Downtown Fort Myers welcomes a new café offering java and an inviting atmosphere

The mission of the new Good Ground cafe, according to the owners, is simple: come in, enjoy a cup of java and relax.

“I love coffee, the culture around it,” said Abel Pardi, co-owner of Good Ground. “There is so much comfort in a cup of coffee. For many people, it’s a way to start their day.

Good Ground, located in downtown Fort Myers at 2281 Main Street, opened on April 21. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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The price of traditional items on the menu ranges from $1.50 a cup of espresso to $4 a cup of Americano. Specialty drinks like the Honey Brown Sugar Latte or the White Chocolate Hazelnut Latte are priced at $5.

Pardi, 23, Paola Henderson, 23, and Sam Molina, 21 – co-owners of Good Ground – wanted to create something familiar to what they admire in their favorite cafes.

“Our favorite cafes aren’t in town,” Molina said. “A lot of them are in Orlando or Houston. We saw the need for a coffee. Especially after Hurricane Ian. Many businesses have closed. We really wanted to open a cafe.

The trio of cafes agreed to take things slow at first.

“Right now we just want to focus on one thing,” Molina said. “And maybe in the future we’ll add food to the menu.”

Pardi, originally from Ohio, moved to Fort Myers when he was five years old. Before getting into the coffee business, he worked in a completely different industry.

“I sold cars,” he says. “I worked at a Kia dealership in Cape Coral. I have family members who are in this world. My father-in-law is the dealership manager. I was 19 at the time, and it was familiar. I did this for four years. »

The journey to entrepreneurship started slowly for the trio.

The story continues

“At first we were ordering plastic cups and labels,” Pardi said. “Then we started reaching out to roasters and going to different cafes. We visited locations in St. Petersburg, Orlando, St. Augustine and Manhattan, New York. It was around December last year. But it’s been on my mind for a few years. »

After tasting more coffee than they could count, the choice was made on which blends to serve.

“Our espresso is a house blend dark roast called Black Tiger,” Molina said. “Our pourover and drip is a Colombian medium roast. It’s so much sweeter than the dark roast.

Molina said the independence that comes with being an entrepreneur is one of the many things he enjoys about owning a business.

“I work with my friends, which is amazing,” Molina said. “To see people from the community and from my church supporting us is truly amazing. It doesn’t look like work. “

Pardi said his favorite thing about running a cafe is being able to commune with people.

“The most rewarding thing about owning a business is seeing people enjoy something you’ve created in a way,” Pardi said.

Erica Van Buren is the underserved communities reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at [email protected] or on Twitter: @EricaVanBuren32

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers Coffee Lovers Invited to Check Out New Coffee Spot