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A Cape Coral restaurant was recently recognized for its success and commitment to the community.
Hurricane Grill & Wings Cape Coral owner Dave Witker was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his commitment to the Cape Coral community and his dedication to the success of his restaurants from Hurricane Grill & Wings corporate. General manager Elmer Martinez was also recognized for what he brings to the team.
"When it's done right, it's easy to spot," Witker said regarding why his Hurricane Grill & Wings location has found such success. "I'm lucky I've got a really good manager (Martinez). It's much easier to manage if you think the same and have the same philosophy."
Witker's Hurricane Grill & Wings location consistently leads the franchise in sales, which features award-winning wings in 35 flavors.
"People want consistent, good food," Witker said. "It's that simple. I guarantee you could have your favorite place that you go to, and you get one bad meal, and you might not go back. You get two (bad meals), and you won't go back. You've got to be consistent, and we do that."
Witker has been in the restaurant business for quite some time, originally starting off as a country club manager in Fort Pierce. The establishment in Fort Pierce eventually franchised into the first Hurricane Grill & Wings, and Witker pivoted to the restaurant franchise space and opened his first location in Naples in 2007. He then opened the Cape Coral location in March 2014 with a dream to become the best restaurant in Cape Coral for many years to come.
Witker's vision for the restaurant started when he visited the space on Pine Island Road, as it was formerly a Shrimp Shack.
"My wife and I are sitting around on a Friday night, and we decided to go out and look at the place," he recalled. "I walked in, stood at the front door, and went, 'uh oh.' And I saw how to make it work."
A major component of what Witker saw was knocking down a wall and having the central bar be accessible by bartenders both inside and outside, serving patrons on both sides.
"We re-did everything inside," he said. "We figured out how to attack the kitchen.
"It was scary when we opened. But we found quick success. It just boomed."
Witker strived to create a culture of tasty, consistent food and outstanding service which has led to the restaurant becoming a staple in Cape Coral over the last 11 years.
Witker said the restaurant gives a Caribbean feel, and is almost like being on the water. He said it's all about creating the right atmosphere. Hurricane Grill & Wings recently added a new patio space as well.
"You've got to have the lights, and the temperature, and the music right," Witker said. "You want the energy to be the same both inside and out. You've got to fight every battle, and that's really what makes us good. And I'm surrounded by people who are smart."
Witker said his establishment "sells fun."
"It's community," he said. "Where people don't have to stress out about getting the right food. It's just making people relaxed and having a good experience. We have bright colors — blues, orange, yellow, green. We have a spotlight on every table. It makes the table pop, and it's on a track light so if you move tables, you can turn them. It just takes so many different things to make it work."
Witker said he's a student of the game, studying franchises and independent restaurants for what works and what doesn't.
"It's always on the owner," he said of what makes the difference between successful and unsuccessful restaurants. "You have to look at everything. When there's something wrong, it's probably something the (owner) did wrong. You've got to have it going right to make it right."
Witker credits local residents, and his employees, for their unwavering commitment. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, to being the first to open after hurricanes Ian and Irma to feed the community, the restaurant has been there through times both good and bad.
"We looked at the negative as a positive," Witker said. "Those are opportunities.
"When we had those storms, we opened in eight days. Our staff was so good during those times. We helped serve those who had nowhere to go. But what was better was getting back to normal. People want normalcy, and that's what we gave them."
Hurricane Grill & Wings has also sponsored various leagues throughout the city.
There's entertainment every night at Hurricane Grill & Wings, which operates from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. each and every day. You'll find drink specials at an affordable rate. Kids also eat free on Saturdays.
"Most restaurants offer something like that on a slow night," Witker said. "I said, 'no,' I want to get us customers on a busy night. Why not let people enjoy it. It's just the right thing to do."
As for what Witker wants residents to know that have never stopped into Hurricane Grill & Wings: "We care," he said. "Our mantra is the relentless pursuit of perfection. We want to make customers happy and come and have a genuinely good experience. We appreciate our customers. The Cape has been really good to me, and we want to leave a legacy."
For more information on Hurricane Grill & Wings, visit hurricanewings.com.
Hurricane Grill & Wings Cape Coral is at 756 S.W. Pine Island Road, just east of the intersection of Skyline Boulevard.