A valuable part of the BEC team, Dany brings positive vibes and BIG energy to the cafe everyday!
At the age of 23 years old, born in Havana, Cuba, Dany has learned to value the importance of hard work. She has a passion for the sea and studied marine biology. She loves dancing and music is something that brings Dany a lot of peace of mind.
An exceptional addition to the BEC team, Sarah Meyers brings lots of ENERGY and positivity to the cafe!
Sarah has a passion for traveling (she's visited 16 countries so far). She's an artist and writer who loves to paint and do journalism & graphic design. Sarah loves to live a healthy lifestyle and always tries to find new healthy recipes and stay connected with nature.
Her favorite items to indulge in while at the cafe are our (freshly baked) Argentinian empanadas and the fresh fruit smoothies.
Opened in April 2022, in a small spot off Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers, Big Energy embodies the spirit of owner Barby Mercado. Barby is half-Cuban and half-Dominican, with strong Hispanic roots, being a first-generation American. The cafe is solely Latina-Owned. Barby's daughter, Jessica Santana, along with the rest of her loving family, have been extremely supportive and have helped her throughout her journey.
Born in Brooklyn, Mercado moved to Clewiston, FL when she was 11. That's where her parents took up farming.
“I went from rats and cockroaches to panthers, snakes and alligators,” she said, laughing.
“People always say I have great energy, big energy,” Mercado says. “I’ve been told that my entire life. It defines who I am.” With a youthful personality and amazing looks, she can easily be mistaken for Jennifer Lopez!
While Big Energy is her first restaurant, Mercado's interest in healthful eating began some 20 years ago as a mom trying to find nutritional help for her teenage daughter. She also operated a meal-prep service for several years prior.
But Big Energy isn't just about bright colors. Barby has made it her mission to provide her customers with "big energy" through the extensive menu of coffees, smoothies and a smattering of breakfast and lunch specials.
A recent addition to the BEC team, Gabriel Cintron comes with great people skills and BIG energy!
Gabriel is a wrestler, competes in DECA, BPA, and Science Olympiad competitions, is an altar server at his local church, and serves as a graduate leader for SWFL Cotillion.
Gabriel also loves to workout, go to the beach, and spend time with family/friends.
Another recent addition to the BEC team, Sophia Gebara is a customer favorite and packs BIG energy!
Sophia has been a dancer for 12 years now and is planning to continue it in college. She also travels to Europe every summer with her family to see her family in Slovakia! Sophia loves taking road trips around Europe and exploring the unknown (forests, castles, caves).
Sophia's very excited to take the initiative of exploring different opportunities at the cafe while continuing healthy habits and sharing it with countless amounts of our loyal customers!
Big Energy Cafe's marketing & social media manager, John Cintron, is also the cafe's first-ever team member.
John's journey with Big Energy began April 23, 2022, when the cafe he formerly worked at closed down that same day. Barby was just about to drive home after closing the cafe, but, by the grace of God, the two met and the rest is history.
John's love for a healthy & clean lifestyle, his computational & marketing skillset, and his positive energy, has made for a great addition to the team. He no longer resides in Fort Myers, as he is currently studying Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Economics on a Pre-Med track at The Johns Hopkins University beginning Fall 2023. John also has a passion for music and production.
BIG ENERGY Cafe
8646 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33908, United States
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