FORT MYERS, Fla. — Outside First Street in Fort Myers, you’ll see parked cars and more people outside walking, shopping and dining. It’s a sight city staff say we should get used to.

And to that, the owners of a brewery say, cheers!

City of Fort Myers staff are expecting an economic boom as we head into 2025

“This is very new to us, but we’re getting the hang of it,” said Mashelle Towles, owner of Voodoo Brewing Company.

Mashelle and Keith Towles opened Voodoo Brewing Company in April.

FOX4

Despite challenges like hurricanes and material delays, they say they’re ready for the rush. “We know what it’s going to take to make it through next offseason,” says Mashelle.

In a short time they have made a name for themselves, engaged local artists and allowed visitors to leave their mark on the wall.

“A lot of people seek shelter after work, just to find a place to just chill and meet the neighbors or meet new people,” says Mashelle. The Towles tell Fox 4 they bring the brewery alive with color and artwork so people feel comfortable and free. They have games and a menu that they just updated on Tuesday.

The city’s director of economic development says that as we look ahead, three key factors for an economic boom in 2025 are reduced inflation, lower interest rates and post-election stability.

“What I will say in economic development is that businesses don’t like variables in the equation,” says Steve Weathers. “They want to know who’s going to be in office. So things seem to slow down in a presidential year right up to the election but when the election is over and it’s not political. They know who’s going to be in the congressional level, the state, the local levels, then they can make decisions. So I think 2025 is going to be a very boom year, an economic boom year for us here in Fort Myers in Southwest Florida.

He says big companies, like Amazon, are coming to Fort Myers.

Lee Health is building a new hospital, and the airport expansion is a significant investment that will lift the city.

But he added that it starts with small businesses.

“Small businesses are really the backbone of our economy,” says Weathers.

He explained that the city is committed to doing everything it can to support them. That includes making sure those businesses get “permits, or they get funding or support with the workforce,” Weathers says.

He said the city wants to provide resources related to workforce development. He says there may be challenges that extend beyond the city’s immediate control. In such cases, whether at the state or federal level, he said the city is dedicated to finding ways to facilitate assistance and support for small businesses.

There are many businesses downtown, not just on First Street, and some of those business owners say they should come further down First Street and see stores on side streets like Main Street, Jackson Street, Hendry and Lee Street.

The couple, who opened the brewery in April, are ready to fill their business with people and activities for everyone to join. On December 14, they are the hosts Christmas bike night with other businesses off First Street and Lee. It’s a Block Party. Everyone is welcome to join.

When: December 14, 2024
Time: 17.00-22.00
Where: 2400 First Street