The first businesses are opening or preparing to open soon at Everglades Square in Golden Gate Estates.
“Well, not exactly March 1 [when Everglades Square was originally planned to open this spring], but a win’s a win. Everglades Square is open,” said David Samadnejad, owner of the nearly 25,000-square-foot multitenant retail center on the northwest corner of Everglades Boulevard and Golden Gate Boulevard. “The tenants are filing their occupancy licenses now. Moravela’s Pizza and the grocery store, Everglades Mart, are just waiting on some final refrigeration to come in that’s on back order to finish up their permit inspections and open them up. Lots of excitement is about to commence.”
Moravela’s Pizza had planned to launch within the last week but has been unable to start serving Estates residents their signature New York-style pizzas for takeout and delivery. “We are looking at around one to two weeks to open due to a health inspection,” said Belkis Morales, who co-owns the local pizzeria with her husband, Edmundo.
Their new 1,300-square-foot pizzeria will be their second location operating in Collier County. Moravela’s, 1836 Airport-Pulling Road S., has been in business for many years in East Naples.
Everglades Mart, a 9,300-square-foot grocery store, will anchor the 18-unit Everglades Square at 55 Everglades Blvd. N. “Everglades Mart grocery store will have all kinds of foods and not just Latin favorites,” Samadnejad said. “Everglades Mart is planning outdoor barbecues on weekends and other community activities.”
Antojitos Y Mas ice cream shop launched its new location in Everglades Square on Saturday afternoon. Antojitos Y Mas, which means Snacks and More in Spanish, features a menu of traditional Mexican desserts. It’s the third location for Claudia and Dario Rubio, who also own and operate stores on Golden Gate Parkway in Golden Gate and next to Grandpa’s Pizza on Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs.
Two businesses on the center’s southern end, fronting Golden Gate Boulevard, also recently opened. Golden Gate Karate School had been pre-registering students, so it was ready to kick into high gear when it launched a few weeks ago. Next door, Re/Max Affinity, which has an office in Mercato, opened a branch for its “Dream Home Team” to serve the Estates.
Barber Shop 21 also recently opened in Everglades Square and Ambience Nail Spa is ready to open any day. Also coming soon are Ameritax and Insurance Services and Amigos Truck Parts & Tire Services, both of which operate additional locations in the area.
Two units are still available to lease in Everglades Square. “I have space for one more unit for food. I want to get something that everybody will be excited to drive home to,” Samadnejad said.
