Q: Is a bowling alley coming to Green Tree shopping center or is that just a rumor? — Jarrod Feintuch, Naples

Q: Any plans for the old space of the Green Tree Sweetbay? It’s been vacant for years! — K.H., North Naples

A: Something big is in the works for the long-vacant former Sweetbay Supermarket in Green Tree Center, but it’s not time yet for a big reveal of a future tenant for that former grocery store on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Immokalee roads in North Naples.

“We’re still working on the big tenant,” said Jack Crifasi of Crifasi Real Estate, which manages and leases Green Tree Center. “We’ve got all kinds of different players that want to go in there, so we’ll just have to see how it goes, but it’s looking pretty good for the big tenant, a lot of good uses. I think we’ll definitively have somebody signed in the next couple of months. I’d say it’d probably before the end of next year when somebody gets in there. It’s a possibility.”

Crifasi met this year with owner representatives of the Beacon Bowl about the longtime North Naples bowling alley possibly leasing the space after closing this summer, but nothing came of it, he said. Nevertheless, a bowling alley or some other kind of sports or entertainment use such as indoor pickleball courts could be a possibly there.

“We have had requests for family entertainment that includes bowling,” Crifasi said. “A tenant has not been signed but that is one of the requests. We have had numerous inquiries from national retailers for recreational uses and family entertainment.”

Crifasi also recently received an inquiry for that space from a national grocer, but no decision has been made yet about a future tenant there.

“We have not zeroed in on which one we want,” he said, noting that serious discussions are ongoing with potential tenants. “This space is going to lease. There’s no question about it. It’s just a matter of who we go with.”

Green Tree Center also recently created two first-generation restaurant spaces to add to its dining lineup that includes Aqua Seafood & Steaks, Black Forest Restaurant, Boston Beer Garden, Em-On’s Thai Café, Joey D’s Italian Restaurant & Bar, LuLu B’s Diner, Planet Smoothie and Scoops Ice Cream & Acai Bowls. Outparcels include drive-thrus for Taco Bell and Wendy’s, too.

Aqua quietly opened Oct. 31 in the former office space of the Collier County Tax Collector and had its grand opening Nov. 6. Aqua’s adjacent lounge is targeted to open in early 2025.

“There’s a little something for everybody,” said Crifasi, who has given a lot of thought to what types of restaurants he would like to bring to the other two new spaces at the center.

“The cuisines that I’m looking for are sushi, French, Cuban and maybe Korean or something like that,” he said. “Those are the four major ones. I’m not saying we wouldn’t do other things here, but those are kind of the majors.”

Scoops is moving its ice cream parlor to the former uniform store space next to CVS pharmacy so that a larger 5,000-square-foot restaurant space can be created by combining adjacent spaces, Crifasi said. He hopes to finalize plans there before the end of the year.

Crifasi has talked to prominent restaurateurs in Naples and Fort Myers about possibly taking the space. What makes Green Tree Center notable is its effort to host local restaurateurs rather than an abundance of chains.

“We’ve had lots of chains interested. I like mom-and-pops because I grew up in a mom-and-pop restaurant. My family was in the restaurant business for 30 years. I grew up on top of a restaurant,” Crifasi said. “So, I’m really amenable to mom-and-pop restaurants. I’m not saying we wouldn’t do a chain, but we haven’t found the right ones.”

Next to Aqua, the longtime Joey D’s recently began another major expansion with the addition of an adjacent Italian market under construction in the corner of the center.

“They’re doubling the square footage that they have currently,” said Crifasi, who is excited about Green Tree’s progress this year and what’s coming to the center in 2025. “This year’s going to be great, but it’s going to be out of sight next year.”

Bayfront evolution

Bayfront of Naples is aggressively adding more upscale tenants to the mixed-use community where Goodlette-Frank Road meets Fifth Avenue South at the Gordon River.

The local center is welcoming internationally recognized design brands such as B&B Italia, Arclinea and Storia Flooring, said Kevin Stoneburner, Bayfront founder and CEO of Stoneburner Companies.

“These new additions will elevate Bayfront of Naples’ commercial landscape to align with the luxury demographics of the surrounding area,” Stoneburner said.

Two new high-end restaurants will elevate Bayfront at the center’s northeast and southwest corners.

Soluna Restaurant & Bar launched Nov. 5 in the former longtime location of Stoney’s Steakhouse. Co-owner William Andraca, a Naples local and an award-winning chef, leads the culinary direction and management of Soluna with à la carte options, tasting menus and themed supper club evenings. The restaurant and full bar features a wine club, sommelier-selected wine list and live entertainment in a sophisticated setting.

Ce Soir, another new upscale dining spot expected to launch in early 2025 in Bayfront, will feature modern French cuisine with Mediterranean influences in a more than 7,000-square-foot space that most recently was Southern Style Kitchen & Raw Bar. The restaurant will focus on using fresh ingredients to craft dishes highlighting the region’s rich flavors while incorporating contemporary techniques. The menu for Ce Soir – pronounced “suh swah” and means “this evening” in French – will include a mix of seafood and meat dishes, accompanied by a global wine selection and cocktails.

“They’re Canadian. This will be their first foray into the United States,” Stoneburner said. “They’re going to completely gut that space.”

B&B Italia opened this summer in a former art gallery space at Unit 478 in Bayfront. Introduced by Miami’s 4141 Design Group, the store features the largest selection of Milan-branded furniture and luxury design elements in the United States. Visitors can explore the latest furniture, bath and kitchen designs from B&B Italia and sister brand Arclinea. This store is the first of its kind in a secondary market, highlighting Naples’ emergence as a significant design destination.
In the midst of its buildout in Unit 457, Storia Flooring will bring its luxury flooring solutions to Bayfront. Founded by South Florida entrepreneur Santiago Estevez Barroso, Storia collaborates with leading European manufacturers to offer a variety of premium hardwood, natural stone and porcelain tile flooring options for residential and commercial spaces.

At Bayfront’s Third Avenue South entrance across from Naples Square, Palazzo Bayfront Naples condominium community is under construction. Originally introduced two years ago as The Tides at Bayfront before a name change, Palazzo plans 35 luxury residences starting at $2 million. The condominiums are the final phase of residential development at Bayfront.

The Bayfront unit vacated this year by PizzaJones! remains available, Stoneburner said.

“I don’t have any announcement for that space as of yet but we’re working toward getting that space as well as some others leased, but that’s really my only truly vacant space at the moment,” he said.

The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.