Q: Hey! I saw a sign up for a Jimmy P’s at Collier and Vanderbilt! Do you know anything about this? Can’t find any news online. I’m guessing it will be more of the burger Jimmy P’s like on Immokalee but not sure. Thanks. —Jennifer Brooks, Naples
A: The second location of Jimmy P’s Burgers & More is launching soon in Vanderbilt Commons, the retail strip fronting Vanderbilt Beach Road just west of the Mission Hills shopping center on Collier Boulevard.
The new location of Jimmy P’s will open in the newly renovated space at 7273 Vanderbilt Beach Road that formerly was home to Samuel Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders, which closed in January after operating for more than three years.
The original location of Jimmy P’s Burgers & More was launched in November 2016 at Piper’s Crossing off Immokalee Road in North Naples by the Jimmy Pepper family, well known for decades in Naples for the popular Jimmy P’s Butcher Shop & Deli and its spin-off Jimmy P’s Charred steakhouses. About two years ago, the Peppers franchised their burger joint at 1201 Piper Blvd. Suite 11, to Golden Gate Estates resident Juan Vera, who has lived in Southwest Florida for more than 20 years.
“They sold the franchise as part of a contract. We haven’t changed anything,” said Vera, who plans to open his second location near the end of this month with the same menu.
“We still get all of our meat from the original butcher shop. We use all of their sauces and their seasoning,” he said.
The new location, though, expands upon the existing burger dining concept with the addition of cold cases selling Wagyu beef and other fresh meats from Jimmy P’s premier butcher shop in Naples.
“We will sell fresh cuts and top sellers from Jimmy P’s in meat cases,” Vera said. “The current one that’s open now doesn’t have a butcher shop or meat case. We only sell cooked meat at that location.”
Cases will feature steaks such as New York strip, tomahawk, porterhouse and filets. Expect key lime pie and holiday turkey dinners, too.
“We also will be offering the same daily specials,” Vera said. “We are not a bar, but we do sell beer and wine.”
The Vanderbilt location is licensed for 50 seats and may have tables in the community patio space it shares with the neighboring Empire Bagel Factory and Mango’s Cafe. The kitchen and dining area have been extensively renovated. TV screens have been added and local muralist Summer DeSalvo painted art to celebrate beef and burgers on a large black wall.
Jimmy P’s Burgers & More is scheduled to be open daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
“For now, we will have the same schedule we have at Piper,” said Vera, noting that the new location may end up staying open later. “I’ve got to see what the traffic looks like down there.”
Meanwhile, the third-generation Jimmy P’s custom butcher shop established in Naples in 1985, recently launched a new e-commerce website created by B3 Marketing at jimmypssteaks.com, a milestone move for expanding the meaty business and its nationwide shipping capability.
Changing course
Q: Do you have any information on why L’Auberge in Naples is permanently closed. It was one of our favorite restaurants and will be sorely missed. Thank you for any information you can provide. —Linda Boschetti, Naples
A: L’Auberge permanently closed this summer after a successful 10-year run in Imperial Square that began in July 2014 with a local restaurant they named after a country inn in France. The retirement of L’Auberge’s owners—Chef Patrick Figini and his wife, Margaret—makes way for a new dining concept at 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 116.
Chef-owner John Colón, who launched El Basque Vin & Pintxo Bar in Bonita Springs in late 2021, embarked on a new culinary venture this month with Islas Modern Caribe, a new Spanish/Latin cuisine restaurant in that North Naples retail strip bookended by Jack’s Seafood Bar & Grill and Passage to India. Using favorite recipes from his childhood, Colón is showcasing his parents’ Puerto Rican heritage as well as elevating old Caribbean recipes from Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Colón said he wanted to create a space where people gather to enjoy meticulously crafted dishes and where every detail from the ambiance to exceptional service is standard fare.
“I want to take the old recipes that I grew up with and showcase them with the best ingredients: free-range and organic farm-raised proteins. I want to use tubers from the Caribbean such as malanga, yuca and yautia—they are absolutely flavorful, but no one knows it,” he said. “Mofongo will be a standout dish—plantains mashed with proteins such as lobster and seafood in a flavorful tomato broth. No one is doing that here.”
The boutique restaurant features flavorful island dishes with choices such as wild-caught snapper and free-range roasted chicken accentuated by fresh herbs and spices. To round out the Caribbean experience, cold beer hailing from the islands and a selection of wines are offered to accompany meals, Colón said.
Islas is open for dinner 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Kohl’s goal
Q: Any update on Kohl’s in Bonita Springs opening? —Ellen Weisberg, Bonita Springs
A: The soft launch is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 22, for Kohl’s department store in the Center of Bonita Springs on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road.
The new 41,800-square-foot store at 3302A Bonita Beach Road completes the backfill of the large retail space vacated last year by Old Time Pottery in what used to be an old Kmart. A Burlington department store opened next door in May.
In addition to a Sephora brand cosmetics shop-in-shop, the new Kohl’s has departments for men’s and women’s clothing, footwear, accessories and housewares. The store also provides an Amazon returns outpost with in-store pickup.
The nearest Kohl’s stores are at 6381 Naples Blvd. in North Naples, 9357 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway in south Fort Myers and 513 SW Pine Island Road in Cape Coral.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
