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Two-story Books-A-Million opens at The Mercato in North Naples
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NAPLES — A two-story Books-A-Million store has opened at The Mercato in North Naples, The Lutgert Companies announced Friday.
The bookstore is among the first of several national retailers and specialty stores slated to open in the coming months at the mixed-use development on 53 acres at the intersection of U.S. 41 North and Vanderbilt Beach Road. The project is a joint venture of The Lutgert Companies and the Barron Collier Companies.
“We are pleased to announce the opening of Books-A-Million at The Mercato,” Dougall McCorkle, senior vice president of commercial real estate for The Lutgert Companies, is quoted in a news release. “The 26,000-square-foot store occupies two floors and will provide shoppers with the most comprehensive selection of books, magazines and specialty gift items.”
When completed, The Mercato will provide nearly 330,000 square feet of main street-style retail and restaurants, 140,000 square feet of office space and 175 luxury residential units. The Strada, the first Mercato residential community, will be comprised of 92 luxury condominium residences ranging in price from the $500,000s to more than $1 million.
Among the major tenants already open at The Mercato is Whole Foods Market, a 53,000-square-foot natural and organic grocery store, which anchors one end of Main Street, and The Capital Grille, a national restaurant chain. Construction is progressing on the restaurant location for McCormick & Schmick’s as well as locations for five casual dining restaurants – AZN, Bravo! Italiana Cucina, Piola, The Pub and Stage Deli – for their first locations in the Southwest Florida.
Among the national retailers coming to The Mercato are Coldwater Creek, Sur La Table and Z Gallerie. The specialty retailers and boutiques will include Femme Fatale, GiGi’s Children’s Boutique, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Solstice Sunglass Boutique and Swim ‘n Sport. The Mercato will also feature an 11-screen, 1,300-seat movie theater.
Construction continues on a professional office building to be occupied by Merrill Lynch Three law firms, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur; Salvatori & Wood, and Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy & Ford will also relocate their practices to The Mercato.
Based in Birmingham, Ala., Books-A-Million operates more than 200 stores in 20 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to its primary retail component, the corporation includes a book wholesale and distribution subsidiary, an e-commerce division, and an Internet development and services company.
Books-A-Million superstores provide an expansive selection of books, magazines, bargain books, collectible supplies, card and gift departments as well as special category shops such as Faithpoint, which offers the best references and writings for the Christian market. The superstores also include Joe Muggs Café, a full-line coffee and espresso bar offering gourmet coffees, teas and desserts.
For more information on The Mercato, visit www.MercatoNaples.com.
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How can this be? Hasn't the alleged 'mainstream media' harped endlessly about 'economic collapse'?
How do astute businesses such as Books A Million open beautiful new stores?
Isn't it fine to see businesses thrive, knowing citizens saw thru the sham 'crisis' and those who manipulated it?
Doesn't this prove the adage, 'every scheme carries the seeds of its unravelling'?
In order to preclude further chicago-mob style gags courtesy of www.viscontilaw.com and its Naples stooge lawyers, isn't it prudent for the undersigned to avoid Collier County? Yes it is, so say LE officials.
Still and all, isn't it encouraging to see prosperity return to debunk the 'mainstream' media's 'all is lost' spook stories?
How can we not wish the best to any business, big or small, which risks its capital to better serve its customers?
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
31 October, 2008
#1 Posted by paul_vincent_zecchino on October 31, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope they have nice toilets, cant have enough places to stop for emergencies around here.
#2 Posted by NaplesGGEguy on October 31, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish the best for any new business, big or small, especially a business that educates people.
Good luck Books-A-Million, (don't know if they are a franchise)
Could this be a sign of an upcoming better economy?
#3 Posted by Opinionated on October 31, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So many books so little time....
#4 Posted by always_thinking on October 31, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Opinionated: I would guess a bowl of jello has more brains than you. Sign of a better economy? No this construction was probably planned before the mess started. Dont you read the paper, most all economists are predicting a drawn out recession starting NOW. By the way that store is a franchise, traded BAMM on Nasdaq and doing very poorly.
#5 Posted by NaplesGGEguy on October 31, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey NaplesGGEguy, get over yourself. Obviously your lack of employment has made you one bitter s.o.b. Then again, if I lived in a place where housing values tanked I guess I would be angry and bitter just like you.
But I don't... and I'm not. Have a great SWFL day!
#6 Posted by jim09091 on November 1, 2008 at 3:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not a doom n gloomer but #5 raises a valid point. Most of these big corner shopping centers currently in development were like planned out and financed before the economic slump and I suspect many of the developers are having regrets. That said, BooksAMillion is a great store and I wish them much success.
#7 Posted by micirisi on November 1, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jim09091: where in my post did i indicate i am unemployed? I make good money and live well. But yes i am bitter, the nationwide economy does not look like fun in the near future. Books a million already has a store in naples and its usually empty. Have you noticed the growing number of closed down retail outlets around here?
#8 Posted by NaplesGGEguy on November 1, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its sad but true, this store may have a huge psychological impact on the area. This company has had its share price drop so much I doubt they will keep it open after a couple of years of minimal profits. If they end up bailing out it will be a major eyesore on Route 41.
#9 Posted by beachfunalways on November 1, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What are the hours of the books a million store? I can't even find it on their website, or even the phone number for the new store...
#10 Posted by Heatherlynn1008 on November 1, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow Jim maybe you need to stay in the sewer hole you came from. Are you visiting here or a snowbird?Just make sure you keep your crusty backside in the slow lane so when I need to drive around town you arent in the way.
#11 Posted by simpleliving on November 1, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd rather see a family owned used book store open than another overpriced franchise.
#12 Posted by Trojanz33 on November 1, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bibliophiles unite!
See U at Books-A-Million TONIGHT!
Although, Borders and Barnes N Noble still rock Beetle's world!
And Mina Hemingway's Bookstore will definitely offer U more Trojanz33 love that screenname, and excuse me, as Beetle must go find a raincoat.
#13 Posted by beetlejuice on November 1, 2008 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another large bookstore, Barnes and Noble less than a mile south and Borders less than a mile north. Who did the demographics on this one?
#14 Posted by Mony on November 2, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on Mony, pay attention. The whole Mercato concept is "Main street." Housing, shopping, entertainment is all right there. The people that live there wont have to get in their cars to go to Borders or BnN. If only this concept had caught at the beginning of the boom rather than the well after Naples would have been better off. Instead we have the same urban sprawl as Miami.
#15 Posted by Micheal_Hunt on November 3, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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