doc Ford’s Captiva nears Completion

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The menu is set, the renovation moves forward, and hiring is ongoing for the third and newest Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille on Captiva Island outside of South Seas Island Resort’s entrance. When the restaurant opens to the general public later this summer, it will occupy the former Holy Smoke Heavenly Barbecue, with seating for more than 300 people.

Seating will include outdoor patio tables and three separate dining rooms – one with a stage and bar, another holding

the main bar, and the third decorated with historic photographs of South Seas and other parts of the island.

“The anticipation is mounting on both sides of the story,” said general manager Jean Crenshaw, who has managed Doc

Ford’s Sanibel Rum Bar & Grille for more than 10 years. “We’ve been seeing a lot of people from Captiva in our Sanibel

restaurant in recent months, checking out our food and drinks – excited to see us open on Captiva. I am looking forward

to welcoming guests who have not dined with us before.”

The menu at the Captiva Island Doc Ford’s will pretty much mirror that of the Sanibel restaurant except for the addition

of flatbreads, she added, which the restaurateurs introduced at their second location on Fort Myers Beach. Like the first

two restaurants, the third will serve tropical cuisine and cocktails inspired by the Doc Ford series of murder mysteries by

New York Times bestselling novelist and Sanibel resident Randy Wayne White.

The atmosphere, too, will be similar, with cozy booths, sports TVs in some of the rooms, and lots of warm wood. The

restaurant will host live entertainment on its stage every weekend, said Crenshaw.

Chef Greg Nelson, the original chef at Doc Ford’s Sanibel and most recently the executive chef at the Fort Myers Beach

location, joins Crenshaw on the management team, under the ownership of Sanibel residents Marty Harrity and Mark Marinello.

Managers continue to hire staff and will hold job fairs at their Fort Myers Beach location on July 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. and July 13 from 9 to 11 a.m. Interested persons can also apply in person at either of the two existing locations.

“We are thrilled about our upcoming opening on Captiva,” said Harrity.“Our new venture with South Seas Island

Resort has our entire team at Doc Ford’s very excited.”

For more information, visit www.docfords.com.

Island Sun (July 12, 2013)