Daniels Marketplace, a south Fort Myers shopping center anchored by Whole Foods Market, celebrated the groundbreaking Jan. 30 of an extension that will add at least five new tenants.
Wilder, a national real estate development firm that manages about 60 shopping centers, mostly along the East Coast, will oversee development of almost 25,000 square feet of new space. Nelson Worldwide did the architecture, and J. Raymond Construction will oversee the project, which is expected to be finished by the end of the year.
Bluemercury cosmetics, Fidelity Investments, Lovesac furniture, J. McLaughlin apparel and VIO Med Spa are confirmed future tenants.
Boston-based AEW Capital Management, a private equity firm, bought the shopping center for $49 million in 2019, public records show.
Green space will be kept between the current Keke’s Breakfast Cafe and the extension, said Kerry Dowling, senior vice president of asset management for Wilder.
“It’s definitely ready for more,” Dowling said of the shopping center, which she said would benefit from the influx of new tenants. “We think they work really well with the tenants who are already here. We have a lot of really nice lifestyle-type tenants. White House Black Market, Chico’s, we’ve got a Club Pilates. We’re really aiming at a certain kind of level of tenant and lifestyle.
“We’re adding in a lot of the same types of things that will be complimentary. We’re adding spas and apparel and furniture.”
Getting to a second groundbreaking for a center that had been a golf course driving range until 2017, wasn’t easy, said Dave Mallen, co-owner of Wilder.
“There were a lot of factors that kind of slowed things down over the past five years, with coronavirus and the rising cost of construction materials and rising interest rates,” Mallen said. “Managing growth and planning for growth is not an easy thing, especially when you have a hurricane.”
Mallen and Wilder co-owner Tom Wilder credited Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, Economic Development Office Director John Talmage and other county staff members for assisting with the development process.
“On completion of phase two, Daniels Marketplace will become a landmark example of a post-pandemic shopping destination, where a carefully curated mix of uses will breathe new life into every corner, to be enjoyed by the community and all visitors,” Wilder said.
Ryan and Marissa Kartheiser, owners of the VIO Med Spa franchise, were on hand and looking forward to moving in and starting their new business.
“This will be a medical spa, with facials, Botox and injectables,” Ryan Kartheiser said. “We think it’s going to do phenomenal.”
