One of Ross Manahan’s friends from Florida has been asking him for years to open one of his successful Minnesota restaurants in the Sunshine State. Perhaps as soon as mid-April, he plans to do exactly that. After renovating what was a Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at 8500 Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers, it will become Rooster’s Barn & Grill.  

Planning to bring the concept from Rochester, Minnesota, to the Fort Myers spot, he bought the location for $1.8 million in December, property records show. It previously sold for $900,000 in 2015. 

He is working with Stevens Construction to renovate parts of the interior of the building, which was built in 2007, hoping to open in mid-April. He’s waiting for Lee County to give the go-ahead to renovate.  

“It’s a neighborhood sports bar and grill,” he said. “Our brand works around chicken, big burgers, big beers and affordable food. We have a huge menu.” 

Ice-cold, 34-ounce beer glasses are one of the Rooster’s specialties. With managers already hired, he is looking to fill out the rest of the restaurant staff with about 45 employees. “I plan on being down here at least seven months out of the year and making it my new home,” said Manahan, who bought a home on Fort Myers Beach. “It’s at a great spot. We’re doing a lot of work on the building. We’re going to put a patio bar out there.”  

Hours of operation in Fort Myers may mirror that of the two locations in Rochester. Rooster’s, which opened in 2012, and Rooster’s Too, which opened in 2016, are open from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. However, there may be a hold on serving breakfast here until the fall, which will be dependent upon the ability to hire a full staff.

The owners of the former Fuzzy’s Taco Shop decided to get out of the restaurant business, and Manahan swooped in on the property. “I’m thrilled to death we’re going to do it,” he said. “It’s going to be fun. It’s something I can carry into the future. The brand has done well in Minnesota. I think it will do well down here.”