It’s a huge life change to stop spending so much of your time on your business. What will you do with yourself? How will your exit affect your family? Your employees? Your self-worth? It’s an emotional process.
UBS spoke with business owners* who’ve said: “It’s sad and hard when you sell because you’ve not only invested time and money, but also a bit of your soul.”
“A part of me was delighted but another part of me was sad. The office was like a second home.”
48% of business owners don’t have a formal exit strategy in place. Here are three tips to help you get started.
Start planning early with your financial advisor, tax professional and estate planning attorney to be confident about your future. Be certain that advanced income, legacy and tax planning are a part of these conversations.
Reflect on your passions and plan for what you want to accomplish next in life. Research found that 48% of business owners look forward to traveling more, while 26% plan to give back to their community or causes.
Only about 25% of owners talk to their children and heirs about family wealth. Communicate early about what you expect or hope for. This can help create a clearer picture and gives everyone involved a chance to contribute.
Many times, selling your business is about letting go. This can be a profound change with powerful emotional aspects. For some owners, it’s confusing. For others, there’s a sense of elation. Many talk about feelings of depression and a lack of purpose.
“I felt very muted. I didn’t know how to process it. I had to figure out how to deal with a new reality.”
“I had been working hard for a long time. At the beginning, I did nothing, and it was great. People say you get bored, but I didn’t—it was wonderful.”
Planning for life after the sale: the six stages Think through these questions well before your transition.
1. Recharge. Is a vacation or dream purchase desired? Do you need some space to think? Is an escape and recharge a good idea?
2. Self. How much money do you have and need? Is your wealth life-changing or life-enhancing?
3. Enabling. What professional advice do you need? Do you have the right advisory team?
4. Family. How do you want to support your family? Do you want to set money aside for home purchases and education?
5. Legacy. What do you want to leave for future generations and your employees? How should it be left?
6. Opportunity. How do you find personal fulfillment in the future? How can you best contribute to others?
Whether your transition is a few months or a few years away, it’s important to start planning for how you want to live your life after selling your business.
*Sources: UBS Investor Watch report “Who’s the boss,” February 2018; responses to questions not previously published as part of the Investor Watch survey and therefore not sourced to a previously published document; Business Owner Insights Volume Two: Preparing for what comes next.
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Building a successful business is no small feat. Exiting a business isn’t either. So, when you’re considering stepping away, and putting strategies in place for an immediate sale, you shouldn’t go it alone. The UBS Private Wealth Management team, Matina Group has helped scores of entrepreneurs and founders buy, expand and exit their companies. Their insight can help you add significant long-term value to this major liquidity-generating event.
Get the answers and clarity you need to move your business goals forward. Connect with Matina Group today.
Joseph Matina Managing Director–Wealth Management 877-452-4344 toll free joseph.matina@ubs.com
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How developers, brokers of the area’s large-scale complexes get it done
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DIFFERENT AVENUES: OLD 41
Past and future meet in downtown Bonita
Managing Editor Tim Aten
Senior Editor David Dorsey
Digital Editor Adam Regan
Associate Editor Kaitlin Greenockle
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Assistant Editor Samantha Roesler
Copy Editor Steve Gill
John Guerra, Artis Henderson, Justin Paprocki, James Raia, Aisling Swift
ART Creative Directors Scott Glick, Jerry Pomales
Photo Editor Dennis Wright
Photographer/Videographer Krishna Samoedjh
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Director of Marketing and Events Rachel Galante
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is published 12 times a year by Gulfshore Life Media, 26101 Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Subscriptions are free to qualified individuals residing in the United States. For customer service inquiries or to change your address by providing both the old and new addresses, contact: Gulfshore Business, 26101 Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Telephone (239) 498-8501 or email subscriptions@gulfshorebusiness.com. Periodicals postage paid at Naples, FL, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2022 by Gulfshore Life Media. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts without return postage will not be returned. DISCLAIMER: Advertisements in the publication do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited or restricted by law.
