Uncle Rico’s Pizza Doubles Size With Major Expansion, Preserving Old-School Vibe in Fort Myers

Uncle Rico's Pizza will grow into the spot next door at 2962 Cleveland Ave. The Fort Myers restaurant will balloon from 900 to 1,900 square feet. Owners Enrico and Cira Aguila plan to wrap up work in May or June.

Perpetual Paint Supplies used to occupy that 1,000-square-foot area. The business shifted to 2964 Cleveland Ave. to clear the way. The Aguilas say the buildout will run around $60,000.

"We already outgrew this location and need more space," said Enrico Aguila, according to The News-Press. "We don't have any room to store stuff."

The family picked expansion over opening a second shop. They'll install two- and four-top booths and tables because of issues with limited seating.

They want more seating,” Enrico said. “We're going to knock out this wall (by the cash register) and add two- and four-top booths and tables. Come, sit, eat."

They're also adding an old-time video game machine or two.

But what he's especially excited about is adding a dough room. A temperature-controlled dough room with a viewing window will give customers a peek at pizza-making. Two mixers will sit inside. Enrico Aguila will have room to test different doughs, flour fermentations, and starters.

The Washington Post ranked the restaurant third in Florida for New York-style pizza in September 2023. Enrico Aguila won the traditional cheese pizza category at the Galbani Professional Pizza Cup in Orlando a year ago and was selected as a competing member of the United States Pizza Team.

Enrico and his son Antonio won the two-person competition at the 2025 Galbani Cup. The duo will head to Las Vegas in two months to compete in individual categories at the International Pizza Challenge.