More Restaurants opening in North Naples

More North Naples restaurants are opening this year.

Some places are finishing up last-minute tasks before opening later than expected. Newk’s Eatery at 6340 Naples Blvd. will become Shea’s Lansdowne Street within a month according to a recent article by  Tim Aten from Gulf Shore Business.

Shea’s and Lansdowne Street co-owner Charlie Maurer stated, “We’re quite close.” “The glass garage doors finally  arrived after ordering them 37 weeks ago. That’s the final piece.”
The Boston-themed sports bar’s overhead doors on the northern and western sides will open to an outdoor bar on a more than 2,200-square-foot terrace. Mauer stated, “We’re trying something new.” “Excited.”

Shea’s is returning to Naples, where it operated for four years along Fifth Avenue South before shutting in June 2020. With 4,000 square feet of exposed brick walls, dark wood, brass, stained glass, chandeliers, a fireplace, and New England sports memorabilia, the Maurers will replicate the ambiance.

Maurer promised the same food and concept. “It’s like Shea’s downtown and Lansdowne Bonita,” he remarked.

Carole’s House Café & French Bakery is nearing its second site. Last Memorial Day weekend, St. Andrews Square in East Naples hosted the first. The second will open soon in the Publix-anchored Pelican Strand shopping center, 5620 Strand Blvd., off Immokalee Road in North Naples.

North Naples neighbors Carole Dahan and Christophe Mars are 99% finished renovating a disused office building into their café. Opening depends on next week’s inspections. Carole’s House serves sandwiches and salads for breakfast and lunch and bakes fresh French pastries, breads, and desserts.

Owner Jose Reyes says 1942 Mexican Grill will open shortly but needs a liquor license. “We don’t want to open without liquor because sometimes consumers only give you one shot and we don’t like to take those types of risks,” Reyes added.

Wiggins Pass Crossing, 13510 Tamiami Trail N., a shopping center on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road, will host the Mexican restaurant and bar. The remodeled end unit has been the Broken Watch, The Palate, Beach Tavern, IIWII Beach Bar & Grille, and Mr. Jerry’s Tavern before becoming the restaurant with indoor-outdoor bars.

Expect street tacos and numerous Margarita tastes at 1942, a modern Mexican restaurant. Reyes claimed Mexico custom-made the restaurant’s lighting and other decor.

“Our paint and décor are unique,” he remarked. Our menu will be distinct from most Mexican restaurants. Naples-specific.”

Popular restaurant businesses opening their first Collier County sites have generated a lot of attention. They’re even taking over restaurant franchises’ locations.
Buca di Beppo Italian restaurant and Sweet Tomatoes buffet were demolished for new sites in North Naples. J. Alexander’s, an upscale restaurant, will open its first Southwest Florida location on Trail Boulevard, where Buca di Beppo thrived for 20 years.

J. Alexander’s, a contemporary restaurant and full bar recognized for its wood-fired cooking and attention to detail, consistency, and quality since 1991, will renovate the 8,160-square-foot Naples facility to become its eighth in Florida. J. Alexander serves prime rib, steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and entrée salads prepared from scratch.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, expanding out the highly prominent former Sweet Tomatoes property on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 North and Immokalee Road, will join Darden Restaurants’ LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Olive Garden, and Yard House in North Naples.

Cheddar’s has a Lee County location at Gulf Coast Town Center. In its 7,000-square-foot outparcel in the Granada Shoppes, the rising business will serve scratch-made chicken pot pies, country fried steak, and honey butter croissants.
Mission BBQ is being built at 5795 Airport-Pulling Road, an outparcel lot between Culver’s and Chick-fil-A drive-thrus, from a former bank branch. The patriotic BBQ brand is enclosing the drive-thru of the former bank to create a 4,587-square-foot restaurant with more than 120 seats and partially covered patio seating. Spring is expected for opening.

Next door, Chick-fil-A will finally open with a new interior and two drive-thru lanes. The late refurbishment project has closed the facility since July.

North Naples restaurants with new names will result from ownership changes last year. Joe’s Diner on U.S. 41 and Noodles on Pine Ridge Road will finish their renovations.

Last September, Ela Vivonetto bought Joe’s Diner at 9331 Tamiami Trail North, the other end of Naples Park Plaza. After this season, Vivonetto hopes to refurbish, add supper service, and alter the restaurant’s name, which she hasn’t decided on yet.
Noodles Italian Cafe & Sushi Bar at 1585 Pine Ridge Road in Mission Square will become Giuseppe and the Lion, serving Italian and sushi. I’m transitioning. Last November, Joseph Sutherland and his father-in-law bought the Noodles business from the Berman brothers. “Almost done. Should finish midweek. Ordering new signage. Still awaiting installation. I’ll have a spectacular opening party after this.”

The Oasis will replace Pelican Larry’s Raw Bar & Grill at 1046 Pine Ridge Road this spring under new ownership. “I’ll leave it open for a month and a half. Then, in March, I intend on closing down for maybe a week or five days to put the final touches on the establishment and then reopen as the fully rebranded Oasis,” said Naples resident Dan Latino, the new owner of the neighborhood bar and grill.

Estia, an upscale Mediterranean and Greek restaurant, will replace Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill at 8990 Fontana Del Sol Way on Vanderbilt Beach Road. The Pashalis family, which owns three Estia Greek-Mediterranean restaurants in Philadelphia and South Jersey, will open its first Florida location. The fine-dining Greek restaurant will open this fall.
Butcher Private will discreetly open across the street in the former Agave restaurant. Butcher, originally a steakhouse, will be a private business club. Veljko Pavicevic, who co-owns the luxury venue and Sails Restaurant in Naples with Corinne Ryan, said Butcher had 300 members—“the best of the best business Olympians”—and 3,000 on a waiting list.

Vampire Penguin Shaved Snow & Desserts left the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt last year, and Imperio Taqueria will step in. The Golden Gate Estates Cruz family will run the full-service Mexican restaurant. Crave Cookies plans to launch its first regional site later this year in a new facility under construction on Airport-Pulling Road at the northeast corner of Shoppes at Vanderbilt.

Kelly’s Roast Beef’s first local location began construction as a new outparcel next to Panera Bread in the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road. Kelly’s, known in Boston for its roast beef sandwiches and lobster rolls, will operate a drive-thru franchise this year at Founders Square on Immokalee Road east of Collier Boulevard.

Founders Square will remain popular in 2023 after opening seven restaurants last year. The Plaza at Founders Square, centered by Sunshine Ace Hardware, will include Kelly’s Roast Beef, Lake Park Diner, Havana Libre Cuban Cuisine, and 110 Grill.

Expect two new restaurants at Green Tree Center. Two new unoccupied restaurant spots remain in the center on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Immokalee roads.

We want a steakhouse, bistro, Cuban, or French restaurant with a bakery. “Those are the four types we’d like to put in here that we don’t have,” said Jack Crifasi of Crifasi Real Estate. Since renovation, the center has been successful. We are receiving many compliments.”