The Story Of Blu
The
As told by Larry ‘Smokey’ Genta
Courtney Jones is one of the most creative, tuned-in and at the same time far out cats, I have ever met. He's a comunicator, a musician and radio guy, a producer and director in the truest sense of the words. CJ also has the ability to visualize and create and to take a niche and make it a concept. I've known him to be a “works hard, plays hard” guy who has had many passions and visions... but this one was about BLU.
Blu was the flow of water, the sound and format he coined ‘chill’, the movement, and motion of festive people and whatever it was that made people react in a positive way. Blu was also Courtney’s quest for brotherhood and all things that had beauty. Blu was gracious living.
Then of course, there was his love of exquisite and creative sushi and sashimi. From the Keys to Austin, to Malibu Beach, Courtney has had more spicy tuna hand rolls than anyone you’ll ever know. In fact, it was probably those protein cones that fueled many a vision and venture. Throw in some premium cocktails in a lively barroom and the blu vision became crystal clear.
After a journey that led to his helping launch the Internet Company FindWhat.com, Courtney was back at his Ft. Myers home where one of his best bros Chris Whitaker was making it happen in a big way. As CEO of a multi-million dollar company and one of the largest manufacturers of hurricane shutters in South Florida, Chris, obviously knew how to take an idea, and make it better.
Together, they always had the passion to take it all to the next level. Since the 80’s, Chris and Courtney were friends, both Missouri guys who tore up the town when you really could…from Captiva to Naples, they were known as big fun, out going guys with a bunch of contacts and a ton of friends. Chris was hearing and seeing what Courtney was feeling and he helped create and expand the vision of BLU Sushi. Another lover of life, Chris stays steady, remains super cool, and through it all, is a guy who is still way fun to share cocktails with.
That CJ and C-Dub bond was already there and solid, and now it was focused on creating reality and something Southwest Florida really couldn’t fathom. Over the top sushi served in a different environment. It would be a world without fried rice. No fortune cookies and no pu pu platters. It would be called BLU…hold the ‘e’.
At the same time, Peter Schmid, who had been a pioneer in downtown Ft Myers redevelopment, was searching for the perfect transition from his many successful years at the award-winning restaurant Peter’s LaCuisine, and both the Brick Bar and SKY Bar.
So the three partners, all long time residents, set out to build the perfect little place to enjoy ‘the art of sushi and outrageous cocktails’. Oh yea, one other thing, it had to be close to home. They decided it would be down the street and that it would be excellent. So excellent, that people would discover it and then tell a few friends. They wanted great sushi and creative talent, so they invited sushi chefs Kevin and Billy Mak to join their partnership. While there may have been other sushi chefs with more experience and higher profiles than Kevin and Billy, the partners had realized that the Mak brothers were exceptional artists and knew that together they could all share the same vision of BluSushi.
Personally, I go back a ways, and first met Courtney Jones when I opened Suncoast School of Bartending in 1983 in Fort Myers. CJ knew that I was a great bartender with a good idea, but he also knew I needed help. He had an idea for a radio spot and sold me $50 worth of radio ads that turned into dozens…and dozens of students. I trained hundreds and later became ‘Smokey’ at Elations, then at the legendary Norma Jean’s. I ran the bars, did promotions and was not only doing the Tom Cruise ‘Cocktail’ bit, I taught it, and lived it.
So more than 20 years later, Courtney knew that Smokey would be the guy that could create plenty of ‘Outrageous Cocktails’ and 'build a bar' that would fit the vision. And it was Courtney that knew I would be able to manage the operation and help make it all work, while seeing the future of everything that was...and could be, BLU. And I, just happened to be in- between lives.
So in January 2003, we opened the front door, pretty much while they were still building the back door… and we have been having fun and creating the Art of Sushi and pouring Outrageous Cocktails ever since.
In the first 3 month’s BLU Sushi had broken every expectation of the town and had already won critical acclaim for our sushi, our martinis, and our chilled out, but ramped up ambience. We received a well-deserved 4- star rating from the
Later that year, BLU Sushi enlarged the Fort Myers location and in 2004 expanded south to Naples, and ever since t, BLU Sushi is known as one of Southwest Florida’s favorite destination restaurants and best martini bars. In Naples, BLU Sushi is the preferred and recommended choice of The Ritz Carlton, The LaPlaya Resort, The Naples Grande and has hosted events and participated in the World Class Naples Winter Wine Festival. Anchored by the Mak Brothers and their tremendous team of professionals, along the magnificent BLU Sushi girls, the awards kept coming. BLU Sushi has earned the title of ‘Best Sushi’ from Gulfshore Life in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
But the other part that everybody knows, is that the music moves, and BLU has maintained a pulse on the night life in Fort Myers since the first ‘Outrageous Cocktail’ was poured in our signature blu stemmed martini glass.
Sure a lot of things have happened since then, and there have been many contributors to the success of Blu along the way, but we are all proud to say that the original opening team is back together and our staff and management is our best ever.
You have to know that for the partners, this area of Lee County that is known now as Gulf Coast Town Center was once so far out of town it was a little like West Lauderdale. The best part of it all is that once again we get to blaze a blu trail from all over Southwest Florida to the third member of our growing family, a BLU Sushi that will be bigger, better and even more fun, without sacrificing our quality. We’re close to the airport and great place to stop into on the way out of or back into town. We’re near the exciting things that Florida Gulf Coast University brings to our community, and we are psyched to be in the best place of all at Gulf Coast Town Center, right next to the entertainment of Market Plaza stage.
That’s why on the inside…we call it ‘Blutopia’.
Allow me to invite you to join us at all of our wonderful award-winning BLU Sushi locations as we continue to create, maintain and preserve our original vision of The Art of Sushi and Outrageous Cocktails in a world that is everything blu.
Larry ‘Smokey’ Genta
Managing Director
August 2007