On tap: More brewskies

Southwest Florida's thirst for beer isn't quenched.

The latest sip comes from Tampa-based World of Beer, which plans to open its second tavern in Fort Myers later this month. The company's joint-venture partner says he's scouting two more sites in Naples.

The second Fort Myers location will be at the Gulf Coast Town Center mall near Interstate 75 and Alico Road. That's about six miles from the first World of Beer, at Bell Tower Shops on U.S. 41 near Daniels Parkway. The new location is in the fast-growing area of south Lee County, home to Southwest Florida International Airport, Florida Gulf Coast University and the future headquarters of car-rental giant Hertz.

“There's a lot of growth there,” says Paul Jacobs, the joint-venture partner who is developing locations from Tampa to Naples. “All the other hospitality stores there are doing very well.”
In Naples, Jacobs says the challenge is to find a location that has room for a large outdoor patio. “We've been looking for the perfect spot down there,” says Jacobs. “I had two different sites and they haven't come together.”

World of Beer has been growing fast since it started in Tampa in 2007. The new Fort Myers location will be the company's 32nd location in Florida. It currently operates more than 70 taverns in 20 states.