Seed & Bean Fort Myers to close May 31 | The expanded Cape Coral as well as Venice locations remain open
Caloosahatchee Cannabis Co. (C3) announced on Wednesday that Seed & Bean, its pioneering hemp café in downtown Fort Myers, will close its doors on May 31. The decision follows a strategic review of operations and comes as C3 accelerates growth around its expanded Cape Coral location and a rapidly evolving product lineup.
Since opening as Florida’s first cannabis café, Seed & Bean has been a nationally recognized trailblazer, introducing consumers to hemp-based wellness products, clean food and non-alcoholic alternatives at a time when the industry was still taking shape. While the downtown location has faced mounting headwinds from COVID to Hurricane Ian, rising food costs and shifting foot traffic, the Cape Coral concept is gaining traction and represents the clearer path forward for the brand.
“As stewards of this business, we have a responsibility to allocate resources where they generate the most impact,” said Bruce Wendorf, C3 co-founder and investor. “Rising food costs and the operational demands of the downtown location have made it clear that consolidating around Cape Coral gives C3 the strongest foundation for sustainable growth. This is about protecting the mission, not retreating from it.”
C3 co-founder Cole Peacock reflected on the significance of what Seed & Bean built in partnership with the city of Fort Myers and what lies ahead.
“Seed & Bean was more than a business; it was a collaboration with the city of Fort Myers to create something that had never been done before,” Peacock said. “Working alongside local and state officials, we navigated uncharted regulatory territory, established new legal precedents, and helped legitimize a burgeoning industry. We are enormously proud of that work. The model we built here is exactly what consumers are seeking: clean food, hemp-based products for wellness and genuine alternatives to alcohol, along with a comforting feeling, and we will carry that vision forward in Cape Coral.”
C3 extends its heartfelt gratitude to the city of Fort Myers, its elected officials, and the dedicated staff who helped make Seed & Bean a landmark in the community. Above all, the company thanks the loyal patrons who made the café a warm, welcoming space over the past seven years. Your support and curiosity helped prove that this concept had a future, and that future continues. Seed & Bean will welcome guests through its final day of service on Sunday, May 31. Seed & Bean’s Cape Coral and Venice locations remain open
The Cape Coral location represents the next evolution of the C3 concept. In addition to the hemp-based mocktails and curated retail wellness brands that made Seed & Bean a destination, the Cape Coral store features a full liquor bar, a bold pairing that positions the brand at the forefront of the beverage wellness movement.
“While the closure of the downtown location may feel abrupt, it is a necessary step to protect the momentum we’ve built and ensure we can execute on what comes next,” said Kyle Scheid, co-founder of C3. “C3 is expanding its beverage business in a significant way; three new hemp beers are coming online to join our award-winning Caloosa Kush, the first federally approved hemp beer in the nation, alongside our growing PureNative THC seltzer line. To do that well, we need to be fully focused. Our guests in Cape Coral and Venice will continue to experience everything that makes Seed & Bean exceptional.”
About Caloosahatchee Cannabis Co. (C3)
Caloosahatchee Cannabis Co. is a Florida-based hemp lifestyle brand and beverage company operating at the intersection of wellness, hospitality, and innovation. C3 launched Florida’s first cannabis café and is the producer of Caloosa Kush, the first federally approved hemp beer in the United States. C3 operates locations in Cape Coral and Venice, Florida.