Waffle Monkey has officially opened their first US location right here in beautiful Bonita Springs. You may have seen their decals on the windows of their new storefront at the corner of Bonita Beach Road and Old 41 Road in the Entrada Plaza over the past few months. After a lot of hard work from some pretty cool folks, Waffle Monkey Bonita Beach is ready to open for business. We sat down with the owner of Waffle Monkey, and their business partners who are opening this new location, to get the scoop on our super sweet new neighbors.
The Story Behind Waffle Monkey
Ranae and Jacob Cook love to travel and immerse themselves in different cultures. So much so, that they decided to move from Australia to Costa Rica just so their son could experience a new culture and lifestyle. After settling in, they came across a small coffee shop for sale on the beach of Tamarindo in Costa Rica and decided to purchase it. The cafe sold waffles, coffee, and grab-and-go bites for visitors to pick up on their way to the beach. The Cooks loved the idea of the cafe, but it was missing something.
After a month of running the cafe, they decided to close up shop and revamp their business. The menu worked well for the location, but the cafe needed a brand. They brainstormed ideas and came up with the name Waffle Monkey, an homage to the furry friends that roam the beaches of Costa Rica. They created a memorable logo, tweaked the menu, gave the cafe and facelift, and in 2016, they opened the first Waffle Monkey location.
After lots of success, they teamed up with some business partners and opened their second location in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Georgetown is a huge tourist town with a cruise ship port, making it a perfect location for this fun, coastal cafe. They opened their doors in December 2019. Four months later, the last cruise ship came and went. The pandemic began and no one was allowed on or off the island. Luckily, the lack of tourism brought in more locals to the area who fell in love with Waffle Monkey. Now, their Grand Cayman location is booming with business from tourists and locals alike.
Waffle Monkey Bonita Beach
The Location
Elicia and Abraham Bedell live in North Naples with their two kids. Abraham had always worked long and late hours in the restaurant business and Elicia sold real estate for years. She came across a vacant spot in the Entrada Plaza and called the developer, SteveHovland. He informed her that he really wanted a breakfast place to fill the spot. Elicia had just the place. Elicia’s mom lived in the Cayman Islands and knew the business partners that opened Waffle Monkey Georgetown. Just like that, Waffle Monkey Bonita Beach was born.
The new Bonita Beach location will feature the same delicious menu and colorful, coastal atmosphere as its two, tropical sister locations. As soon as you step through the front door, you’ll be greeted with bright colors, beachy murals, and a smell we wish we could make a candle out of! The restaurant is designed to be fast-casual, so you will place your order at the counter and then find a seat inside or out while you wait for your treats.
The Menu
No matter what mood you’re in, there is a waffle for you waiting at Waffle Monkey. Have a sweet tooth? Try Abraham’s favorite, the Waffle Monkey, topped with powdered sugar, banana, local honey & coconut. Feeling savory? You’ll want to try Ranae’s favorite, the Easy Cheesey- a ham and cheese waffle topped with herb butter and parmesan. If you want both, you’ll love Jacob’s favorite, the classic Chicken and Waffles. If you just need a little pick-me-up, try one of their delicious espresso drinks, made with their strong and smooth Costa Rican coffee.
To check out their full menu, click here!
We got to try a fantastic Americano and the Cinnabun- A light & fluffy Belgian waffle topped with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, walnuts & condensed milk. This new location is walking distance from our house, and needless to say, we are in trouble. The coffee was brewed to perfection and the waffle was cooked just right! We will definitely be back- probably a little too often!
Waffle Monkey will be open every day from 7 AM -3 PM!
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