Q: Have you heard anything about a Tractor Supply being built on the corner of Golden Gate Boulevard and Wilson? — David Rotkvich, Golden Gate Estates 

A: Tractor Supply Co. has proposed building a new store on vacant commercial property on the northwest corner of Wilson Boulevard and Golden Gate Boulevard in Golden Gate Estates. 

That corner development on more than 10 acres would include two future outparcels with retail stores along Golden Gate Boulevard West, one of which is a proposed convenience store/gas station, site development plans show. Specific tenants have not been named, and a construction timeline or target opening date for the stores are not available yet. 

The 24,000-square-foot Tractor Supply store is planned on the tract between Wilson and First Street Northwest with a 20,000-square-foot fenced outdoor display area, including a greenhouse, as well as permanent sidewalk display areas on the east and south side of the building totaling more than 6,000 square feet, the site plan shows. 

Collier’s first Tractor Supply store has operated since 2008 at 13235 Tamiami Trail E. in East Naples. The Tennessee-based, publicly traded company has more than 2,000 retail stores nationwide, including three in Lee County. TSC sells products for agriculture, lawn and garden, home improvement, animal care and more. 

The development plan filed with Collier County Growth Development shows the store will have 81 parking spaces and right in/right-out driveways with turn lanes off both Wilson and Golden Gate. The commercial planned unit development for the vacant property requires that land along the northern edge of the project be preserved as a conservation area.

Public water or sewer facilities are not available for this site. Potable water will be provided by a well and on-site treatment system. Sewage will be disposed of onsite by a septic system and absorption bed. The project also proposes using a large diameter well and a high-capacity pump and regulating equipment to provide water for the building’s fire sprinkler system and hydrants. 

By the way, the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and Golden Gate Boulevard is the center and origin of the Golden Gate Estates street grid. This is the axis point where all four quadrants meet that divide the numbered roads in the Estates into northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest.   

About 15 years ago, that last undeveloped corner at that intersection was earmarked for a grocer-anchored shopping center on more than 40 acres. In a 2010 ballot straw poll, Collier County voters favored building the proposed shopping center in that commercial subdistrict created in the Golden Gate Area Master Plan. Then, developer Crown Management Services estimated that stores planned there would open in late 2013 … but nearly 10 years later, that obviously did not happen. 

Pennsylvania-based Crown still owns the property, but the Tractor Supply and two other retail stores will be built between First Street Southwest and Wilson Boulevard on only about a third of the square footage planned and approved for the original Estates Shopping Center. Nearly 17 of those acres on the northeast corner of Wilson and Third Street Northwest were purchased in late 2021 by Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center, which eventually will relocate its existing operation in the Estates to a much larger facility there. Slightly more than 10 acres on Wilson between the Tractor Supply and Shy Wolf properties are owned by the Collier County government, which does not have plans to develop the parcels at this time.

Boneless grill 

Q: When will Bonefish Grill in Naples open? Its website continues to say temporarily closed with no further information. Thank you. — Sharon Vigorito, Naples 

A: Representatives of both the Naples Bay Resort concierge and Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Bonefish Grill, say the waterfront restaurant and bar in Naples will reopen, but renovation work following last fall’s Hurricane Ian is taking longer than anticipated. Although a reopening date has not been set, the restaurant’s relaunch is most likely still five or more months away. 

Nosh at Naples Bay, another major waterfront restaurant in Naples Bay Resort, reopened in late November after it also was damaged by storm surge from the Sept. 28 hurricane, while Bonefish Grill’s interior space remains gutted and appears almost as if the restaurant never existed. 

“We will be remodeling and reopening this location. I don’t have timing yet but feel free to check back early summer and I may have more information,” said Elizabeth Daly, a spokesperson for Bonefish Grill. 

Managing partners for Bonefish Grill locations in Bonita Springs and Fort Myers say the Naples location will reopen in August or September. Megan Cain-Faller, managing partner at Bonefish Grill, Bonita Springs says they are shooting to relaunch the Naples location in August, while Sean Okeefe, managing partner at Bonefish Grill, Fort Myers says Bonefish Grill, Naples targeted to open at the end of summer or early fall. 

“Damage was extensive to the restaurant and getting contractors down there took longer than normal. The building has been gutted and the permits are submitted,” O’Keefe said. “The target date is August/September. With no unforeseen issues, we should be up and running by the end of the third quarter.”

Oil change 

Q: Do you know what is being built next to Taco Bell in Green Tree on Immokalee? — Gherri Wheaton, North Naples 

A: Valvoline Instant Oil Change is building a fifth area location on an outparcel that previously was a freestanding drive-thru for a bank at Green Tree Center on the southwest corner of Immokalee Road and Airport-Pulling Road. The site will be redeveloped for Valvoline as a 2,048-square-foot building with three auto service bays.

The new business started construction in late February between Taco Bell and Lake Michigan Credit Union. LMCU sold the 0.34-acre parcel at 2476 Immokalee Road to Massachusetts-based M and S Limited Partnership for $925,000 in late December, Collier County property records show. Fifth Third Bank formerly operated a drive-thru there. 

The completion date for Valvoline is targeted for Aug. 25, development plans show. The business is being developed by SSL Properties LLC with general contractor David Hemed of Diamond General Contracting Corp. 

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