Nelsons Port-a-Pit of SWFL

Nelsons Port-a-Pit of SWFL Bringing the Michiana famous Nelson’s Port-a-Pit to Southwest Florida! Contact us for catering se
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For over 50 years Nelson’s has been serving Indiana and Michigan with the finest barbecued products. As a manager of a small poultry processing plant in Wakarusa, Indiana during the Great Depression, Nelson Gongwer continuously toyed with new and innovative ways to promote poultry products. He was convinced that there was a better way to cook large quantities of chicken while still maintaining the

high quality only found in “grandma’s” kitchen. Weekend after weekend, he labored over makeshift grills, trying to determine a means to somehow automate it. Eventually in 1967, Nelson accomplished exactly what he had set out to do, and the famous Port-A-Pit® “bbq machine” was introduced to the world. After years of persistence, Nelson had created the process that would soon make Nelson’s a household name throughout northern Indiana. By the 1980’s, now under the leadership of Dean Gongwer (Nelson’s son) the company was barbecuing over 500,000 halves of chicken per year, successfully producing fundraisers, corporate caterings, and other special events to become one of the largest caterers in northern Indiana. Nelson’s always provided its customers with a rare combination of quality and quantity due to the uniqueness of the Port-A-Pit. Dean’s son, Tad Nelson Gongwer took over the third generation family owned company in 1997 and has continued the tradition of quality and inventive business thinking by putting an emphasis on the catering division. Nelson’s now serves over 1,200,000 halves of chicken through its fundraising and catering services every year. In 2019 Laura and Steven Virgil decided to become licensees of Nelson's BBQ and bring the unique Nelson's flavor to SWFL. While the pandemic set them back, they finally opened Nelson's Port-A-Pit of SWFL, LLC in August 2021.

Exciting news! 🍴Commercial Kitchen of Bonita Springs is in the works! We will be working on it all summer in hopes of be...
04/28/2022

Exciting news! 🍴
Commercial Kitchen of Bonita Springs is in the works! We will be working on it all summer in hopes of being fully operational by Fall. Hopefully sooner 🤞🏼

Stay tuned for updates 💚

See you at Palm City Brewing tonight for trivia night! We will be serving from 4pm-9pm!
04/06/2022

See you at Palm City Brewing tonight for trivia night!
We will be serving from 4pm-9pm!

Great day at Estero Fest today!! 🔥 Thank you Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce for having us!! ❌ sold out! ❌ We will se...
04/02/2022

Great day at Estero Fest today!! 🔥
Thank you Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce for having us!!

❌ sold out! ❌

We will see you at Palm City Brewing tomorrow with our full menu! 🍻

We will be at Estero Fest tomorrow from 11am-5pm! *menu will be in the comments below. We will also be at Palm City Brew...
04/01/2022

We will be at Estero Fest tomorrow from 11am-5pm!
*menu will be in the comments below.

We will also be at Palm City Brewing on Sunday with the full menu. 🐔

We will be at Blueway RV Village Friday 6pm-8pm & Crazy Dingo Brewing Saturday from 5pm-9pm
03/17/2022

We will be at Blueway RV Village Friday 6pm-8pm
& Crazy Dingo Brewing Saturday from 5pm-9pm

Happy International Women’s Day to the true visionary behind Nelson’s SWFL. What was always a summertime staple for me g...
03/09/2022

Happy International Women’s Day to the true visionary behind Nelson’s SWFL. What was always a summertime staple for me growing up that was impossible to explain became a passion for my wonderful wife Laura Virgil. All throughout COVID she never lost her drive to bring Nelson’s to Florida and she’s the one who deserves all the credit. What most people do not realize is that Laura’s true passion isn’t just the food, but rather its potential to bring people together and provide unique ways to give back to the local community. So many of our conversations start with her saying “What if we could figure out a way to do X while benefiting Y?” For her it has always been about supporting others.

When people hear me say “It was Laura’s idea!” I sincerely mean it. Nelson’s wouldn’t be where it is today without Laura. Cheers, babe. 🍷

-Steven

Nelson’s is island hopping this week! 🗺See ya when we get back!! 👋🏼
03/09/2022

Nelson’s is island hopping this week! 🗺

See ya when we get back!! 👋🏼

Appreciation post: this guy!🥰Steven also works full time in addition to being the “pitmaster” 😉 here at Nelson’s SWFL. H...
03/03/2022

Appreciation post: this guy!🥰
Steven also works full time in addition to being the “pitmaster” 😉 here at Nelson’s SWFL. His work has taken a back seat while we get Nelson’s up and running. He works SO hard, literally day and night. Thank you Steven!

