At the time Hurricane Helene passed by Fort Myers Beach on Sept. 26, Anita Cereceda, owner of The Islander Gift Gallery & Boutique, thought she finally had recovered from the devastation wrought almost two years to the day prior from Hurricane Ian.
As water surged first toward and then into her Fort Myers Beach home, Cereceda said she thought, “Oh, no, not again.”
But the surge spared Santini Marina Plaza on the southern end of Fort Myers Beach, where The Islander reopened Oct. 4 at 7205 Estero Blvd. It had been closed since Sept. 28, 2022, when Ian’s surge overtook it.
“If I weren’t so tired — and I am — I’m elated,” said Cereceda, the island community’s first mayor. “But this was such a hurdle to cross.”
The previous store wasn’t covered by flood insurance. Cereceda also lost her other two stores in Times Square at the northern end of the island, The Pier Peddler and Local Color.
Reopening The Islander became of paramount importance, she said.
Cereceda said she spent about $600,000 to reopen. More than half of that went toward restocking the merchandise. About $250,000 went toward interior reconstruction costs.
“The most important thing to me was to have this store open,” Cereceda said. “Because Fort Myers Beach people needed a place. This is just another step in our rebuilding effort.”
The store’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
On Friday, friends flocked to support Cereceda’s new store.
They included Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt.
“This is a huge step forward for Fort Myers Beach,” said Atterholt, who along with his wife, Brenda Atterholt, each bought gifts. “Anita is the heart and soul of Fort Myers Beach. By opening, she pushes the clock forward.
“This is another step toward normalcy. Santina Plaza is really the focal point for the southern end of the island.”
Fort Myers Beach resident Christy Hennessey befriended Cereceda years ago when she served on Town Council. Hennessey said she didn’t want to miss the first day, and she planned on returning often.
“She is Fort Myers Beach,” Hennessey said of Cereceda. “She has a great discernment about things. She was hit so hard. To have to come back here, where it’s been a desert on this end of the island, with nothing opened … it will have people feeling good. When they’re working on their homes, they can come in here.”
The store has an assortment of gift items: clothing for men, women and children, Christmas tree ornaments, purses and handbags, artwork and more.
“Here’s how I describe it,” Cereceda said. “If you’re looking for a present for someone that you really love, and you don’t know what to get them, you’re going to find it here.”
The Islander is among one of the first businesses to reopen on the beach, especially on the southern end of the island. She hopes mainlanders will also visit. She recommended they travel there using Bonita Beach Road and then drive from the south.
“Gosh, all my friends in Fort Myers and Cape Coral and Bonita and everywhere, I hope they do make a trip here,” Cereceda said. “To me, it’s always been a really special store, not just because it’s mine, but because it’s different. I hope people will be at home here and just enjoy it.”
