Bonita Springs continues to grow into a veritable culinary and arts destination, and the latest brainchild from the minds of the well-loved Sugarshack Music Channel and Maine-based Brickyard Hollow Brewing Co.—a hybrid music venue and gastropub between the groups—marks the next great chapter in Bonita’s storied history. For Sugarshack founder Eddie Kopp, the space is a place for the community to rally around local talent. “It’s tough to find a good gig around here,” he says. “A huge part of what we’re trying to bring to the community is a space for musicians.”
By mid-January, you’ll head down Old 41, over the Imperial River, past regal banyans and Old Florida murals to the sprawling outdoor restaurant swaddled in the shade of oaks peppering the property. Pergolas ring the perimeter of the restaurant, which seats 275. For a low-key vibe, you might catch a mid-day acoustic performance on the B-stage, modeled after the original Sugarshack set-up, which has run from the founders’ Bonita backyard porch since 2014. Or, maybe you’ll be there to see a nationally touring artist the guys have brought in for a mainstage show for up to 1,000 ppeople. In between songs, you grab a glass of Brickyard’s Trestle New England Hazy IPA. If you’re hungry, split one of Brickyard’s award-winning pizzas, like the blueberry ricotta—or savor a maple bacon smashburger all for yourself. “We want to make a welcoming place for all walks of life,” Eddie says. “This community has supported us over these last 10 years. This is a way to give back.”