…He’s not too bad to look at either 😉

We only have two events this week so make sure to come get your Nelson’s fix this Friday!! 🐔 South Collier Farmers Marke...
03/02/2022

We only have two events this week so make sure to come get your Nelson’s fix this Friday!! 🐔

South Collier Farmers Market 9am-2pm
Oil Well Craft Beer 5pm-8pm

Tonight’s menu 🔥 Hopsized Brewing 5pm-9pm
02/25/2022

Tonight’s menu 🔥
Hopsized Brewing 5pm-9pm

🎉 BIG NEWS! 🎉We are SUPER EXCITED to announce the new home of Nelson’s SWFL! Our new facility will allow us to cater, de...
02/23/2022

🎉 BIG NEWS! 🎉

We are SUPER EXCITED to announce the new home of Nelson’s SWFL! Our new facility will allow us to cater, deliver and provide customer pick ups in addition to our current schedule!

More details coming SOON!
🍻I have a feeling we will be throwing a grand opening party too 😉

Will we be seeing you this week? 👋🏼 **updated calendar! 2/23 Lake San Marino RV Resort 4pm-7pm2/24 Jamaica Bay 4pm-7pm2/...
02/21/2022

Will we be seeing you this week? 👋🏼
**updated calendar!

2/23 Lake San Marino RV Resort 4pm-7pm
2/24 Jamaica Bay 4pm-7pm
2/25 South Collier Farmers Market 9am-2pm
Hopsized Brewing 5pm-9pm

Here from 5pm-8pm tonight!! 🍻
02/18/2022

Here from 5pm-8pm tonight!! 🍻

Beautiful day at South Collier Farmers Market ! …we are here from 9-2!!
02/18/2022

Beautiful day at South Collier Farmers Market !
…we are here from 9-2!!

This weekends schedule! FridaySouth Collier Farmers Market 9am-2pm&Oil Well Craft Beer 5pm-8pm Saturday🍻 Bonita Brew Fes...
02/17/2022

This weekends schedule!

Friday
South Collier Farmers Market 9am-2pm
&
Oil Well Craft Beer 5pm-8pm

Saturday
🍻 Bonita Brew Fest at Riverside Park! 🍻
Nelson’s is proud to be providing meals for all VIP ticket holders!
We will also be serving from 4pm-730pm.
*proceeds benefit Bonita Springs Historical Society

Thank you to everyone at the South Collier Farmers Market for welcoming us this morning!! & thank you to everyone at Blu...
02/12/2022

Thank you to everyone at the South Collier Farmers Market for welcoming us this morning!!

& thank you to everyone at Blueway RV Village this evening, as always!!!

Tomorrows menu for South Collier Farmers Market …chicken will be ready by 10am 🐔 🎉 NEW MENU ITEM TOO! 🎉
02/10/2022

Tomorrows menu for South Collier Farmers Market
…chicken will be ready by 10am 🐔

🎉 NEW MENU ITEM TOO! 🎉

Nelson’s Port-a-Pit will now be at the South Collier Farmers Market every Friday from 9am-2pm throughout season!! See ya...
02/09/2022

Nelson’s Port-a-Pit will now be at the South Collier Farmers Market every Friday from 9am-2pm throughout season!!

See ya on Friday!! 👋🏼

Marsh Landing 4pm-7pm tonight! (Across from Coconut Point)
02/08/2022

Marsh Landing 4pm-7pm tonight!
(Across from Coconut Point)

We are at Naples Reserve today 5pm-7pm!See ya soon! 👋🏼
02/07/2022

We are at Naples Reserve today 5pm-7pm!
See ya soon! 👋🏼

This weeks schedule! 🔥 …sorry we’ve been a little quiet on here lately, we have been working on something extra special ...
02/07/2022

This weeks schedule! 🔥

…sorry we’ve been a little quiet on here lately, we have been working on something extra special and hope to be able to announce soon! 😁

This weeks schedule BlueWay is open to the public!
01/25/2022

This weeks schedule
BlueWay is open to the public!

