Relocated Sweet Bean to perk up music scene

Nita Flores is keeping her dream of owning a coffee shop and music venue a reality.

Flores, the owner of Nita's Sweet Bean Cafe, recently relocated her shop to Clayton Court in Fort Myers with plans to improve the local music scene.

"I've always been interested in making a music venue and there is a real need in this area," said Flores, who opened at the new location in April. "I grew up in Chicago and you saw a lot of venues for musicians."

And to celebrate her opening and the music scene, Flores will be hosting a July 19 CD release party for Roy Schneider.

"It's got a funny name ... Roy Schneider and the Roadside Turtle Rescue because I've rescued a lot of turtles on the road," said Schneider, a cartoonist and award-winning singer/ songwriter who wrote the nationally syndicated comic "The Humble Stumble."

The Fort Myers resident describes his music as eclectic with a touch of blues and some folk.

"He's got a very original sound with his original songs and it's refreshing," said Flores, who met Schneider at another music venue years ago. "The music is acoustic with a splash of Floridian and people are really drawn to that."

Schneider will have plenty of space to play at Flores' new cafe, which offers open mic night on Fridays and has plans to expand music offerings on Saturdays.

"It's a passion of mine and I like to have all kinds of music. I don't see affordable places that have a comfortable atmosphere for people to go and just relax," Flores said. "It's not a place where musicians are playing where people are out drinking heavily at a bar. People here come to listen to what somebody does."

The cafe offers more seating and a larger outside area for musicians to warm up before shows.

"Everybody here walks out feeling good and that's what makes it," Flores said. "People are coming together to enjoy themselves."