Chamber ribbon-cutting cheers Scooters Pizza opening
After a soft opening on March 2 on Sanibel, Scooters Pizza Kitchen joined the SanCap Chamber for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 11.
Co-owner Miles Sweiss, who conceived the restaurant with business partner Geno Accra, said the name Scooters 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,” he said. “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, which Weiss claims is “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. As of the ribbon-cutting, the owners looked forward to adding delivery and gelato in the 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,” he 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,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “Especially a pizzeria with such a unique product and business model. We look forward to great things happening there.”
Scooters Pizza Kitchen is at 2496 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel.