Beware Of Bad Gas At These Lee County Stations
If your favorite gas station in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Alva or Port Charlotte is closed today this could be the reason why. Beware of bad gas at these Lee County stations. People preparing for Hurricane Idalia all over Florida may have inadvertently filled their tanks and fuel cans with contaminated gasoline. This is according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
State officials say the bad gas came from Port Tampa Bay by Citgo. They are calling the problem “human error.” The contaminated fuel is not just in Southwest Florida. It stretches up and down the Gulf Coast and even across the state to Daytona. If you were traveling this weekend, you might want to check out this complete list of stations. Make sure you didn’t fill up at one of them either.
Beware of bad gas at these Lee County stations, also one in Port Charlotte
- 7-Eleven at 4325 Lee Boulevard, Lehigh Acres
- 7-Eleven at 12750 South Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers
- 7-Eleven at 720 Chiquita Boulevard, North Cape Coral
- 7-Eleven at 2604 Skyline Boulevard, Cape Coral
- 7-Eleven at 1626 Meadow Road, Lehigh Acres
- 7-Eleven at 601 Pine Island Rd. S.W., Cape Coral
- 7-Eleven at 714 Burnt Store Road, Cape Coral
- BJ’s Wholesale at 1929 Pine Island Road N.E., Cape Coral
- BJ’s Wholesale at 9372 Ben C Pratt Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers
- Handy Foods Store #86 at 21321 Palm Beach Blvd., Alva
- Handy Foods Store #87 at 3205 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres
- Superday CITGO at 1595 South McCall Road, Port Charlotte
If you purchased gas from any of these locations after 10am Saturday (August 26th), your vehicle or other equipment might not function properly. Contaminated fuel can cause engine damage. Stations with this gasoline are closed until their tanks can be cleaned and fuel replaced. The state has opened a consumer hotline for complaints regarding contaminated gasoline. It is 1-800-HELP-FLA.
This Central Florida BBQ Pit Stop Is Smokin’ Hot
Are you taking a road trip this weekend? When I leave Southwest Florida on a Friday, I almost always need a pit stop. I’ve been up since 4am, am often hungry, tired and in need of a pick-me-up. If you’re like me, there are pit stops like this party place on I-75 in Manatee County. And then there is this fantastic crab shack on US17 in Punta Gorda. However, this Central Florida BBQ pit stop is smokin’ hot. It’s Smoking’ Joes BBQ in Bowling Green. If you’ve ever been to the famous golf resort Streamsong, you might be familiar with this small community. Otherwise, most people fly right through.
You might just smell this Central Florida BBQ pit stop before you see it. But when you see it, it’s hard not to do a double take. Described by some as a BBQ dive. The long building is painted with cheeky cartoons and a large smoker sits roadside, tempting passersby with its aromas. The building has been there for decades. It’s been a family run BBQ joint for about 26 years.
Not that I ever expect a BBQ place to be chic, but the décor here is indeed interesting. The dining room looks like an old dance hall with a disco ball hanging from the ceiling and a light system. Half of the dining area is filled with tables, the other half appears to be used for storage. I always grabbed my food to go from the counter.
![To Go menu from Smokin' Joes BBQ](https://espnswfl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2023/08/smokin-joes-300x225.jpg)
The menu from Smokin’ Joes in Bowling Green. Pick up some BBQ to go next time you drive through.
About the food at this Central Florida pit stop
Side dishes are the ones you might expect at a BBQ joint. The coleslaw is creamy, balanced and great with the pulled pork, whether on the side or piled into the sandwich. Mac-n-Cheese is also creamy. Baked beans are the kind you crave with BBQ. They have a sweet and savory edge. There is also collard greens, yams, fried okra and lots more.
Pulled pork is their specialty. Get it in a sandwich, a platter or by the pound. It is even piled high in Smokin’ Joe’s Cuban Sandwich. The fries are crinkly, salty and crisp. Other smoked meats include brisket, ribs, chicken and sausage. In addition, fried catfish, flounder and shrimp are on the menu. There are signs for smoked mullet and Central Florida’s famous boiled peanuts, both of which I plan to try next. If you have a sweet tooth, try the hand dipped ice cream and milk shakes. The fruit crumbles are homemade. Are you getting hungry?
Bad Gas Lee County
Gina Birch brings the sunshine to Sunny 106.3 every weekday morning from 6-10. She has worked in radio, television and print in Southwest Florida for nearly 30 years. During that time, she has become an advocate for numerous charities including those that support animals, children, women and wellness. In addition, she has written for numerous local, regional and national publications about food, wine and travel. Those are her longtime passions...along with shoes.