Diana Biederman | Naples Daily News
On a hot summer day in 2004, I remember standing in line with my ’21’ Club colleagues at the first Shake Shack in New York City’s Madison Square Park.
Nowadays, it’s famous for its burgers and shakes, but during that visit, I don’t recall any burgers or crinkly fries because it was all about hot dogs and soft drinks.
In those early days, it resembled a kiosk with an assembly prep line with different staff responsible for different toppings.
Following a 40-minute wait, it was my first (and last) bite into a Chicago-style wiener.
Several years later, another location opened in my neighborhood across from the Museum of Natural History. The ever-present line around the block made the sidewalk tricky to maneuver.
Anyone working in the restaurant industry has always paid attention to anything Danny Meyer (the hospitality legend behind the concept) opens because he is among the world’s most successful restaurateurs. Whether dining at Union Square Café, the game-changing restaurant that made him famous in 1985 — or Shake Shack — you’re in for a special experience.
Twenty years and more than 400 Shake Shacks across the globe later, Naples is getting its first outpost at Mercato Shops. It’s set to open in 2025 and is taking over 3,000 square feet in what was formerly Charming Charlie’s and, subsequently, the pop-up Hand & Harvest Artisan Market.
Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
The developers of a 160-room boutique hotel along the Cocohatchee River in North Naples say the building will open this autumn under the moniker The Perry, which launched in Key West in 2017.
The $80 million project is located at 12155 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. The hotel, according to a release, has seven stories. The hotel has spacious guest rooms, most with balconies, a ground-floor pool and adjacent activity lawn, a poolside tapas eatery, a lobby coffee bar, a fitness center, an open-air deck with a rooftop pool, a poolside bar specializing in craft cocktails, and the rooftop Tigress Restaurant, a full-service venue serving chef-driven Asian-fusion cuisine and panoramic views, according to a recent article by Mark Gordon of Business Observer.
“The Perry Hotel Naples’ opening will significantly change the landscape for destination hotels available to travelers visiting Southwest Florida,” says Mike Raymond, CEO of FOD Capital, the project’s developer, in the release.
The hotel’s mood and surroundings, according to the developers, are heavily influenced by the local native ecology, which includes a riverine estuary, a mangrove forest, and an upland forest of native pines, oaks, and palm trees.
Read the full article on naplesnewsnow.com.
WMG Development has broken ground on The Shoppes at Orange Blossom, a new retail center near Naples. The shopping center, located at the crossroads of Oil Well Road and Big Corkscrew Drive, will be anchored by Publix and will span over 60,000 square feet. Other long-term tenants at the complex include Great Clips and Le Nail Salon.
The project, which is scheduled to be completed in late summer 2025, will be located at the entrance to Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park, a 150-acre outdoor park and entertainment attraction, and adjacent to the Emblem at Orange Blossom apartment neighborhood.
Read more on naplesnewsnow.com.
Here’s a guide for summer.
Chad Gillis |Naples Daily News
Brown pelicans crash into tiny rolling waves as black skimmers use their sharp bills to slice through the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.
Shiny shells and salmon-hued bits of sponge tumble in the frothy white waters that lap along the shoreline.
Golden rays from the sun blast across the sky, breaking through the palm trees, sea grape trees and mansions and create huge shadows on the white sand.
This is it: Naples Beach. That place that so many people write about online.
Everyone from U.S. News and World Report to Dr. Beach himself have glamorized Naples-area beaches as being among the best in Florida, the best in the nation, the tops in the world.
And these are your beaches: it says so on the parking signs. Only residents with parking passes may use the lots here. If you live outside the area and can’t get a permit, you’ll have to race down to park near the old Naples Pier.
And while almost all beaches were impacted by Hurricane Ian in 2022, many renourishment and beach-rebuilding projects are already underway or completed.
Some beaches still lack the accommodations and facilities they offered pre-storm, but the beaches themselves are as beautiful as always.
They range from quaint, untouched shorelines to the old Naples Pier, where fisherman, swimmers, sunbathers and surfers flock during all times of the year.
But summertime is really the time to celebrate local beaches as the water temperatures are finally warm enough for a comfortable dip in the Gulf.
Here is a look at five of the best beaches in the Naples-Collier area:
- Barefoot Beach State Preserve Park ― Top Nature Preserve
- Vanderbilt Beach ― Best Family Beach
- Naples Pier ― Best Beach for Water Recreation
- Keewaydin Island ― Best Boating Beach
- Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach ― Best Birding Beach
Get the details on these 5 beaches on naplesnews.com.
Treylan McDuffie Special to the Daily News
Each week we will introduce you to one of the toughest holes golfers will face playing in Southwest Florida. Not only will we tell you which holes are most challenging but also give you how-to tips to conquer these beasts, or at least not have to color a solid square on your scorecard.
Course: Kensington Golf & Country Club
Address: 2700 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, 34109
The Hole: No. 2, 362 yards, Par-4
About the course: Kensington is known for its pristine conditions and challenging layout. It offers a walkable course, allowing golfers to immerse themselves in the natural surroundings fully. Designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., it features lush fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and challenging greens. The front nine and back nine each provide a distinct set of challenges, ensuring a well-rounded golfing experience.
About the hole: a dogleg left, Hole 2 would be considered fairly short for some but for others, this challenging hole requires all of your focus. It includes water hazards running down the left side and strategically placed bunkers demanding accuracy and thoughtful shot placement.
Tee Shot: Aim your drive towards the right center of the fairway. This strategy helps steer clear of the water hazard that runs along the left side and positions you well for the dogleg. Avoid missing to the right of the fairway, you will not enjoy the next shot. Depending on your driving distance and accuracy, a driver or 3-wood is advisable. Accuracy over distance is key here.
Approach Shot: The green is guarded by bunkers at the front and left. Aim for the middle of the green to avoid these bunkers and give yourself the best chance for a safe landing. Consider the elevation of the green. You might need an extra club, especially if playing into the wind. A mid-iron or long iron, depending on the distance remaining after your tee shot, should be selected to ensure you reach the green. Factoring in wind conditions and the lie of the ball is crucial.
On the Green: The green features subtle undulations, so focus on speed control and aim for the high side of the hole to account for the breaks. Taking your time to read the slopes and plan your putt is essential for success.
Read about the Key Challenges and catch up on previous holes on naplesnews.com.
Phil Fernandez | Naples Daily News
Mercato this month will begin a reboot that we first told you about two years ago at the Naples destination near Vanderbilt Beach Road and U.S. 41.
Most anyone will tell you it can get a bit uncomfortable in the 450,000-square-foot shopping and restaurant district when cars converge with pedestrians or bicyclists, and its new owners a couple of summers ago promised us a reposition as part of “elevating Mercato (to) a people-oriented entertainment hub.”
Well, here’s what to know about what the honchos have tabbed as a more “walkable, experiential oasis (in) strengthening Mercato’s relevance and relationship with the community.”
What is Mercato in Naples, Florida missing? How will it be addressed?
“While Mercato does have a few small social gathering spots, it’s missing a central space that can host large-scale events and encourage guests to stay a while,” said Nick Lombardo, vice president of development at North American Properties, also known as NAP. “We’re looking forward to redefining the Piazza and creating a lively experience for our guests.”
The “reinvention” plans call for tripling the size of the 3,000-square-foot Piazza adjacent to Bravo Italian Kitchen and Narrative Coffee Roasters, and “creating a more connected, pedestrian-friendly environment” throughout the center, Lombardo said.
Get all the details, read the full story on naplesnews.com.
Find a home convenient to great restaurants and entertainment in southwest Florida. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
