‘Man with a plan’ inspires beer-flavored post-Ian fundraiser

The owners of Palm City Brewing Co. have been through a lot—not one but two hurricanes threatened their business. But they were inspired by WINK News Investigates Reporter Céline McArthur’s ‘Man with a Plan’ series to give back to the community that helped them make a comeback.

Palm City Brewing is celebrating its sixth anniversary, and the price of serving up “Pints in Paradise” has been huge. Launching a business is hard enough, but their timing was terrible.

“It was terrible!” Marianne said. “We opened shortly before Irma and lost power.”

Fortunately, Ryan and Marianne Bowen’s business in San Carlos Park survived the storm. But then came COVID-19.

“COVID was definitely a different challenge for all of us,” Marianne said. “My husband and I were actually out of town when everything shut down, so that was a little bit different to manage. But we were able to go to a to-go model; we pivoted very quickly.”

Then came crisis #3: Hurricane Ian.

“I think about it every day; it’s not really written into our business plans anywhere,” Marianne said. “Honestly, we were just hoping it was going to shift north a little, not in the way it did.”

Palm City Brewery—the building—stood up to Ian’s record winds and storm surge. But the business still took a major blow.

“All of our partners, so all of the restaurants and bars… about 30% of our distribution is out on the beaches. They were impacted, and they were closed,” Marianne said.

Marianne says it’s been encouraging to see restaurants and bars reopen, and inspiring to see WINK’s special series, ‘A Man with a Plan.’

“I love the series,” Marianne said.

We’ve seen this beach builder Joe Orlandini at his best.

“I happen to have the resources and the capability of the manpower to help them put that house back together. I want them to remain being my neighbors,” Orlandini said when WINK first toured the devastation of Fort Myers Beach with him last fall.

We’ve also seen him humble:

Celine: “You changed someone’s life today.
Joe: “I did. (long pause) It’s not going to happen. Not going to cry. Not going to do it.”

“My heart. It warmed my heart,” Marianne said.

The Bowens say Joe’s plan to rebuild single mother Tammy Drake’s home had them asking what they can do to help.

“I was like, ‘We need to reach out to him,'” said Marianne.

“How amazing is that? A business off-island,” Orlandini said. “It’s that tight-knit community of not only Fort Myers Beach but Fort Myers as a whole.”

And together, they came up with an idea: a fundraiser.

“All sales of anything Hazify-related: We’ll have Dazify, Hazify, Hazify Plus and Hazify Max available, as well as merchandise, and anything to go,” Marianne said. “10% of sales for those products will be donated directly to Tammy.”

“It’s good,” Orlandini said after cracking open one of the beers.

From the beginning, he hoped his plan would inspire neighbors to help other neighbors in need.

“It’s the type of community that each person can make a difference,” Orlandini said. “What a great thing to have this come together like this.”

The event takes place Saturday at Palm City Brewing, located at 7887 Drew Circle, Suite 130 in San Carlos Park. More details on their website.

If you go, please take pics and video and send them to celine.mcarthur@winknews.com.

You can see our entire ‘Man with a Plan’ series below:

The future of Fort Myers Beach: The man with a plan

The future of Fort Myers Beach: The personal side of progress

Fort Myers Beach clock lost during Hurricane Ian will be replaced by beach builder and partners

Fort Myers Beach man to build $350k home for Hurricane Ian victims

‘Outpouring of love’: Owners of Fort Myers Beach restaurant destroyed by Ian donate $100K

‘Man with a plan’ to rebuild The Cottage on Fort Myers Beach