We are at Hopsized Brewing today at noon!…BBQ sundaes are always a good idea 🤤
01/22/2022

We are at Hopsized Brewing today at noon!
…BBQ sundaes are always a good idea 🤤

Here’s the menu for the weekend! Come and get it! 🐔 1/20 Jamaica Bay 4-71/21 BlueWay RV 6301/22 Hopsized Brewing 12-11
01/20/2022

Here’s the menu for the weekend!
Come and get it! 🐔

1/20 Jamaica Bay 4-7
1/21 BlueWay RV 630
1/22 Hopsized Brewing 12-11

🔥 WE ARE BACK! 🔥 …this week’s schedule. See you soon! 🐔
01/16/2022

🔥 WE ARE BACK! 🔥
…this week’s schedule.
See you soon! 🐔

I haven’t been feeling well the last few days, I did test negative but now Steven isn’t feeling well either. To be safe,...
01/05/2022

I haven’t been feeling well the last few days, I did test negative but now Steven isn’t feeling well either. To be safe, we will be canceling our events for the rest of the week. We hope everyone understands, we would much rather be safe than sorry during these times. 😷

For now, we quarantine ourselves. ☀️
Maybe I’ll finally take down the Christmas trees?!

🎆HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎆 Todays menu at Fort Myers Brewing CompanyWe will be serving from 2pm-11pm tonight!
01/01/2022

🎆HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎆
Todays menu at Fort Myers Brewing Company
We will be serving from 2pm-11pm tonight!

Happy Birthday to Laura, the true visionary behind Nelson’s SWFL. After years of listening me [Steven] try to describe i...
12/26/2021

Happy Birthday to Laura, the true visionary behind Nelson’s SWFL. After years of listening me [Steven] try to describe it to the first time she tried it in July of 2019 in Topeka, Indiana she was determined to bring it to Florida. Here we are 2.5 years later and it’s all thanks to her. Cheers, boo and enjoy your birthday!

Our last event of the year!! 🍻We are here from 12-4pm today! 🐔
12/19/2021

Our last event of the year!! 🍻
We are here from 12-4pm today! 🐔

This weekends menu! 🤤 TODAY’S SPECIAL: 🐷 The Nelson Cut 20oz Bone-In Chop! $18…& our Smoked Pit-Tato Salad is back! $3Ou...
12/18/2021

This weekends menu! 🤤

TODAY’S SPECIAL:
🐷 The Nelson Cut 20oz Bone-In Chop! $18

…& our Smoked Pit-Tato Salad is back! $3
Our signature smoked baby potatoes, crispy bacon and chives mixed with our BBQ aoili.

New side options-
Creamy mac n’ cheese and mashed pit-tatoes $3

Saturday 12/18 4:30-9
Sunday 12/19 Hopsized Brewing 12-4

Here from 11-2!🔥 *open to the public! Off 41 just north of Old 41.
12/17/2021

Here from 11-2!🔥
*open to the public!
Off 41 just north of Old 41.

🔥 Here from 4-7 or until sell out! 🔥 *open to the public!*off Wiggins Pass Road
12/16/2021

🔥 Here from 4-7 or until sell out! 🔥
*open to the public!
*off Wiggins Pass Road

Steven and I had a great anniversary getaway but we are back and ready to get smokin’ again! We have 4 events this week ...
12/15/2021

Steven and I had a great anniversary getaway but we are back and ready to get smokin’ again! We have 4 events this week and then we will be off to spend time with our families for the holidays🎄

We will also be featuring some new menu items this weekend!! More info soon! 😁

This weeks schedule!! 🔥…& our last few events for 2021!
12/12/2021

This weeks schedule!! 🔥
…& our last few events for 2021!

Good morning!! 💨☀️ We are here from 10-4 today!!
12/04/2021

Good morning!! 💨☀️
We are here from 10-4 today!!

We are at Oil Well Craft Beer 5-8 tonight! 🍻 Come grab some smokey goodness before the Christmas festivities tonight! 🎄
12/03/2021

We are at Oil Well Craft Beer 5-8 tonight! 🍻
Come grab some smokey goodness before the Christmas festivities tonight! 🎄

12/01/2021

Pre ordering is now available for 12/2 at Bonita Landing and 12/3 at Oil Well Craft Beer !

We prepare our famous chicken with the intent to sell out. Guarantee your order by ordering ahead of time.

🐾 Steven and I were honored to attend the Animal Refuge Center’s annual starlight auction last night as one of their spo...
11/28/2021

🐾 Steven and I were honored to attend the Animal Refuge Center’s annual starlight auction last night as one of their sponsors. 💫

Animal Refuge Center

Here at Palm City from 1pm-6pm for Small Brewery Sunday! 🍻 Menu is in the comments below!
11/28/2021

Here at Palm City from 1pm-6pm for Small Brewery Sunday! 🍻

Menu is in the comments below!

🔥 This weeks schedule!🔥
11/27/2021

🔥 This weeks schedule!🔥

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Bonita Springs, FL

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