Bonita Bill’s, a bar and restaurant fronting Mantanzas Bay on San Carlos Island since 1991, is closing its doors for good Jan. 5.

The properties at 700, 702, 716 and 718 Fisherman’s Wharf in Fort Myers Beach are slated to be sold for $5.5 million, public records show, with the ownership slated to change hands this coming week. HM Restaurant Group, owners of the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer. Joe Harrity, director of marketing and operations for HM Restaurant Group, declined to comment until after any purchase is completed.

The money will be divided among the heirs of the late “Bonita” Bill Semmer, who died two years ago at 76, court records show. Semmer made the first purchase of the four properties for $220,000 in 1991. He bought the second bay front lot for $260,000 in 1995, property records show. The parking area across from the restaurant he purchased for $200,000 in 2000.

Prior to the sale slated for next week, the 27 employees at Bonita Bill’s have been managing — and serving — legions of fans and patrons lining up at the door to secure seats as soon as it opens.

“A lot of tears,” said Leah Brakefield, general manager of Bonita Bill’s. “Everybody it seems like in Southwest Florida that’s heard about this has come here in the past week or so. Business has quadrupled.”

Bonita Bill’s specialized in serving fresh shrimp and seafood in a dockside environment that, since Sept. 28, 2022, even has had a wrecked boat between the two buildings. The boat, named The Bachelor Pad, is a 42-foot Bertram that had served as home to long-haul trucker Edward Kane. He was one of many liveaboard boaters who stayed on the docks until Hurricane Ian wrecked them.

Katie Semmer, daughter of Bill Semmer, set up a GoFundMe page to help its employees until they can find future work. A T-shirt shop is being set up on the restaurant’s website, and profits from those sales will benefit the employees, as well.

“Bonita Bill’s has been a community keystone for over 30 years — so much more than just a bar and restaurant — but where so many memories were made,” Katie Semmer wrote. “A lot of life and stories have happened here.”

Brakefield said Bonita Bill’s had a unique atmosphere that would be difficult to replicate.

“We’re very laid back and low key,” Brakefield said. “You can come on your boat in your bathing suit. You can come in the front door in your church clothes. This is another little slice not only of old-school Fort Myers Beach but also small business America.”

Brakefield wished her successors well — and warned it would be tough for them to keep Bonita Bill’s character intact.

“Good luck to them,” she said. “I hope they do. I hope they hold onto it. But they’ll be hard pressed. It’s a tall order.”