On Monday, Dec. 6, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce helped Cielo restaurant of Sanibel Island kick off a two-day 10th anniversary celebration with a 5 p.m. ribbon cutting. Opened as Il Cielo in 2011, the restaurant underwent a major makeover in 2019 that included a total redesign, new food and craft cocktail menus and a slight name change.
Besides embedding itself in the island community as a bastion of fine dining featuring contemporary American cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian influences, Cielo has philanthropically supported a number of local causes, says Marcus Preece, general manager for more than eight years.
Cielo has sponsored CROW’s Taste of the Islands, FISH’s Annual 10k Run, Community Housing & Resources’ Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Party and Manatee Madness, and the Kiwanis Club of Sanibel-Captiva’s Spaghetti Dinner and Crush it Fore Kids Golf Tournament.
Preece planned the invitational 10th anniversary celebration along with valued team members Executive Chef Melissa Akin, Executive Chef Darice Sinclair, and Managers Charles Grover and Ksenia Perevozchikova.
“Cielo is such an island fixture, we laud the team for always keeping relevant in the shifting restaurant landscape of late,” said John Lai, chamber president and chief executive officer. “Congratulations on 10 years of excellence and community support.”
“The San-Cap Chamber of Commerce is a vital entity in providing advertising, local knowledge, places to dine and stay, where to fish, shop, and relax,” said Preece. “All of the staff and volunteers are essential to promoting the islands of Sanibel and Captiva to locals and tourists alike, and we value our relationship with them.”
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. With more than 460 active Chamber members from both islands and businesses from Lee and Collier counties, the Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Francis P. Bailey, Jr., Chamber Visitor Center is located at the entrance to Sanibel Island and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA named the visitor center one of 13 official Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers in the state. It is open 365 days a year and provides comprehensive information about things to do, places to visit, and where to stay, shop, and dine. The chamber website sanibel-captiva.org receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year.
For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact Landen Collins, communications and marketing manager, at 239-472-8255 or [email protected].
