The SanCap Chamber ribbon-cutting April 30 at Lighthouse Café celebrated the revival of a Sanibel Island tradition, its move to a new location, and a family legacy of passing opportunities on to others. Since 1968, the island institution operated at 362 Periwinkle Way, but Hurricane Ian damage precipitated its move to 1020 Periwinkle Way, former home of Sanibel Fresh restaurant.

“I wanted to return to my previous space, but couldn’t put together a deal to do it,” said owner-operator Dan Billheimer. “I was steered to the current space because it was the only place that was available for a rebuild at the time. And once I really looked at it, the benefits were tremendous.”

The benefits include a newer building, more square footage, more parking, a compliant landlord, and fresh systems Billheimer could integrate from the ground level. The menu will remain the same for now, he said, but the new infrastructure will allow expansion as the crew gets its feet under it.

Billheimer credits his new beginning, which started the week prior with a soft opening, to community support and the generosity of his uncle, previous owner Mike Billheimer.

“Mike purchased the Café in 1987 and operated it for 33 years,” he said. “He developed the business and made it what it was until Ian. He was fortunate enough to be financed by the previous owner, Fred Powell, and was given a chance to establish himself without any backing. Mike did the same for me, as he wanted to give me a chance to own a business on Sanibel that I would have otherwise not have had. It’s a great story of enabling willing, professional people who wouldn’t have had this opportunity any other way.”

He thanks the local bank, real estate agents, contractors, tradesmen, and even competing restaurateurs at Sanibel Café and Over Easy Café for their support. Restaurant fans from Sanibel to international visitors donated time, expertise, money, and lighthouse pictures.

“It’s pretty amazing to step back and really see the synergy it takes to achieve a comeback like this. I was more touched and overwhelmed than I have words for,” Billheimer says. “Just a tremendous lesson in what a community can do when it pulls together. I just need to be worthy of this honor.”

And about those lighthouse pictures: Lighthouse Café has always decorated its walls with images of light towers from around the world. That won’t change. More than 300 lighthouse pictures grace the new restaurant’s walls, with more being donated every day.

“I feel like we’ve turned a corner today with the restoration of Lighthouse Café to our lives,” said SanCap Chamber president and CEO John Lai. “People from all over the world equate the iconic café and its reputation for best breakfast with Sanibel dining, commerce, and tradition. Welcome back!”

“The chamber facilitated monetary grants through the state to deserving businesses and provided logistical influence regarding permitting and licensing on both the local and state level,” said Billheimer. “They are a great networking resource and will be a big advocate in promoting the Lighthouse Café for many years to come.”

ABOUT SANCAP CHAMBER

The SanCap Chamber is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].