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A century ago, the population of the Sunshine State was right around 1 million people. In the last 50 years, the population has tripled and then some, from about 7 million to 22 million plus. Essentially, lots of people are choosing to live in Florida. This part of the state is certainly no excep tion—who wouldn’t want to live in this beautiful beachy backyard?
For many newcomers, and more than a few lon ger-term locals, that means finding an apartment. And much like the market for houses, apartments in Southwest Florida are big business—and get ting bigger fast. During a 30-month period from January 2020 to June of this year, 33 apartment complexes of at least 100 units were sold, for a combined price tag of $2.6 billion. Compared to similar sales from 2017 to 2019, that represents an increase in a local apartment unit’s value of 60% since the onset of the pandemic. But it takes a ton of time, effort and financial outlay to make those sales come to fruition; David Dorsey takes a close look at what goes into pulling together some of the biggest of these big-time deals that help define our residential landscape, beginning on page 30.
HEIDI RAMBO CENTRELLA EDITOR IN CHIEF
Longtime locals may remember the scenic landscape of yesteryear in Bonita Springs, though they may not have seen it in person since the Tamiami Trail was rerouted to carry the heavier traffic away (more of that statewide growth) and left the stretch of Old 41 Road that runs through town to its own devices. Sev eral landmarks have changed—though the Wonder Gardens are still there, the Shell Factory and Wayside Inn are gone and the shell of the old Dixie Moon Cafe was moved—but a number of residents feel that bypassing the bustle and letting uninterested travelers hurry past hasn’t been a bad thing, and that downtown has benefited from a moderate stop-andexplore vibe. Tim Aten and Samantha Roesler consider how Bonita’s past has shaped its present, and discuss plans for the future with local entrepreneurs working to develop the town’s inviting identity through new businesses and amenities (p. 46).
How developers, brokers get it done in today’s market.
Of course, one of the most compelling amenities in Bonita Springs is one shared by all of us: it’s in Southwest Florida. We might not have much in the way of bright ly colored autumn foliage, but this is a perfect time to get out and go camping, go hiking or just take in the beauty of the paradise in our backyards. October is my favorite month; I hope you find some thing new to enjoy in it.
from the editor.
A guy next to you on the airplane, in a coffee shop or at the bank is wearing a vintage wristwatch. “Nice watch,” you say and offer a nod of approval. Chances are good the guy responds, “Thanks, it was my father’s.”
The admired watch might have the robust look of Rolex, the artistry and design of Patek Philippe or the octagonal shape and bold block lettering of Audemars Piguet. Wearing timeless timepieces is increasingly a thing, collectors to beneficiaries to celebrities with a flair for touting their status.
“I think what’s happened is for vintage watches is that the market has gone up so strongly that the only way a majority of people, the layperson, can get into them is by inheritance,” says Ace Gordon, proprietor of the longtime Naples business Lovejoy Antiques Jewelry & Watches. “It’s how you associate a lot of vintage things.”
According to Gordon, the golden era of vintage watches was 1965-1979. Some of the most sought-after watches today cost as little as $200 new at the time.
Beyond Rolex, top vintage watches are often categorized as The Holy Trinity or Big Three. It’s the unofficial industry-wide name given to the most prevalent luxurious brands: Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.
“It’s not the same grand investment we had; the same watches are now $10,000 or a lot more at retail cost,” Gordon says. “That’s really what it comes down to for most people, the inheritance aspect.”
For discriminating collectors with money in their pockets and a yen for a watch on their wrists, here are the four most popular vintage manufacturers.
By James RaiaJules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet were childhood friends in Switzerland and employed as youngsters by different watchmakers. They decided to collaborate when they were in their 20s.
Their new brand’s debut effort was unveiled in 1875 from the company farm in Le Brassus, Switzerland. Audemars Piguet continues to be family-owned, its headquarters remain in the original location and the two families worked together through several generations.
