Times Square, Fort Myers Beach: A Local’s Guide

What Times Square is

The Town of Fort Myers Beach (opens in a new tab) describes Times Square as a mix of beachfront shops and restaurants, the famous pier and public beach access, with live music at many of the businesses. Before Hurricane Ian in 2022 it was the busiest few blocks on the island. Most of it was swept away in the storm, and it is being rebuilt piece by piece.

Today it is a place in transition. Food trucks and restaurants are open right in the square, bars and restaurants line Old San Carlos Boulevard, and there’s construction fencing where the two biggest projects are underway. The same Gulf sunsets that made the area famous haven’t changed.

The first major rebuild in the square itself is the Sunset Beach Resort at 1028 Estero Boulevard, which broke ground on July 6, 2026: a three-story building with six hotel units, restaurants, bars, shops, a music stage and a public pool, targeted to open in early 2028. See our Is Fort Myers Beach open? update for details.

The Fort Myers Beach Pier rebuild

Lee County broke ground on the new Fort Myers Beach Pier on August 21, 2026, according to the Fort Myers Beach Observer (opens in a new tab), and construction is now underway. The work is expected to take about a year. The new pier will be about 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide, noticeably longer and wider than the one Ian destroyed. Our pier rebuild update has the full timeline.

During construction, Lynn Hall Memorial Park is closed, including its parking lot and restrooms (which are being rebuilt), along with the beach access from Times Square. The beach itself is still open: the access near our home is open, and you can walk along the water. From The Loft, the beach is still a 2 to 3 minute walk.

Downtown vs. mid-island

Fort Myers Beach is a seven-mile island, and an address “on Fort Myers Beach” can mean very different things. Downtown, around Times Square, is the walkable part: beach, restaurants, bars, shops and the trolley are all a few minutes away on foot. Mid-island and the south end are quieter and more residential, and most trips there mean driving and parking.

If you want to park once and walk everywhere, stay downtown. Our guide to where to stay in Fort Myers Beach compares the areas in more detail.

Staying downtown? Our Fort Myers Beach vacation rentals are a short walk from the beach and Times Square. Check availability

Parking near Times Square

Parking is the hardest part of visiting downtown, especially in winter and on event weekends. With the Lynn Hall lot closed for the pier project, spaces near Times Square are even tighter. Guests at The Loft get a free on-site parking space, so the car can stay put for the whole trip. Day visitors should read our Fort Myers Beach parking guide before heading over.

Where to stay near Times Square

The Loft FMB is a small, locally owned property at 923 Third Street with three places to stay: the Octopus Loft, a top-floor one-bedroom with a big private deck, the Turtle Suite, a one-bedroom with a king bed and rainfall shower, and the Main House, a two-bedroom Fort Myers Beach vacation rental that opened in September 2026. Check availability for your dates, or watch the live cam to see downtown right now.

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