For more information, call Bennett’s Fresh Roast at 239-332-0077 or visit www.BennettsFreshRoast.com.
