‘I thought it was all over,’ Fort Myers community steps in to help barbecue business

FORT MYERS, Fla. — You might be driving past Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Cranford Ave., wondering what happened to this famous barbecue restaurant?

Fort Myers man receives thousands of dollars to rebuild his barbecue business

Your Fort Myers Community Correspondent, Miyoshi Price, drives by every day and asks himself the same question.

She found the man behind the smoke, who says that after the destruction of Hurricane Ian and his recent knee surgery, he thought his family’s legacy was over.

“I know I can’t afford it,” says Willie Mccarter, owner of McCarter’s BBQ. “I thought it was over.”

Willie McCarter says the Cranford Ave. restaurant has been around since the 1970s, but McCarter’s BBQ has been in Fort Myers since the 1960s.

“It was a family business that my parents started on Henderson Avenue at 2254 Henderson Avenue,” McCarter said, remembering the former location.

Mccarter says he’s been barbecuing since he was 12 years old. He later took over the business with his brother.

But tragedy struck when Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida.

“I had just put a new roof on the building, and that’s why we’re here now, under the tent, the hurricane ripped the screen off, the closure and everything. It just destroyed us,” McCarter said.

He says they were functioning well in that tent, but then his body started to fail.

Mccarter had to have knee surgery in May, so he closed the tent.

And that’s when the community stepped in.

They started a fund and raised over $10,000.

“We’re hoping to raise more money, because we want to raise at least $50,000 to rehabilitate the whole area here,” said Lauren Daniels, a local business owner.

Several people have started fundraisers, including business owner Lauren Daniels and Fort Myers Fire Chief Tracy McMillion.

McMillion came to show McCarter possible concepts for a new store construction, which would be made of containers and materials capable of withstanding the storm.

“I’m very grateful. I’m very grateful. And there’s nothing but God, I can give all, all thanks to God,” McCarter said.

The next fundraiser will take place this Saturday, August 3 at 11:30 a.m.

You can also get a plate of McCarter’s famous barbecue. The price for a plate will be $25 per adult and $10 per child. Plates will include pulled pork, two sides and a drink. There will be a place to sit and eat, or you can take it to go.

The community won’t stop there; it’s also organizing another fundraiser on September 28.

Visit their website to find out how you can support them.

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