Leani’s brings fashion back to Fort Myers Beach

Carrie Smith, owner of Leani’s, has reopened officially at Santini Plaza. Smith is opening on Fort Myers Beach for the first time since Hurricane Ian wiped her store out. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Carrie Smith won’t officially be reopening Leani’s until Sunday, Dec. 1, though she isn’t turning away customers who are wondering into the Santini Plaza store this past week and pulling off swimwear from the rack and other fashions.

“The cash register works,” Smith said. “We’re technically not open (yet).”

Smith has been working hard to reopen at the store, putting in long hours getting merchandise back on the shelves. She started noticing visitors peaking in through the windows and decided to start letting them in over the past couple weeks.

It’s been a long road for Smith to get back to this point, more than two years after Hurricane Ian took away everything Smith had worked so hard for in the store.

Smith is the third owner of the iconic store since it opened in the plaza in 1977.

Leani’s is back open at Santini Plaza, offering up fashions for women and men on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

For a moment, Smith didn’t know if she would ever open back up. Smith was working at Victoria’s Place on Bonita Beach Road after Ian. A former mobile home park and laundromat owner in Michigan who had settled into Lee County with her husband David just a few years ago, she earned a real estate license after Hurricane Ian and had considered becoming a clothing sales representative if Santini Plaza didn’t reopen in time.

Thankfully it did.

Smith is poised to join The Islander and Surf Style as the first new businesses to open at Santini Plaza since

Hurricane Ian. They are at the forefront of a rebirth at Santini Plaza. In the coming months, they are expected to

be rejoined by South Beach Grille, a new Gavin’s Ace Hardware, Nesbit Realty and New York Pizza & Pasta, among others.

Leani’s owner Debbie Smith completes a transaction with Debbie and Rich Dyer, of Charleston, South Carolina as Jamie Laino (far left) looks on. Leani’s has reopened at Santini Plaza on Fort Myers Beach after being shut down since Hurricane Ian. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

“It’s emotional for everybody on this island to get back to our happy place,” Smith said. “This store is not just a store. It is the happy place.” She even has a sign in the store that says “My Happy Place.”

She was able to save some racks that survived Hurricane Ian. They had originally been used next door by Palmetto’s Apparel before they closed (prior to Hurricane Ian).

Smith said her flood insurance covered her merchandise up to six feet above the floor though she didn’t get any reimbursement from wind insurance for anything above six feet, she said. Smith had to remortgage her home to get the store back up and running.

Smith tries to keep the setup of the store the same as it was before Hurricane Ian. She also is continue to using many of the same clothing brands – including Lulu B, Sunset Swimwear, Beach House Swimwear, Victoria Green, Missy and IBKUL.

Missy swimwear is one of her most popular items. The swimwear appeals to those over 40, she said.

Carrie Smith, owner of Leani’s, will be reopening officially at Santini Plaza on Dec. 1. Smith is opening on Fort Myers Beach for the first time since Hurricane Ian wiped her store out. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

In addition to beachwear and swimwear, she sells apparel, hats, sunglasses, pants, shorts, belts and handbags.

Smith is excited for the future. She plans to join her neighbor Anita Cereceda’s The Islander for another fashion show in the spring. “It will be coming,” Smith said.