PORT CHARLOTTE — The wait is over for Port Charlotte’s Skillets, which soft-opened Thursday in Peachland Promenade’s completely remodeled former Hallmark Store.
This year its Valentines aren’t the kind you put in an envelope. They’re special heart-shaped waffles heaped with fresh strawberries and warm strawberry syrup.
Locals who’d been watching the location for months discovered the soft opening at once and swore they’d be back.
The eatery’s first customers were Lorna Grinstead, a new Skillets hostess on her day off, and Florence Winters of Port Charlotte, who said, “Awesome service, great food and very clean. I’ll be back with all my friends and colleagues.”
Kings Gate residents Rowena Reed and Sharon Altman enjoyed their first-ever Skillets breakfast, collected menus to tuck into new Kings Gate neighbors’ welcome bags, and brought home even more addictive scones for later.
Skillets Restaurants’ 15th, 4,400-square-foot restaurant hired 20 employees and seats nearly 200 local guests, many of whom already believed it was worth making the trek to Venice or Fort Myers for a Skillets breakfast or lunch.