The Royal Oak Jumbo is among the most sought-after watches produced by the Swiss timepiece industry. It features an octagonal screwed bezel, inspired by a ship’s porthole. The case, large for the time frame from its original manufacturing dates, is how it received part of its name, “Jumbo.”
Exquisite Timepieces in Naples, which specializes in Audemars Piguet among other brands, recently sold a Royal Oak Off Shore Alinghi for $53,000
audemarspiguet.com
After a few different partnerships beginning in 1839, Polish watchmaker Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe, a French watchmaker who invented the keyless winding mechanism, began the exclusive company. It’s known for its limited edition and one-of-a-kind timepieces. Understated elegance is the company’s signature style, and its craftsmanship has provided Patek Philippe’s reputation as arguably the industry’s best watch for investors.
Despite its legacy, a company marketing campaign in 1996 pushed the manufacturer to another level with its bold slogan: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”
Vintage Patek Philippe editions are rare and Yamron Jewelers in Naples is the manufacturer’s only authorized dealer in Southwest Florida. Its collection of the brand’s new models includes the Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar 7140R001, a self-winding automatic with a rose gold case and a silvery-white opaline dial. It’s priced at $102,900 patek.com
Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf, a GermanBritish businessman, Rolex is the most widely known, best marketed and best-selling luxury watch. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Rolex has set precedent in several areas. It sold the first waterproof watch (1926) and the first self-winding watch with perpetual movement (1931).
Available in more than 100 countries, Rolex sold about 1 million watches in 2021, 29% of the Swiss manufacturing market.
The Rolex Daytona Paul Newman is many a collector’s dream timepiece. Joanna Woodward, the actor’s wife, gave him the specially designed, exotic dial watch in 1972 when he began racing automobiles. An estimated 3,000 were made featuring block markers instead of plain lines, acrylic dome crystals, a four-digit reference number and a few additional changes.
Twenty years ago, a Rolex Daytona Paul Newman cost about $30,000; it’s now valued nearly 10 times higher.
The Watchbox in Fort Myers has a strong set of Rolex vintage offerings, including a Daytona Cosmograph “Rainbow” made in 2013 and priced at $549,950. rolex.com
As the world’s oldest continuously operated watchmaker, Vacheron Costantin began in 1755 via Jean-Marc Vacheron, an indepen dent Swiss watchmaker. François Con stantin, a globe-trotting craftsman, joined Vacheron in 1819.
The royal-sounding brand is known for its bespoke craftsmanship, as well as a varied timepiece lineup emphasizing simple elegance and horology extremes.
The brand’s one-off or bespoke service is referred to as Les Cabinotiers. More traditional styles were an ever-changing mix of case metals, dials, markers and sec ond-hand positioning until the 1970s. Vach eron’s Historiques lineup started in 1990 as the company’s retro-focused collection was part of a mechanical revival, pushing the watchmaker to further popularity.
A vintage Vacheron Constantin dual-time stainless steel automatic is among the varied pre-owned watch collection offered at Tourneau Bucharer in Naples. It’s priced at $30,000.
vacheron-constantin.com
Wearing timeless timepieces is increasingly a thing. The vintage watch market has risen so strongly that the only way for the majority of people to acquire them is through inheritance. Timeless Inheritance
When Caitlin Emery-Schewe and her husband Brandon decided to open a restaurant in Bonita Springs just a quarter-mile from their café, Caitlin want ed it to be a dramatic contrast to the white contemporary exterior.
The young couple, who’ve operated Downtown Coffee and Wine Co. in Bonita Springs since 2019, opened The Bohemian on March 4 at the northeast corner of Old 41 and Bonita Beach roads. It’s among several businesses and eateries at Entrada, the 1960s-era First National Bank of Bonita Springs that developer Steve Hovland transformed into a gateway to the downtown corridor.
