Tim Aten Knows: First businesses opening this year in Poinciana Plaza  

Q: Any idea when the Starbucks in the Poinciana Plaza will open? – Charlotte Ponte, Naples 

A: The new Starbucks is targeted to open this summer on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling Road and Golden Gate Parkway in Naples. 

“Starbucks is expected to start their interior build-out by the end of March/early April and open in late June or July,” said Jenna Rambaud, director of marketing and public relations for Halstatt Real Estate Partners, which broke ground on Poinciana Plaza a year ago at 2160 Airport-Pulling Road. 

In addition to a 2,500-square-foot freestanding Starbucks coffee shop and drive-thru, the new commercial center will feature a 10,000-square-foot retail strip on about 2.5 acres. Halstatt received certificate of occupancy approvals for both single-story buildings on March 10, Rambaud said. 

“We are expecting five to six tenants in addition to Starbucks,” she said. 

First to open there will be Discover Strength fitness center, launching April 6 in an 1,820-square-foot unit. Its personal trainers offer 30-minute strength workouts twice per week in one-on-one or small group sessions. The Naples franchise will be the first studio in Florida for the fitness brand, which has more than 35 locations nationwide. 

“We’ve also officially executed leases for the Pilates studio LVL Fitness and a med-spa to be called The Retreat Aesthetics,” said Rambaud, noting that both businesses are targeted to open in the late second quarter or early third quarter of this year. 

Leasing is nearly at the halfway point for the center, which is listed by Metro Commercial, designed by MHK Architecture and built by general contractor Build LLC. 

“We are still in lease negotiations with one additional tenant, and then are targeting one or two restaurants to fill the remaining three bays,” Rambaud said.  

One large or two medium-sized restaurants are planned on the end of the retail strip farthest from the Starbucks building, she said. Plans also show a 600-square-foot outdoor patio on that southern end. 

More new spaces leased 

Eight miles north on Airport-Pulling Road, the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt has some new developments, tenants and availability as the shopping center’s new construction is almost done at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road in North Naples. Two new buildings recently were built immediately to the north and west of the CVS pharmacy on the northwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads. 

“We’re coming to completion on the larger of the two buildings,” said PJ Hill, leasing manager for the Shoppes at Vanderbilt. “Building 1100 is a two-story project that’s over 20,000 square feet. We’re excited to announce we’re coming to completion of the building, targeting the end of April.” 

The center is announcing two new tenants coming to that large outlot addition next to Synovus Bank. 

“Cabaret Cabinetry took the northern endcap units of the building, approximately 3,000 square feet, for their cabinetry showroom,” Hill said. 

Cabaret Cabinetry of Florida has had a showroom by appointment only in BizPark on Old 41 Road in North Naples. 

“Also, the southern endcap we have leased to Rusty’s company. They’re going to do a two-story restaurant with an indoor-outdoor bar and seating area on the second floor,” Hill said.  

Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill has a longtime seafood-forward restaurant and full bar nearby in Uptown Center near Airport-Pulling and Immokalee roads, as well as other locations under different ownership in Estero, Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The plan is to keep the Uptown Center’s casual location — which originally launched as Pelican Larry’s Raw Bar & Grill in 2003 and was converted to Rusty’s in 2013 — while doing something more upscale with its brand in Shoppes at Vanderbilt. 

“The goal with this specific spot is to be different. It’s going to be a little more upscale, a little more elegant, a different menu,” Hill said. “The intention is to have a newer, modern vibe with a different menu than the Uptown location. They don’t want to take away from what they’re offering there in their casual setting.” 

The name of the new restaurant hasn’t been decided yet, but Rusty’s probably will be incorporated into it in some form or fashion, Hill said. 

“We’re excited to see the build-out,” he said. “The intention is to have a bar and seating on the second floor — almost like a rooftop vibe. It won’t technically be on the roof but it will be open-air and a cool feel, something unique in the North Naples area. We’re really excited to see them bring this vision to light. We think it will be a great addition to the center.” 

Additional retail units are still available in that larger 1100 Building. 

“We are still pre-leasing and inviting people to inquire while space is still remaining,” Hill said. “I have a few of the inline spaces still available on the first and second floor of the building. They’re 1,300 and 1,400 square feet individually. We are still pre-leasing them and inviting any and all concepts to inquire.” 

Rusty’s new hospitality concept will front Vanderbilt Beach Road. The center’s other new building — a smaller one-story structure — fronts Airport-Pulling Road. 

“We did finish building 1000, and we’re excited to announce that The Good Pour is coming soon to that project. They took the whole building,” Hill said. 

Although the building was delivered as four units, The Good Pour opened it up to create one large space, which it hopes to open within six months or so. The business is a wine and spirits retailer that hosts events and tastings. “They want to be open as soon as possible. They’re going through a big project, a big renovation, really a beautiful build-out for their space,” Hill said. 

On the southwestern corner of Shoppes at Vanderbilt, Crazy King Burrito recently closed in Suite 100, so that endcap unit between Estia restaurant and True Fashionistas consignment store is available to lease. “It’s fully equipped for a quick-service model. The outdoor patio seating comes included,” Hill said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for somebody else to get a quick-service restaurant space that’s close to turnkey and get up and going quickly.” 

Imperio Taqueria Mexican restaurant also moved out of its nearly 1,700-square-foot Suite 142 at the end of February. “It is set up in a quick-service manner, as well, but this space in particular has a very large hood system. It’s a great space in the heart of the center,” Hill said. 

Expects some more new announcements soon at the Shoppes at Vanderbilt. 

“I am in the middle of a number of deals for some new tenants in the center,” Hill said. 

The Tim Aten Knows weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at Tim.Aten@NaplesPress.com.