Employees from Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish Company on Fort Myers Beach found footballs, shoes, gloves, hats and even Christmas decorations during the 10th annual Tunaskin Beach Keepers Club’s beach cleanup in February. Participating for a second consecutive year, 13 team members from both restaurants filled 12 large garbage bags in three hours, collecting lost and discarded objects.

“We are always happy to lend a helping hand, especially for an initiative that has so much impact on our local community and our beautiful beaches,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Doc Ford’s and Dixie Fish Company. “Our beaches play an important role in Southwest Florida’s economy, tourism and conservation efforts. Keeping them clean and free of litter is critical for wildlife as well as residents and visitors. This is an annual program we will continue to support.”

Doc Ford’s also donated bean dip and ceviche meals for 350 volunteers.

Founded in 2016 by clothier Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, the Beach Keepers Club’s Fort Myers Beach event started as a way to connect and give back to the community by cleaning up local beaches. It has grown from 86 volunteers to hundreds of partipants today and has since expanded to Sarasota and Key West. The program also raises funds for Keep Lee County Beautiful.

Conservation and environmental initiatives are at the core of HM Restaurant Group’s philanthropic philosophy. The company supports nonprofit organizations throughout Southwest Florida, including donating $1 from specialty cocktail sales at Doc Ford’s and Dixie Fish Company to Captains For Clean Water’s commitment to improving the health of the Florida Everglades and Florida Bay.

Doc Ford’s is also the title sponsor of the annual Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, a fundraiser for Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Now in its 13th year, the tourney has raised nearly $1.3 million. The 2025 event is May 9.

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish Company are renowned for delivering a legendary guest experience.

Inspired by the title character of Southwest Florida author Randy Wayne White’s novels, Doc Ford’s is beloved for mouth-watering sauces, spices and fresh seafood featuring Caribbean Rim flavors, including its signature Yucatan shrimp. A local favorite for residents and visitors alike, Doc Ford’s offers four locations, including Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Jungle Terrace in St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Pier. A perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner, the pier restaurant was named the No. 1 restaurant in the country on the global travel site’s Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats for 2023.

Visit docfords.com for menus and locations.

Recognized as a 2023 Yelp Top 100 Florida Restaurant and ranked Tripadvisor’s No. 1 of 74 Fort Myers Beach restaurants, Dixie Fish Company is revered for delicious fresh food in an ideal location complemented by a beach atmosphere, complete with live music and picturesque views overlooking scenic Matanzas Pass. An original Florida fishhouse, the restaurant’s origins date back to 1937 when it was primarily a fish market.

Visit dixiefishfmb.com for menus.