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In the Know: More Asian dining spots opening soon
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Q: When is the Pei Wei Asian Diner (a branch of P.F. Chang) planned to open in the new shopping center on the northwest corner of Airport and Vanderbilt?
— Judi Spintman, Naples
A: Pei Wei Asian Diner is expected to open Sept. 15 in The Collection at Vanderbilt on the corner of Airport-Pulling Road and Vanderbilt Beach Drive, according to general contractor Greg Long.
The exterior looks almost complete and Long’s crews were painting the interior when I stopped by last week. He said he will turn over the keys to the Pei Wei owners on Aug. 31.
Pei Wei — pronounced "Pay Way" — is a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based restaurant chain using Mandarin-style woks to create cuisine that samples flavors from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and China. The concept was developed by P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc. as a "fast-casual" version of the company’s popular restaurant.
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Q: When is the new Japanese steakhouse opening in the King’s Lake shopping center?
— J.S., East Naples
A: The manager of Yukihana Sushi and Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse hopes to open his new restaurant around Aug. 20.
"I’d like to open this month," said James Kim, who recently moved to Naples from Florida’s east coast.
Operating the family business with his sister and brother-in-law, Kim said he wants to open another Yukihana in Bonita. He said Yukihana means "snow flower," a rare flower in Japan.
About 80 percent of the food at Yukihana will be prepared on hibachi grills with a flashy performance style at each table similar to the well-known Benihana chain, Kim said. The sushi will feature all fresh fish, he said.
Yukihana will seat 119 and occupy 3,000 square feet at 4832 and 4834 Davis Blvd., the previous locations for Fantastic Flowers and the Kit ‘n Kaboodle Card & Gift Shop in King’s Lake Square shopping center. Fantastic Flowers relocated months ago within the same shopping center, but on the other side of Publix.
Kit ‘n Kaboodle, a half-price card and gift store, will open later this month as The New Kit ‘n Kaboodle, said owner David Boyle. The new location is farther east and on the other side of Davis Boulevard in the Del Mar Retail Center, the strip where the new Pelican Larry’s Raw Bar & Grill recently opened at 7785 Davis Blvd. This will be the third move for Kit ‘n Kaboodle, which first opened about 40 years ago in the downtown area where Bayfront Place now is located, said Boyle, who has owned the store for 12 years.
Another longtime King’s Lake Square tenant also recently reopened elsewhere. Cheeburger Cheeburger relocated its East Naples franchise about a mile west to the Estey-Air Plaza on the corner of Airport-Pulling Road and Estey Avenue. Starbucks Coffee took over its high-visibility spot in King’s Lake Square.
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Q: Tim, you reported that the section between Airport Road and Livingston Road on Vanderbilt Beach Road is completed. Why is the speed limit still 35 mph? Is this the new limit? The speed limit before the widening was 45 mph, now that the widening is completed why wouldn’t it be changed back?
— Tom Davis, Naples
Q: It looks like the six-lane segment of Vanderbilt Beach Road between Airport Road and Livingston Road is complete. Why is the speed limit still 35 mph?
— Fred Reischl, Golden Gate Estates
Q: Can you please tell me why the speed limit on Vanderbilt Beach Road between Airport-Pulling and Livingston roads, which was 45 mph when it was two lanes, is now 35 mph now that the work to change it to six lanes is completed? It has become nothing but a speed trap.
— Joe Spedale, Naples
A: The speed limit will be changed back to 45 mph, but it looks as if you’ll have to ease off the gas pedal for about another six more weeks.
"The project manager has told me it will be after the punch list is complete and the signals at Airport and Vanderbilt Beach Road are complete," said Eileen O’Grady, a spokeswoman for the Collier County Transportation Services Division.
The project manager said some items still have to be corrected, and workers will be on or in the roadway for about another six weeks, O’Grady said.
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Tim Aten is multimedia news editor of the Daily News. E-mail questions with your name and city of residence to intheknow@naplesnews.com.
For a complete archive of "In the Know" columns, click on naplesnews.com/intheknow/
The Naples Daily News asked readers to help us build an interactive map of Mother's Day greetings from around Southwest Florida and you responded! The majority of our responses were from Collier County, but we received Mother's Day messages from all over the United States, including Louisiana, Arizona, Tennessee, Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia and Missouri, as well as locations on Florida's East Coast. 
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#1 Posted by Jadip811 on August 7, 2007 at 8:13 p.m.
I agree with the writer about Vanderbilt Beach Road between Airport and Livingston Roads being nothing but a speed trap.
The road construction is complete. All six lanes are paved, marked and are open to traffic. The only work left is the traffic light at Airport Road. I have not seen a worker on that road in almost two months.
There is no reason for this to still be enforced as a 35MPH speed limit. This is nothing more than a technicality at this point.
This has become nothing more that a money making speed trap for Big Don's boys to run. I see the traffic unit stationed there on a regular basis.
No, I have not been ticketed but that does not change the subject that it is long pass due to return the speed limit to 45MPH.
Also, will the county be removing the worthless "NO TURN ON RED" light for the east bound turn lane on north bound Airport Road at Vanderbilt. This was placed there when there was light at the entrance to the shopping center and Tibroun which would cause traffic to back up onto Airport Rd. That traffic light has long been removed and there is no longer any back up of traffic. This light no longer serves any purpose but to hold up traffic.
#2 Posted by swfl_ff on August 7, 2007 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That restaurant in the Kings Lake plaza has been worked on inside for at least 6-8 months, and is still not open.
When they do open I doubt anyone will even know it and the place will be deserted. I hope they have a backup plan
#3 Posted by ToddMunch on August 8, 2007 at 12:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
See? Georgie Bushs' plan to provide jobs for Americans is working!
What do you mean you can't afford to live on minimum wage without medical coverage?
You must be wasting your money on un-necessary stuff like food, gas, toothpaste etc.
There are plenty of dumpsters for Americans to live AND eat from. And they have covers that close to keep out the rain. Just thnk of them as your own private hurricane shelter.
#4 Posted by Treasonous on August 8, 2007 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oriental food? You gotta be crazy. I wouldn't touch anything that comes from China. Our bribed politicians have ensured food merchants who have food prepared in China a slave labor market and no regulations over safety. They are willing to sacrifice our health to make corporate profits rise. Time to grow a garden and go hunting.
#5 Posted by jeffrocab on August 8, 2007 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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