Monty’s opened October 1983. It was the first authentic Italian Restaurant in Punta Gorda, Florida. For years Monty’s owner Diane Caputo thrived on treating her guests like family and creating a dining experience with great food that made you feel like you were home. August 13, 2004 changed that forever. Hurricane Charley destroyed the building in its path taking all that history with it.
Monty's destroyed
Monty’s opened back up just a few short months after Charley in the Publix shopping center across the street, but not by Diane herself. She was selling the business due to her own health issues and to take care of her dying father. “It just wasn’t the same.” customers said, leading the business downhill. Diane just couldn’t let 20 years of hard work go down. In mid 2007 she took back over renaming the business Old Monty’s bringing back the old recipes and the old menu so it was just like the old place. Through the recession she rebuilt her reputation and decided to rebuild at the original location.
Building a new Monty's
In 2009, Diane was awarded the 15th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award. This award recognizes successful small business owners who have triumphed over adversity and shared their stories as models for other entrepreneurs.
Winning The Blue Chip
October 2018 marks 35 years that Monty’s has been in business supporting the local community with quality service and authentic food.