Man with knife robs restaurant in North Fort Myers

Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a robbery at Stamatis Family Restaurant in North Fort Myers Wednesday.

According to LCSO, deputies were dispatched after reports of a Hispanic male wielding a knife, wearing a red bandana and a blue backpack, who went into a restaurant and demanded money.

Witnesses told deputies the man ran away from the restaurant.

Barry Stull is a regular customer at the restaurant. He could not believe crime scene tape and deputies surrounded the door of the restaurant an hour before he showed up to sit down and eat.

“I just heard when I arrived that they were robbed, and I’m shocked that would happen because they are not a major restaurant; although, I guess people get desperate,” Stull said. “Glad that nobody was hurt because it could’ve ended up violent.”

Cynthia Vitagliano says she has been to Stamatis a few times. She couldn’t believe someone would hurt the business when many are already fighting to survive.

“That’s just like a little neighborhood restaurant, you know. It’s weird. I was kind of shocked,” Vitagliano said. “We got enough going on with this pandemic and everything else, so it’s just scary.”

Those who work at the restaurant told us they did not want to comment. They wanted to get back to business.

“It’s Christmas time, people are supposed to be helping each other,” Vitagliano said.

Anyone with information can contact SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).