Skyline Chili's Southwest Florida Closure

0:00It's April 24th. This is Entertainment and celebrity news today, powered by AI, your front row to the latest buzz. I'm Cory with the story. A beloved Skyline Chili franchise in Southwest Florida just shut its doors for good after more than 38 years. The spots and fort Myers and Naples run by owner Gates Rodenfell's, closed recently as he heads into retirement, Skyline Chili confirmed the news, thanking him for his long service. Rodenfell shared the update on Facebook and with a note on the Naples door, calling it 38 and a half years of great memories. The chains now hunting for new franchise owners to bring their chili back to the area. They still have four other locations in Florida, mostly clustered in the Midwest around Cincinnati. Fans poured out their hearts online, with over 150 comments mourning the loss. Many said it felt less like a chain and more like a family run gym, thanks to Rodenfell's and his crew. On time customers and even former staff shared stories of decades of chili dreams and

1:02church lunches. These spots started back in 1988 under Rodenfell's company, moving from a mall to a retail strip that did not force the closure. The chain is famous for its three-way chili over spaghetti and conies, topped with that signature spicy mix, always with oyster crackers. Skyline Keys innovating too, dropping a sweet and spicy ice cream collab with graders this January, called Skyline Spice. While Southwest Florida says goodbye to this era, the chili legacy rolls on, ready for the next chapter down south.