A Tradition on Isles of Capri

1979 saw a number of major events. The Walkman hit the marketplace and virtually invented the concept of “personal electronics.”  McDonalds launched the Happy Meal, and the Iranian Revolution overthrew the Shah of Iran.

Locally, the vision of “Mickey” Cooper, patriarch of the Cooper family, saw an opportunity. He relocated his family from Knoxville, Tennessee, and convinced other family members from the Oklahoma area to settle down on Isles of Capri to pursue their futures. Cooper bought Poor Paul’s Bait Shack, which became the foundation for one of the most popular family-owned and operated restaurants in the area, known today as Pelican Bend. The restaurant is a product of the hard work and dedication by the entire Cooper family. 

None of it happened overnight. It took the combined efforts of the entire Cooper family, including Anna Cooper, Mickey  Cooper’s wife, the matriarch of the family. Their son Mike and his wife Debbie looked back on how far the family has come, from cleaning out the old store and cleaning up after hurricanes to a newly renovated modern kitchen that turns out a product they are all proud of, including that of new chef Tom Miller, who brings a world of experience to their operation. 

Grandson Stephen Cooper and his wife Morgan look back on the family’s operation and the challenges they’ve faced. “All of those challenges we’ve had made us stronger,” said Cooper. “The strength of our family, the assistance of the community, and the wonderful support of our customer base have helped to assist us to overcome several hurricanes, including Wilma, Irma and Ian, a terrible fire in 1992, and the recent effects of a pandemic.”

Their location is one of the most successfully run family operations known throughout the greater Marco Island/Isles of Capri area. Today, there remain very few waterfront dining experiences that offer such great ambiance, food, and a front seat to wonderful sunsets. 

Stephen’s father, Michael, and his mother, Debbie, continue to assist their son as they carefully groom the third generation of the Cooper family that keeps his grandfather’s dream alive. Stephen’s sister Amy keeps the books straight and the bills paid on time. 

If you haven’t ventured over to Capri for a while, you might be pleasantly surprised, as there have been some changes. The huge area at the rear of the restaurant has become a welcoming new courtyard featuring much-needed expanded outdoor seating. The large chickee hut still stands at the rear of the property,  but now with one of two full-service bars to cater to your needs. Family members re-erected that structure after Hurricane Wilma did considerable damage to it. You’ll also be pleased to find an additional freestanding chickee hut bar with more seating as part of the newly expanded courtyard area.

Today, Pelican Bend offers a full-service bar, complete with your favorite mixed drinks, tropical cocktails, wine, and beer throughout the facility. You’ll also find a welcoming deck area just off the large Chickee at the rear of the parking area, therefore expanding the availability of seating.

“We are still known for our great seafood offerings, including the famous sauteed fish, as well as our world-famous wedge of lettuce with our homemade creamy garlic dressing. We always hope you’ll save room for some of the best Key Lime and Peanut Butter Pie desserts,” said Mike and Debbie Cooper as they looked around with pride at the courtyard. Chef Tom is also expanding the menu to include other favorite dishes to meet more popular requests.

Another recent addition comes with a new gift shop to provide a few take-home memories of what makes Southwest Florida and Pelican Ben such an unforgettable place.

This is truly one of those unique spots you’ll want to visit on a regular basis. Pelican Bend is open Tuesday through Sunday for both lunch and dinner, with expanded hours during season at 219 Capri Boulevard.