“I love blue-greens and wanted to do something jewel-toned, so I wanted people to walk in from this white, ultramodern building and for it to be like a lit tle, hidden gem,” Emery-Schewe says, adding that she and her mother, Jeanne, operate the design company Reimagined Interior Design, and furnished the restaurant with consignment and thrift items. “I commissioned one piece, and everything else my mother and I found.”
She and her husband, the chef, used café profits for the new venture. “It was fun because it was our own,” she says. “It was tough because we didn’t have the budget. It was a hunt.”
Jeanne Emery, who spent more than 20 years as a designer, and her daughter, who earned a degree in interior design, wanted to dazzle customers with color.
“The drama of the teal-blue walls elicits a pulling-in effect on those who en ter, and invites them to stay and absorb whatever this energy is,” says Emery, a hostess at the restaurant. “A nod to the past—Elsie de Wolfe, leopard-print car pets and trellised walls—is included in this eclectic design.”
The restaurant, which serves beer, wine and Lillet-based cocktails, plus a small plates menu, spans 3,400 square feet, with a 15-seat bar area, 42 seats for dining and 40 more seats in the 2,000-square-foot patio.
By Aisling SwiftEmery-Schewe wanted the restaurant to be like a hidden gem, contrasting with the building’s ultramodern exterior.
The mother and daughter scouted local consign ment shops—Chesterdales Home & Garden, Con sign & Design, Collective Consignment, Gannon’s Antiques and Art, Habitat for Humanity Restore and Salvation Army, as well as Mimi’s Café liqui dation auction—to put together an assortment of furniture and decorations. Emery-Schewe chose Benjamin Moore’s Jade Garden as the main color, using satin and eggshell finishes for contrast, and other blue-greens.
The dining area features black booths, chairs and a round booth from Mimi’s Café, which was reup holstered in a dark animal print by Seattle’s Custom Upholstery. Warehouse-style black ceilings accentu ate the jewel tones and Silks Plus plants, while grass cloth and Schumacher wallpaper also add texture.
“We put blue crown molding up because we wanted people’s eyes to stop,” Emery-Schewe says of the 10-foot demarcation before the black ceiling two feet above. “We wanted to add character with molding, board and batten and trellis work.”
The Schewes hired McHarris Planning & Design to ensure it was up to code and Idyll Construction as the builder, both based in Naples. Sous chef Aus tin Graham, family and friends helped with design and textured woodwork. And Joe McCarthy of JW McC’s Custom Wood Products carved the intricate, laser-cut woodwork that allows an open view.
“I wanted to support people who support us,” Em ery-Schewe says of using café customers to decorate.
An open kitchen allows customers to watch food preparation. “Customers often thank them and clap as they go by,” she says.
Brian TietzWanting to support those who have supported them, EmerySchewe asked customers to help decorate the space.
A mix of lighting, including a large white string globe and a gold-tube chandelier, came from Naples Lamp Shop and Wilson’s Lighting in Bonita Springs. Emery-Schewe chose metal-dipped bulbs to soften the glow. “The ambi ance is candles and good lighting,” she explains. “At night, it’s magical.”
Most art features Florida birds or nudes, including a vin tage Robb & Stucky painting and works by Kristy Gammill and Muffin Ray. The largest chunk of the budget went to Superior Seating and Hill’s Barstools & Lighting, where the Schewes found swivel barstools in mismatched colors and Seattle’s reupholstered them in orange velvet to add contrast to the black bar and pink side table.
The Bohemian Boho Bar, in the bank’s drive-thru, fea tures original concrete floors and a commissioned paint ing by Gammill: a striking woman with blue hair and hoop earrings that’s unlike her usual work. It’s surrounded by mirrors that reflect the bar and outdoors, where sail can opies provide shade for the marble Mimi’s café tables and black wicker seating. Outside, lush plants from Old 41 Market & Garden Center and Buddhas from Pottery Is Art dot the patio.
