Cape Coral’s Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon celebrating 25 years

Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon, a staple in Cape Coral, is celebrating serving food and drinks with a smile for 25 years and is ready for 25 more.

Ten weeks after Hurricane Ian, the restaurant was empty and needed to fix the place up.

Jay Johnson, the owner of Bubba’s, spoke with WINK News about the milestone.

“We’ve been through five presidents, six governors, countless county commissioners, city council people. It’s amazing how long I’ve been there. It surprises me every time,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s watched Cape Coral transform and grow for a while. He wasn’t surprised by the growth either, which is why he picked the location for Bubba’s.

“We thought that there was a lot of growth potential. It was right near the physical center of the city,” Johnson said.

For Cape Coral locals, it’s a well-known and well-liked restaurant. For others, like Lenny Leonov, it’s become a home away from home.

“It’s an icon of the community. Everybody I know knows Bubba’s,” Leonov said.

“It’s a place where you’re comfortable. It’s a roadhouse. That’s it’s not too pretentious. We’re not white tablecloth over throw your peanut shells on the floor,” Johnson said.

And that’s what people find appealing about Bubba’s, including former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.

Johnson told WINK News that Bubba’s has served more than a million potatoes since opening in 1998.

“We have some relationships that have started here. We have some marriages that have happened here. We’ve seen all cycles of life,” Johnson said.

And the growth Johnson envisioned is as close as next door. That’s where there are plans for an outdoor town center.