provided to The Santiva Chronicle
After a soft opening at 2496 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel Island, on March 2, Scooters Pizza Kitchen joined the SanCap Chamber for a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 11. The name Scooters, said co-owner Miles Sweiss, conveys “that chill island vibe – the feeling of cruising around the island on a scooter.”
“The idea behind Scooters Pizza is simple — we wanted to make the pizzas we grew up with and the pizzas we wanted to eat, with premium ingredients we are proud to serve to our own children,” said Sweiss, who conceived the restaurant with business partner Geno Accra. “Our food is exceptional and fun, but never pretentious. And ‘Kitchen’ refers to the fact that we’re a true scratch kitchen. We make our dough and pizzas from scratch, from flour to finish.”
Scooters introduces Detroit-style pan pizza to the islands. Detroit pizza houses traditionally baked their pizzas in rectangular automotive parts trays to a caramelized cheese crust and light, airy center.
The Sanibel pizzeria also offers hand-tossed 16-inch pies, thin-crust 16-inch pies, and a 24-inch New York-style pizza Weiss claims as “the largest pizza on the island and possibly Southwest Florida.” Slices served at lunch are cut from the giant-sized pizza, resulting in a foot-long slice.
The menu also lists boneless chicken wings and build-your-own and gluten-free pizza options. Outdoor seating is available, but takeout is the popular option. The owners look forward to adding delivery and gelato in coming weeks.
“We can’t say enough about the support we’ve received. The local community and the chamber have encouraged us mentally, emotionally, and financially,” Weiss said. “The encouragement from this community has meant the world to us. We’re just incredibly grateful to be part of the Sanibel community and excited to serve the island a pizza experience it hasn’t had before.”
“Another option for pizza – it rounds out the islands’ dining scene perfectly,” said John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and chief executive officer. “Especially a pizzeria with such a unique product and business model. We look forward to great things happening there.”
ABOUT SANCAP CHAMBER
The SanCap Chamber is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or John@sanibel-captiva.org.