What’s next for the eclectic restaurant? The couple hopes to get a liquor license and is planning a rooftop herb and vegetable garden tended by local farmers that will pro vide garnishes and vegetables for entrees.
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Essential to Your Business Helping Individuals with Wealth ManagementStarling Hendriks Emma Osborne Jeanette Lombardi
If you’re in Smilin’ Dog Bakery in Naples, odds are you’ll en counter a happy canine. Usually it’s Linus, the four-year-old standard poodle of owner Denise Pavlovich—but whether it’s him or a guest, it’s hard not being a happy dog when you’re in a store filled with treats.
For the last seven years, Smilin’ Dog Bakery has been the purveyor of organic treats whipped up in the back of the store; goodies including the popular Chicken Apple Chewies, which contain exactly that—apples and chicken. “I always focus on what’s healthy,” Pavlovich says.
Before buying the shop, Pavlovich had toyed at home with making her own dog food. So much of what’s out there com mercially is like reading riddles in the ingredient list, she said. But much as they are for a human, simple recipes with fresh, organic ingredients can be healthful for a dog.
By Justin PaprockiBrian Tietz
Denise Pavlovich has been whipping up healthy dog food and treats for seven years.
Originally a school teacher, Pavlovich had to brush up on business basics and her products.
Brian Tietz
She arrived in Naples after a career teaching school in Alabama. Her son had come across the shop as owner Teresa Hoover was looking to sell. Pavlovich bought the place in May 2020. “I just fell in love with the store,” she says. “She had built a good business.”
It already had a loyal customer base and a cookbook of recipes. She decided to stay the course, continue the pop ular treats and build up the custom doggie cake business. It was her first time running a company, so she had to not just brush up on business basics but also know the prod ucts inside and out. After all, dog owners like her can be particular about what they’re serving.
Most treats are made in-house by Pavlovich or one of her employees, from simple recipes with straightfor ward ingredient lists. The most popular ones are chick en based; she goes through about 160 pounds of chicken per week.
The online operation does well, too, due to out-of-town customers who want to stay connected. Her products are sold in other shops locally and she hopes to expand more in Southwest Florida. Her biggest joy: The people and pets who come in the store.
“You get to see so many happy dogs,” Pavlovich says. “If the dogs are happy, you know the owners are happy.”
Former NBC-2 News anchor Rachel Pierce is living her dream. After 17 years in TV, she left in 2020 to pursue her lifelong passion, once her donated “celebrity” artwork became so popular with nonprofits and others that she created an online store, byrachelpierce.com.
During the pandemic, she spent a year as an artist-in-residence at J.N. “Ding” Dar ling National Wildlife Refuge, and moved to Sanibel with her husband and four chil dren in late 2020. That December, her art was featured at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
In 2021, she launched an Evocateur jewel ry collection that’s already in more than 150 boutiques, and created a beachy SPF cloth ing line that’s manufactured by an Orlando company. This year, she opened the Rachel Pierce Art Gallery at 1571 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel, where her artwork is displayed alongside her jewelry, painted clothing, pil lows, tote bags, coasters, pop-sockets, greet ing cards, face masks and other items.
“I’m dreaming big,” says Pierce, who spe cializes in abstract coastal art using oils
By Aisling Swiftand acrylics. “I want to be in stores, on no tecards, curtains, clothing, hats, prints and original art.”
She focuses on Florida wildlife, beachscapes and underwater life; colorful, swim ming sea creatures, such as manatees, log gerhead turtles, jellyfish and seahorses, as well as wading shorebirds and flamingos.
To ensure she captures the anatomy and motion correctly, she studies photographs and videos.
Art has always been part of Pierce’s life. She grew up in northern Wisconsin and her mother was an artist, so she started young, went to shows and took classes. In college, she studied art and the business of art, but earned a mass communication degree, got hooked on TV news and worked at stations in the Midwest and Washington, D.C., as well as the BBC. She left her Des Moines evening anchor job in 2015 to work as an NBC-2 morning anchor in Fort Myers and spend more time with family.
