News & Press Releases
Courtyard Café specializes in fresh, artisan food at Bell Tower Shops
African and Central American beans that are locally roasted are the main ingredients for the coffees served at a new café at the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers. Formerly the Blackhawk Café, Courtyard Café has been transformed into a bright, European-style coffee house that offers crepes and waffles made from scratch, fresh baked pastry, and Fort Myers’ only authentic gelato bar. Courtyard Café uses exclusive coffee blends from African, Central and South American coffee beans which are roasted on a weekly basis, then ground on demand producing a high end quality gourmet coffee.
“Our café will be quality driven in all aspects to provide a superb experience for our clientele,” said Ted Jensen, who owns Courtyard Café with his wife, Carol. “When people enter our world, they will find an open comfortable place to enjoy specialty coffee, over-sized sandwiches and delicious breakfast crepes, all prepared by hand by our friendly staff.”
While coffee is the main focus, the Jensen’s also offer baked goods made daily, including breads and pastries, as well as homemade salads and sandwiches such as Croque Monsieur (hot ham and Swiss cheese). The cornerstone of the café’s espresso bar is a hand-polished sculptured three-group Victoria Arduino Italian espresso machine using gourmet beans that are ground on demand. The artisan-made Gelato has been a hit with customers, who often pair it with Belgian waffles or a freshly made crepe.
“Quality service, a passion for good food and deriving customer satisfaction is not new to my Sports Zone, a large entertainment complex in eastern Pennsylvania.
“From the start, I really wanted a nice gelato bar that had a wide variety of flavors,” said Jensen, “It’s a terrific low-fat alternative to ice cream and we use it to build our relationship with customers through samples that get people talking. We want our café to be a gathering place for shoppers, visitors and locals alike.”
Beginning Feb. 13, the coffee house will begin offering Sunday brunch with prix fixe menu options including Belgian waffles, crepes, assorted pastries, or Croque or Norwegian Monsieur, plus mimosas, bloody marys or orange juice, with a cup of Courtyard Café’s exclusive French roast or house blend coffee for $10.50. To celebrate the first brunch as well as Valentine’s, Courtyard Café is hosting Sunday with Sinatra, a live tribute show with Greg Rini during the three seatings – 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For additional information or to make a reservation, call 239-433-7770.
Courtyard Café is located in the center courtyard at Bell Tower Shops, near the shopping center’s main fountain. Ample seating with tables and comfortable leather club chairs is available, plus a small meeting area, outdoor seating and free Wi-Fi. Hours are Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 239-433-7770.
Bell Tower Shops is an open-air lifestyle center, located in Fort Myers at U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway, with more than 35 retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue and The Fresh Market, 10 restaurants and Bell Tower 20 Regal Cinemas. The center’s sidewalk garden setting of lush landscaping, splashing fountains and covered walkways makes it a popular gathering place. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the center. To learn more, log onto www.TheBellTowerShops.com or call 239-489-1221.
Contact:
Becky Thompson
Bell Tower Shops
239-433-7770
becky.thompson@madisonmarquette.com
