NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — On State Road 31, you can't help but drive by the giant strawberry landmark at 31 Produce. The market and restaurant is closing due to a state road widening project.
Sunday was the final day customers could grab a bite to eat or local produce.
Click here to see Fox 4 Community Correspondent Victoria Quevedo speak with a couple who went to 31 Produce every Sunday:
For Henry and Valentina Moreau, the closure marks the end of a six-and-a-half-year Sunday morning tradition. The couple has been regular customers since the restaurant opened, developing relationships that went beyond typical customer service.
"They're not just waitresses. They're friends now," Henry Moreau said.
The restaurant's closure stems from eminent domain proceedings, which give government entities the legal authority to acquire private property for public use. In this case, the land is needed for a State Road 31 widening project.
For longtime customers like the Moreaus, the loss is more than just losing a favorite dining spot. They say the restaurant created a sense of community that will be difficult to replace.
"I think the community is going to miss them. They really are… everybody loves it here," Valentina Moreau said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
