The Naples real estate market continues to see strong demand in both the single-family and condominium markets, according to the October 2020 Market Report, released by the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Buyers are getting a jump on the winter seasonal market as shown by the reduced inventory, increase in multiple bids, and the jump in closed sales. Closed sales activity for the overall market increased 65.2% to 1,249 closed sales in October 2020 from 756 closed sales in October 2019. To view the entire report, visit NaplesArea.com.

The fourth location of Tacos & Tequila Cantina is targeted to launch next year in The Pointe at Founders Square, under construction on the southeast corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard. The local Tex-Mex restaurant will have a 4,600-square-foot corner unit between South Street City Oven and Grill and Skillets at The Pointe, a 36,000-square-foot cluster of restaurants and retail shops at one of the busiest intersections in the Naples area. Since the first Tacos & Tequila started in August 2013 in East Naples, additional locations of T&T launched in July 2016 in North Naples and in May 2018 at University Village near Florida Gulf Coast University. Last year, T&T founders Kelly and Aldo Musico teamed up with the Hoffmann Family Of Companies and renowned restaurateur Paul Fleming to continue growing the restaurant concept.

Kilwins chocolate, fudge and ice cream shop opened Nov. 10 at Mercato in North Naples. The fourth area location for the confectionary chain shares the former Second Cup coffee shop building with Narrative Coffee Roasters. The store has an old-fashioned feel with aromas from candies and confections made in the store. Granny Smith apples are hand-dipped in caramel cooked in traditional copper kettles, which also create caramel corn, chewy caramels and nut brittles. Kilwins, which has about 125 locations in the nation, includes longtime stores in downtown Naples, Gulf Coast Town Center and Fort Myers Beach. Kilwins, 9106 Strada Place, Suite 4100, is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information call 239-260-5161 or go to kilwins.com.

Lee Health and Cleveland Clinic announced they will enter into an agreement to share best practices that will optimize patient-centered care for residents of Southwest Florida. Cleveland Clinic and Lee Health have established a strategic alliance to enhance and improve care in Southwest Florida. Collectively, the two organizations will explore opportunities for service line affiliations and strategic initiatives that can improve the quality and efficiency of care through clinical and operational enhancements. As the two organizations move forward, they will lay the groundwork for potential further areas of collaboration in the future. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized internationally for its quality of care. Lee Health is one of the largest not-for-profit public health systems in the U.S. For more information, visit LeeHealth.org.

Collier County wants the public’s help to name its newest preserve. Collier commissioners voted this year to acquire 37 acres of sensitive environmental land in the county through Conservation Collier to create the county program’s 21st nature preserve, adjacent to Wing South Airpark near Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Santa Barbara Boulevard. The Conservation’s staff is hoping community wordsmiths will submit their ideas for the official name of the preserve in East Naples. Submissions will be accepted for this survey until Monday, Nov. 23. A list of the top name options will be posted in a public poll for voting via the Conservation Collier Facebook page beginning Nov. 25 for the community to vote on its favorite name. Visit the county website to submit a name idea. 

Two Naples residents and long-time entrepreneurs, Thomas O’Riordan and Shayne Faerber, announced the opening of their latest venture, Collier Capital Club. With a previous co-working space no longer suiting their needs, and after looking for possible individual office space, the duo decided to create their own membership-driven shared workspace combining multiple suites at Wilson Professional Center in Naples, across from Grey Oaks Country Club. Collier Capital Club currently has seven private offices and 22 dedicated desks available, along with mixed co-working seating options. A soon-to-be-opened lounge and game room will offer additional co-working space. Collier Capital Club is designed to fulfill the needs of its members, whether it’s a one-member startup or larger office looking to downsize and rotate employees in a private office from days working out of their homes. O’Riordan has founded and built a variety of companies in various trade sectors over the past 12 years. Faerber also has an extensive background in startups and has run operations for several companies. For more information, click here.  

Southwest Florida industrial buildings remain pandemic-resilient and fundamentally insulated from economic pressures, according to LandQwest Commercial. With demand high and inventory nearly non-existent, the newly renovated ‘Trade Center Industrial Park’ at 6203 Janes Lane in Naples immediately secured a 7,200-square-foot user, Municipal Supply and Sign Co. downsized to a more efficient footprint that offered an office/warehouse spatial mix to maximize operations. The nearly turnkey relocation included interior/exterior paint, resurfaced parking, and Garmat spray booth. LandQwest Senior Broker Associate, Eric Edwards represented the landlord, FMG Enterprises of Naples LLC.

 

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 20 celebrated the opening of Nature Store2 by member “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) with a ribbon-cutting at the new location at 2250 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island. The store will serve as a fulfillment center for ShopDingDarling.com, plus support the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge with a new shopping experience while the Visitor & Education Center is closed by government mandate, and also once the center reopens. Nature Store2, open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will carry much of the same popular nature-inspired clothing, jewelry, and gifts as the original flagship store at the refuge, but with more emphasis on art.