The Green Flash Celebrates 25 Years
The Green Flash Restaurant touts gorgeous views and tasty American-style dishes. Situated on the waterfront where sunset views are plentiful each day, guests arrive by boat or by car. On Dec. 8, 2020, the restaurant turns 25, and owner Andreas Bieri and his dedicated staff will be sure to celebrate.
Purchased in 1994 from the Wiles family, The Green Flash was built on the site of the historic Timmy’s Nook. According to the restaurant's website, "In 1950, T.M. Wiles, henceforth known as Timmy, opened the local watering hole. 'The Nook,' as it became known, was a renowned gathering place frequented by natives and tourists alike, and is legendary as a Captiva landmark. For over 40 years, Timmy’s Nook graced the property where The Green Flash now stands. The Green Flash Restaurant aims to keep the heritage of Captiva Island and Timmy’s Nook alive."
The restaurant sits on the Roosevelt Channel, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, the Pine Island Sound, and Buck Key. It is named for the natural, optical phenomena that may occur just after sunset or just before sunrise, giving the illusion of green sun rays or a green spot just above the upper rim of the Sun's disk. The restaurant also shares its name with a now-closed shop Bieri frequented in downtown Capitva in the early years of his arrival to the island in the 1970s.
Bieri is originally from the Swiss Alps. Even as a child, he had always known he wanted to become a chef, as he told the Sanibel/Captiva Islander in a feature story published in 2003 and available on the restaurant's website. He grew to love Capitva Island for its community feel, describing the feeling as "one big family," according to the story. Additionally, Bieri has owned The Mucky Duck restaurant, just around the corner on the beachfront, at the end of Andy Rosse Lane, since 1980.
The restaurant closed in March in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but was able to conduct many behind-the-scenes projects, including cleaning, painting, and small fixes. The restaurant officially re-opened in late May, requiring face masks to be worn inside only and social distancing in effect both inside and on the patio.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. for dinner. It is not open on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Purchased in 1994 from the Wiles family, The Green Flash was built on the site of the historic Timmy’s Nook. According to the restaurant's website, "In 1950, T.M. Wiles, henceforth known as Timmy, opened the local watering hole. 'The Nook,' as it became known, was a renowned gathering place frequented by natives and tourists alike, and is legendary as a Captiva landmark. For over 40 years, Timmy’s Nook graced the property where The Green Flash now stands. The Green Flash Restaurant aims to keep the heritage of Captiva Island and Timmy’s Nook alive."
The restaurant sits on the Roosevelt Channel, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, the Pine Island Sound, and Buck Key. It is named for the natural, optical phenomena that may occur just after sunset or just before sunrise, giving the illusion of green sun rays or a green spot just above the upper rim of the Sun's disk. The restaurant also shares its name with a now-closed shop Bieri frequented in downtown Capitva in the early years of his arrival to the island in the 1970s.
Bieri is originally from the Swiss Alps. Even as a child, he had always known he wanted to become a chef, as he told the Sanibel/Captiva Islander in a feature story published in 2003 and available on the restaurant's website. He grew to love Capitva Island for its community feel, describing the feeling as "one big family," according to the story. Additionally, Bieri has owned The Mucky Duck restaurant, just around the corner on the beachfront, at the end of Andy Rosse Lane, since 1980.
The restaurant closed in March in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but was able to conduct many behind-the-scenes projects, including cleaning, painting, and small fixes. The restaurant officially re-opened in late May, requiring face masks to be worn inside only and social distancing in effect both inside and on the patio.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. for dinner. It is not open on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