As her popularity grew, she got involved with the community and was sought after
Brian TietzAfter 17 years in TV news, Rachel Pierce now has her own gallery on Sanibel where her artwork is displayed.
as an event emcee and celebrity artist. It was a donated “celebrity” platter painting for a Ron ald McDonald House fundraiser that led to nonprofits and others clamoring for her work.
“When people weren’t winning the bid, they asked me if they could buy a piece. It took off from there,” she says.
She didn’t expect to leave TV news, but during the pandemic, she realized she could make a liv ing as an artist. At the time, the national refuge— which is named after a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist—was looking for its second artist-in-res idence. There, her art gained more attention, especially on Sanibel. In July 2021, she and her husband purchased the Periwinkle Way build ing for $925,000 and spent months renovating it into a gallery with a second-floor studio, and held a grand opening in February.
Instead of waking up at 1:45 a.m. for her news job, she can spend mornings with her kids, now ages 3-12, get them to school and drive to her gal lery, where she checks inventory and orders and speaks with staff before going upstairs to paint for hours.
She doesn’t donate paintings to charities anymore, but still donates to Ding Darling, painting on linen shirts provided by its nature store, with all profits going to the refuge. For charities and others, she auctions off threehour “experiences.”
“You can bring six people to the gallery, and it’ll be food and drinks and we’ll create some thing together,” she says. “They’ve been selling for a lot. The most one went for was $8,000.”
As an artist-in-residence at Ding Darling, Pierce’s work began to gain more attention and she realized she could make a living as an artist.
Brian Tietz
For customers, she’s painted art to match every room in a home in mut ed and monochromatic colors, art for a yacht, murals, even a piece for the selfie wall at the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce. “I’m trying to keep true to myself, but still give people what ac tually fits into their homes,” she says, adding that she’s painted bedroom walls, headboards and ceilings. Her art also is displayed in many businesses,
including Gulf Star Marina, Avalon Dental and the Law Offices of William G. Morris.
Toni Westland, Ding Darling su pervisory refuge ranger, says Pierce did plein air painting along Wildlife Drive, painted a mural, showed her art in their gallery and held “Paint with Rachel” workshops, where kids could create a tote for a teacher and paint shelves and other fun projects.
“People could watch her paint and talk to her,” Westland says. “She’s cre ative, dynamic and inviting—she’s awesome. People loved it, and I just love that it’s a continuation of Ding Darling and art.”
“Her paintings are accurate, yet fun and funky. They’re also colorful,” Westland adds. “Nature is so color ful, but she brings it to life like no other artist.”
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RALPH STAYER , an avid reader and owner/CEO of Johnsonville Sausage, leads a book club in Naples with about a dozen other high-power friends. The group only reads non-fic tion as a way to keep learning and sharpening the mind. Every month, Stayer shares the latest page-turners earning a perma nent spot on his ever-expanding bookshelves.
This month we feature two books about two differ ent sports—golf and football. These are very differ ent athletic pursuits, obviously, but they do have one thing in common: Every story in sports is about the people who play the sport or coach it.
We start with Rick Reilly’s ly has been a sportswriter most of his life, and wrote the back page of Sports Illustrated he retired. He covered all sports, but golf is the love of his athletic life. He hated golf as a young boy. His father would come home from golfing on Saturdays dead drunk and beat up his mother and anyone else with whom he came in contact in the house. Reilly connected golf with his drunken father, and he was unable to disassociate the two until he was a teenag er. His hatred quickly morphed into a life-long love affair with the game. As they say, converts become the more ardent believers.
