After 25 years, The Whale on Fort Myers Beach changes hands

The Whale, a landmark Fort Myers Beach restaurant known for its smoked wings, patio and rooftop dining in the middle of downtown Estero Boulevard, has new owners.

Mike Miller and Greg von Krumreig, of Fort Myers Beach, closed on the deal this past week.

Miller owns manufacturing plants and commercial real estate while Cape Coral native von Krumreig spent the past eight years as a bartender at Fresh Catch Bistro further down Estero Boulevard.

Marty Harrity co-owned the restaurant as part of a business group which also operates Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish Co. in Fort Myers Beach.

“We owned it for 25 years,” Harrity said. “It was our first restaurant. It was the opening to many opportunities. If it wasn’t for The Whale, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Harrity said he wanted to thank all the customers who have patronized The Whale over the years and said he hopes they continue to do so.

“It was time for us,” Harrity said. “The Whale was a little bit different than the direction we were going,” he said. “Everything has a lifetime. It’s time for us to move on.”

The new owners are making their first foray into operating a restaurant. Miller said he has been learning from von Krumreig’s experience in the industry.

They plan on making some changes to the building and to the menu, with an added focus on fresh local seafood, von Krumreig said. He expects grouper and snapper to be mainstays of the menu.

During season, popular dishes such as the smoked wings may have expanded offerings, von Krumreig said. Currently, the smoked wings are offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday though he said they have been selling out.

He expects to make additions to the cocktail list. Other popular items such as the black bean dip appetizer will stay, he said. “We’re looking to add some more local favorites,” he said.

Miller said they plan to remodel the exterior of the restaurant and rooftop, including raising the ceiling on the roof. He wants to provide more shade and protection from the rain.

“The location is amazing. It will be near Margaritaville when that opens up,” von Krumreig said. “It has a lot of history. It’s held near and dear to a lot of locals.”

The restaurant’s roof overlooks the Margaritaville construction site.

“Margaritaville will be looking at us,” Miller said. “We want to have the remodeling project done by the time Margaritaville opens.”

Miller, who has business interests in Ohio and Tennessee, purchased a home on Fort Myers Beach in 2018 after visiting for many years with his family.

“I live hear here full-time. I have three golf carts that travel the island and I’m rarely in a car. It’s paradise,” Miller said.

“My kids grew up here when the Holiday Inn was just the Holiday Inn,” Miller said. “We used to come down two to four times a year. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the time on this place. My opinion is Fort Myers Beach is going to be the new Naples.”

Fort Myers Beach, von Krumreig said, “has got a great soul to it.”

He hopes they can make the community proud of The Whale.