New grocery store, Joe V’s Farm Market, planned in Cape Coral

A multi-million dollar farmers market is coming to Cape Coral.

Where most people see an empty lot on SW Pine Island Road near Chiquita Boulevard, owner Lee Snyder sees endless possibilities.

“It’s going to be the farm on the freeway,” Snyder said.

Snyder says he envisions Joe V’s Farm Market as a full-service farmers market open every day, all year.

“My focus is going to be in an enormous produce department, and we’re going to have these monster displays,” Snyder said.

Snyder’s plans also include a meat department with steak cut to any desired thickness, a bakery, homemade ice cream and 6,000 sq. feet of wine. A dream come true for a man who grew up in Cape Coral.

“Back when we first moved to the Cape in the late ’70s, Pine Island was a two-lane road, there was nothing out there,” Snyder said. “Cape Coral is really in dire straits of having a market that has this type of concept.”

Scott Baier moved down from North Carolina and said he can’t wait for the organic options.

“The more natural stuff we can get that’s not all prepared, prepackaged—I’m all for that,” Baier said.

More competition for local grocery dollars is coming soon: Across the bridge in South Fort Myers, a Trader Joe’s is taking shape off Cleveland Avenue. And while Sandy Holmes and Joann Marsh call Publix their go-to grocery store, they’re ready to trying something new.

“In case we come here, and it’s a little expensive, we can go over there,” Holmes said. “Hopefully, it’ll be a little cheaper over there.”

Snyder says he plans to hire as many as 300 people at the store’s 1401 SW Pine Island Road location. Construction will begin in November, with plans to open the market in late 2021.