The Veranda's History
The Veranda has been a part of Fort Myers since the turn of the century and its history has been told to us this way…
In early 1850, a fort on the Caloosahatchee River was reactivated and named for Colonel Abraham Myers. It contained 57 buildings, a hospital, lawns and gardens; Manuel Gonzales delivered supplies and mail in his sloop.
Captain Gonzales and his five-year-old son, Manuel, repaired a house in the fort . The Gonzales family operated a trading post on the site of the present Federal Building, and Mrs. Gonzales was the first teacher in the little community that developed around it.
Young Manuel Gonzales built two houses at the corner of Second Street and Broadway. The corner house, built in 1902, was occupied by he and his family. The second, was built for his mother, and was located adjacent to the first house, in what is now the Veranda’s parking lot.
The two houses were joined in the late 1960s by Peter Pulitzer, son of the publisher, for his long-time fishing buddy, Fingers O’Bannon. Paul
Peden purchased the buildings in 1978 and transformed them into the Veranda. The original kitchen building from the second house, along with a secluded garden courtyard, now joins the two houses to create our restaurant and bar.
Nestled in the heart of Downtown Fort Myers, the Veranda will provide you and your guests the most unique dining experience in Southwest Florida. The two turn-of-the-century homes create a unique opportunity for private parties, special gatherings and corporate meetings. The garden courtyard boasts rare and spectacular botanical foliage, as well as a Koi pond and waterfall. Once you discover the Veranda you’ll agree there is only one choice for your next dining experience!