J.J. and Jason Ingream know a thing or two about change when it comes to running a restaurant. Almost three years ago, Hurricane Ian destroyed the site of their business in Times Square on Fort Myers Beach.
About two months ago, long after rebuilding their business at the longtime restaurant and nightclub site at 16440 S. Tamiami Trail in south Fort Myers, the Ingreams were met not with another challenge — but with a business opportunity.
They seized it.
Mango Rita’s Rhythm House is nearing the end of putting on the 10 concerts it inherited when Buddha Live closed earlier this summer. But Mango Rita’s is at the very beginning of asserting itself at the forefront of the area’s live music scene.
“So far, we’ve added about 30 shows, and we’re booking more as we speak,” Jason Ingream said. “We just have a great opportunity here that was handed to us from the Buddha. And hopefully we live up to that. They had a great venue for many, many years. But we can hold more people here. So, the more people, the better.”
The Dirtt, a Motley Crue tribute band, is performing Aug. 8. On Aug. 9, the 350-capacity venue will host its biggest concert yet when George Lynch, former guitarist for Dokken, takes the stage with his solo band.
Tickets can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite or at the door on show nights if they aren’t sold out.
“That’s a big deal for us,” Ingream said of landing Lynch. “He’s nationally known. He’s been around for a long, long time. Through Dokken, and the Lynch Mob band he had together. Most people don’t know he tried out for Ozzy Osbourne’s band, when his guitarist passed away in a plane crash. It’s a very big deal for us to have him here.”
Bands paying tribute to Nirvana (Sept. 5), Alice in Chains (Sept. 12), Limp Bizkit (Sept. 19), Foo Fighters (Sept. 26) are lined up to fill out a fall lineup of Friday night shows, with local acts playing other nights as well.
When the Ingreams bought the building in November 2022, it was known as the Rhythm House. Prior to that, it had been Spectators, Cadillac Jack’s, Ale Mary’s Bar and Grill and Benchwarmers Bar and Grill, among other incarnations.
J.J. Ingream said they decided to retain the Rhythm House at the end of Mango Rita’s, so customers knew the restaurant also focused on live music. She began first by booking local bands until the Buddha Live opportunity allowed her to expand the scope of the music.
Jason Ingream said he learned the Buddha Live was closing on a Friday and that a Sunday would be that venue’s last day. The following day, Ingream arrived with an empty truck and began loading all the sound equipment, lighting, etc., transporting it to Mango Rita’s.
“And then we spent that week, 20 hours a day, rebuilding our stage, which was smaller, hanging up all the new lights and the new sound system.”
A back part of Mango Rita’s displays NFL helmets and Buffalo Bills memorabilia, as the Buffalo Bills Backers fan club watches games at Mango Rita’s throughout the season.
“We keep growing,” J.J. Ingream said. “It’s incredible the support that we have here at Mango Rita’s. From Fort Myers Beach, we went from 2,500 square feet to 11,000 square feet.”
The menu also has evolved. Burgers, sandwiches, tacos and pizzas are in the $15 range. Salads are in the $10 to $15 range. A grouper platter costs $20.
“A lot of great American food,” Jason Ingream said. “We have pizza, tacos, burgers, fish. We have all kinds of different items. Everything is made in house.”
