In September 2022, Hurricane Ian struck just north of Fort Myers Beach, unleashing unprecedented devastation. Among the hardest hit was the iconic Pink Shell Resort, which bore the brunt of the ferocious winds and storm surge.
This catastrophic deluge wreaked havoc on the poolside bar, Bongo’s kitchen, and Rae’s Restaurant. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the rebuilding efforts commenced in phases, prioritizing the restoration of Bongo’s kitchen on the second floor.
Keep reading to learn how Metro Smart Solutions, Top-Track, and MetroMax 4 polymer shelving helped restore this popular resort to its full potential.
The Devastation of Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian forever changed the face of Fort Myers Beach, Florida. With sustained winds at 155MPH, this storm was the strongest hurricane to strike Florida since 1935, causing widespread damage across western Cuba, and the Carolinas, in addition to the Sunshine State.
While Ian was initially predicted to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area, it turned west at the last moment, making its true landfall just north of Fort Myers Beach. The powerful hurricane brought an unbelievable storm surge to the area: 18-22 feet of water were pushed onto the shoreline, and water went inland over 1 mile from the normal coastline. Single-story structures on the beach were completely submerged, while multi-story buildings saw their lower floors sustain damage. Entire operations, including food service equipment, were swept out to sea.
When the surge receded, it left behind unprecedented devastation. Nearly every structure on the island was impacted, including collapsed bridges to islands like Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, and Pine Islands. The storm also left several feet of sand covering the entire island.
All in all, the storm proved fatal for over 160 people and caused an estimated $113.1 billion dollars of damage, making it the third-costliest weather disaster on record worldwide and the costliest in Florida’s history. In the wake of Ian, it was clear that it would take a lot of time and effort to completely rebuild the island.
The Problem
The family-owned Pink Shell has been a mainstay on Fort Myers Beach for a long time, evolving from a single cottage built in 1950 to an expansive 12-acre resort and marina. When Hurricane Ian made landfall, the 19-foot storm surge nearly destroyed the iconic resort.
Much of the storm damage occurred on the first and second floors but did not compromise the hotel's structural integrity. This catastrophic deluge wreaked havoc on the poolside bar, Bongo’s Bar & Grill, and Rae’s Real Italian restaurant. The storm also destroyed the marina.
With tens of millions of dollars’ worth of damage to the property, Pink Shell had a lot of work to do, including intense renovations to the resort’s restaurants.
The Solution
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the rebuilding efforts commenced in phases, prioritizing the restoration of Bongo’s kitchen. Despite significant equipment loss to the sea, the space was cleared and rebuilt from scratch. Metro’s Smart Solutions were integrated extensively into the renovations, with new walk-ins necessitating shelving upgrades.
Phase 1 focused on the second floor of Bongo’s Kitchen, implementing a top track system in the walk-in cooler and SmartWall in the scullery. Metro’s SmartWall wall productivity system allows busy kitchens to take advantage of underutilized wall space. For Pink Shell, SmartWall was the perfect addition above the sink in the scullery for hanging freshly washed kitchen tools, utensils, and pots.
During Phase 2, the renovation team worked to complete the poolside bar, beer cooler, and receiving walk-ins. MetroMax 4 shelving was chosen for the coolers and freezer, as well as for the liquor and banquet storage spaces. MetroMax 4 is an all-polymer, corrosion-proof solution that is ideal for wet and damp spaces like walk-ins and can handle the salty, humid air at a Florida resort.
Phase 3 of the restoration project involved adding a second level to the restaurant’s receiving area to be additional dry storage. The design utilized Metro Top-Track high-density shelving and stand-alone shelving units to optimize the storage in Bongo’s kitchen and storage areas. By adding track shelving, the team was able to add a significant amount of storage space, which benefits inventory management.
During the final phase of the project, the team focused on last-mine storage needs for the kitchen, including Metro adjustable poke chip dish dollies, glass rack dollies, and pan racks.
The Impact
Pink Shell was one of the first hotels to open on Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Ian’s devastation. While the resort began accepting reservations in March 2023 while still rebuilding, it wasn’t until 2024 that all amenities reopened, including Bongo’s Bar & Grill, Rae’s Real Italian, and the Marina.
While the devastation of Hurricane Ian cannot be understated, Pink Shell’s Bongo’s Bar & Grill has returned better than ever, serving casual fare and tropical libations poolside. And now, with the help of MetroMax 4 shelving, track shelving, dollies, and pan racks, they can continue to do so without worrying about rust, corrosion, or lack of space.
Why Metro?
Metro’s foodservice solutions are designed with application in mind. Our heavy-duty plastic shelving can withstand the rigors of a busy resort in mind, and our track shelving helps to maximize space no matter the size constraints. Our breadth of line and quality of products make Metro the perfect solution for complete kitchen remodels or rebuilds.
Find Your Own Success Story with Metro
With the help of Metro, the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina was able to reopen their popular poolside bar and restaurant after it had been destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Now, they have brand new solutions that will significantly enhance their kitchen operations now and in the future.
At Metro, we’re not in the business of selling—we sell solutions. If you’re looking to improve the efficiency within your facility, or need to rebuild from the ground up, we can help. Metro’s solutions are also supported by local Metro reps, who can provide consultations to help you create top-tier foodservice solutions for shelving, workstations, holding, and beyond.
Have a success story to share? Contact us to learn how Metro can transform your space!