When we traveled to other cities, we kept seeing these great interactive entertainment spots. Places that focused on darts, duckpin bowling, or live music. We thought, why pick just one? Why not bring all of that energy together into one concept?
Mathew Baum
Wait Outside: Fort Myers After Dark
In the middle of Fort Myers, where quiet evenings often end too early, Mathew and Jenna Baum set out to create something the city had been missing. Their idea was simple but ambitious: a place built for connection, activity, and community. Not just a bar, not just a restaurant, but a space where people could relax, play, and be social again.
“When we traveled to other cities, we kept seeing these great interactive entertainment spots,” Mathew said. “Places that focused on darts, duckpin bowling, or live music. We thought, why pick just one? Why not bring all of that energy together into one concept?”
The result was Backyard Social, an open-air gathering space with lawn games, live music, local events, and food designed for sharing. What began as a single idea between friends has become one of the most talked-about venues in Fort Myers.
The Concept
Mathew grew up in Fort Myers before leaving for college at the University of Kentucky. After graduating, he built a career in the hospitality industry, first managing craft beer franchises and later developing original restaurant concepts. His experience led him to one central belief: people crave more than good food and drinks; they crave experiences.
“With all the delivery apps and meal services out there, people have to want to leave the house for something different,” he said. “The food and drinks are the baseline. What makes them come out is the atmosphere and the experience.”
At Backyard Social, guests might attend a Latin Night on Thursday, a Family Fun Day on Sunday, or a local marketplace pop-up on the weekend. The menu changes with the seasons, and the outdoor space shifts from family-friendly afternoons to lively evenings filled with music, food, drinks, and laughter.
A Hometown Collaboration
The Baums’ connection to Fort Myers runs deep. Both Mathew and Jenna were born and raised here, attended local schools, and now raise their family in the same community. Their business partners, the Mann family, share that same sense of local pride. “This is home,” Mathew said. “Our parents are here, our siblings are here. We built this for the people who built us.”
That hometown loyalty became part of the brand itself. When Backyard Social opened, it immediately became a community hub. Weddings, birthdays, graduations, and local fundraisers filled the calendar. “We’ve hosted everything from 21st birthdays to 70th birthdays,” Mathew said. “Getting an email after an event that says, ‘This was the best night ever,’ that’s the real reward.”
The SBDC Connection
Behind the scenes, the Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University played a vital role in Backyard Social’s evolution. Mathew and Jenna first connected with consultant Andrea Walker by chance at a dinner party. A casual conversation about business challenges turned into a lasting professional relationship.
“It was totally unplanned,” Mathew recalled. “Jenna was talking about some of the growing pains we were having with staffing and expansion, and Andrea said, ‘You should give me a call.’ That was the start of something that’s helped us ever since.”
Andrea became a trusted advisor to the Baums, helping them step back from day-to-day operations to view the business from a broader perspective. “Sometimes you’re too close to it,” Mathew said. “Andrea and the SBDC gave us outside viewpoints, and helped us evaluate decisions about HR, marketing, and even the roles we didn’t realize we needed to fill. Having that objective insight has been huge for us.”
Through regular consultations, the SBDC helped Backyard Social refine its organizational structure, strengthen its long-term planning, and prepare for future expansion. “Andrea is part of our team now,” Mathew said. “She helps us stay accountable, focused, and strategic.”
Growth Beyond the Backyard
Success came quickly. Within weeks of opening, the response was overwhelming. “The first few months were incredible, but it was also chaotic,” Mathew said. “We were so busy that people assumed they couldn’t get in. That kind of success brings new challenges, and the SBDC helped us navigate that too.”
The Baums have since found balance, maintaining steady business while expanding their reach. Their next Backyard Social location will open in Lakewood Ranch, and their restaurant group is developing additional concepts across Florida, including an Agave Bandito location near Orlando.
Even with the growth, Fort Myers remains their anchor. “This is where our roots are,” Mathew said. “We could open in other cities, but Fort Myers will always be the heartbeat. It’s where the idea started, and it’s where it belongs. I think what makes Backyard Social special is that it brings people together. Every night, we see different groups, different ages, different stories. It’s Fort Myers, all in one place.”
For the Baums, success is measured not only in sales or expansion but in the faces of the people who fill their space. “It started as an idea between friends,” Mathew said. “Now it’s part of the community. And we’re just getting started.”
