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Naples Boulevard is no longer just a street — it’s a power center.
Shoppers already flock to the curving boulevard between Airport-Pulling and Pine Ridge roads in North Naples, and soon retailers Kohl’s, Golf Galaxy and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits will join the crowd.
A “power center” is a plaza dominated by big-box retailers, known for their huge, boxy buildings, including department stores, warehouse clubs and “category killers,” stores that offer huge selections in particular categories.
Kohl’s is joining the already busy area, and its large building is currently under construction between Florida Motor Sports and Lowe’s.
A sign in front of the 9-acre Kohl’s site announces a store opening for Sept. 28 and a grand opening for Oct. 1. The company, which has 930 stores open or in the works, purchased the lot in December for $6.65 million.
But when contacted for more details about the store, company spokeswoman Elizabeth Deluca wrote in an e-mail that the company “has not yet announced the opening of a store in the Naples community.”
The department store chain, based near Milwaukee, offers men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, as well as kitchen and home goods, according to its Web site.
Just down the shopping center street, another 18,000-square-foot building under construction is the future home of Golf Galaxy, a golf equipment, apparel and accessories store. A 3,000-square-foot space is also available in the building.
Patty Gibbs, spokeswoman for Golf Galaxy, said the company hasn’t yet announced its Naples store, but a sign out front reads Golf Galaxy and David Stevens, Investment Properties Corp. real estate agent, confirmed that the golf retailer has signed a lease.
Sandwiched between the big boxes, smaller businesses — often independent or locally owned franchises — have also moved in.
“You probably can’t beat this location, because you have every major store surrounding us and you’re right across the street from the movie theater,” said Michael Helff, owner of Play N Trade, a video game store in Boulevard Shoppes, a strip center on the street. “It’s incredible.”
Helff opened his video game store in January and business has been steady since then, he said. The 1,500-square-foot shop is one of 10 businesses in the strip center.
Red Brick Pizza owner Randy Trombino chose the center because of its proximity to the national retailers, the movie theater, schools and the YMCA, he said.
“It’s a great family oriented area and we really cater to families,” Trombino said. “This part of town is less seasonal than other parts.”
Meanwhile, the Promenade at Naples Centre, the shopping center at the south corner of Airport-Pulling Road and Naples Boulevard, is looking for a new tenant to fill the space where Wild Oats is now.
Whole Foods, which bought the organic retailer, plans to open a new market at Vanderbilt Beach Road and U.S. 41 North and will close the Naples Boulevard store. The move is planned for late summer 2008.
A Dunkin’s Diamonds and Sun Trust Bank are planned for the empty land in front of Jo-Ann’s, and a new, stand-alone restaurant, Miller’s Naples Ale House, opened recently in the corner between the Promenade and the movie theater.
Beyond all the buildings there is still empty land on the street, and owners have plans to develop there as well.
On a 6.61-acre parcel next to Hollywood 20, Chicago-based Oak Ridge Development plans to build a strip center similar to Boulevard Shoppes, which it developed, or outparcels for restaurants, offices and banks, said Stevens, an Investment Properties Corp. agent.
Just past that vacant land, Naples-based Gulf Sun Corp. plans to develop offices, shops and restaurants on a 11.4-acre parcel, but has no definite plans yet, said Mark Bates, president.
Across the street next to Costco, there is more vacant land owned by Michigan-based Landon Cos., the street’s original developer, Stevens said. The land is approved for office, retail and restaurants.
“This street has the power of a large power center mall,” Stevens said. “... It’s a very solid concentration of national retailers that are still actively growing despite a sluggish economy.”
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Too bad this area was not as well planned as the Estero Malls. The traffic patterns are awkward at best and dangerous at the worst. Costco has some exceptionally reckless drivers as customers (seems like most but not all of there are from out of town!)
We enjoy shopping at Costco as well as Wild Oats/Whole Food; eating at some of the restaurants near there. We walk from store to store some of the time, but the area is not pedestrian friendly.
Packing it with more stores seems foolish with existing pedestrian unfriendly site plan.
#1 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on May 1, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Naples Blvd is a nightmare to drive on many days. I know I avoid it at all costs. In my opinion that area was very poorly planed. Too many large stores were allowed within a relative small area.
What really amazes me is that we continue to build more retail stores while other building and shopping centers are sitting empty. I recently drove through the Pavilion Shopping Center and was surprised to find nearly half of the stores not empty. Sign of the times I guess.
#2 Posted by swfl_ff on May 1, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I drive Naples Blvd almost everyday and it isn't too bad except for the Home Depot / NCH intersection and intersection by Costco/Best Buy. Those two areas are just retarded.
#3 Posted by jim09091 on May 1, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Correction to #2. I ment to say that half of the stores were empty.
#4 Posted by swfl_ff on May 1, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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