You don’t have to be a golf fan to enjoy this book. It is filled with stories about people you know; Reilly’s work as a sportswriter has brought him up close to fame, reporting on and golfing with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Presidents Bush, Clinton and Trump.
insights into the character of these people. Golf is a very difficult sport that requires hard work to gain just a modicum of profi ciency. It can be very frustrating. We have a saying back in Wisconsin: “If you want to know about a person, go on a three-day fishing trip with that person.” The corol lary to this saying could be, “Would I go on a three-day golf trip with this person?” It is all in here. Make your own judgments.
RALPH READS
Brian Tietz; Courtesy of Hachette Books; St. Martin’s Griffin
This is a very entertaining book that will bring bursts of laugh ter at times and tears to your eyes at others. It is so good that I have ordered two of Reilly’s other books, Commander in Cheat and Who’s Your Caddy?
In 1953, Paul “Bear” Bryant accepted the head coaching assign ment for Texas A&M. He left behind a very successful eight-year career as head coach of the Kentucky football team, but the pro gram he found at A&M filled him with despair. The ingrained losing mentality he discovered there was only exceeded by an extreme lack of talent. Junction Boys by Jim Dent is the story of what Bryant did to develop a core of players who would walk through hell to win. And hell it was, and win they did.
Bryant loaded up two buses full of players and coaches and headed 150 miles south to the little town of Junction, Texas, for 10 days of practice to prepare for his first season. That part of
Texas was in the midst of a three-year drought, and the heat was over 100 degrees every day. The practices were brutal. The field had no grass; it was pure dirt covered with nettles that stuck to exposed hands, arms and legs. The practic es were two to three hours long in the hot sun, with no drinking water allowed. His practices may have been based on the model used by the Navy SEALS training, which is designed to se lect people who will not give up. The difference is the Navy knows what it is doing. Any coach to day caught doing what Bryant did would be fired and arrested—it is only through the grace of God that no one died.
Bryant announced at the start of training that anyone who wanted to quit would be given bus fare home and driven to the bus station. Two buses of players went to Junction. Ten days later, only a half of a bus of players returned. Bryant went on to develop a conference cham pionship team and move on to Alabama, where he became a legend. This book is an interest ing study of psychology—and a curious twist on Stockholm Syndrome. Those players who stuck it out revered Bryant. They went on to success ful careers, but Bryant felt guilty about what he had done to those boys for the rest of his life. He always said he would “croak in a week” if he quit coaching. He died 28 days after his final game. It’s definitely not an instruction manual, but Junction Boys is a fascinating read.
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If you need a quick charge, your electric car doesn’t have to go far in Southwest Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are 15 locations featuring “DC fast” stations in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. These are the fastest-of-the-fast charging stations that can get your vehicle 80% changed in under an hour. In Southwest Florida, there are many more public Level 1 and Level 2 stations; however, those will have a significantly slower time to recharge compared to DC fast.
Before you go, make sure you check the requirements for each station. Some may only serve Teslas, while others like those associated with ChargePoint require you to download an app to handle payment.
For details, go to afdc.energy.gov
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Since the pandemic-induced recession ended in April 2020—at least according to the National Bureau of Eco nomic Research, the official arbiter of the business cy cle—it seems everyone is trying to sort out what’s hap pening in the labor market.
We’ve all read and heard national and local news sto ries like this: Firms can’t find enough workers, while un employment rates are especially low. Yet employment overall is strong.
If the jobs situation is unclear, the overall economic outlook for the remainder of 2022 and 2023 looks uncer tain, too—not only where employment is concerned, but also inflation. Despite job growth in 2022, the national economy has slowed overall, and persistent inflation is creating crises for working families.
Yet, signs suggest that no matter what happens to the national economy in the next few months, Southwest Florida appears better prepared for uncertain times than just about anywhere else.
To understand why, it’s helpful to first look at some U.S. jobs numbers, and then examine how they compare to Florida in general and Southwest Florida in particular.
By Victor V. Claarrate reported by households. In February 2020, just be fore the pandemic, the nation’s labor force participation rate was 63.4%. This means that among eligible adults, nearly two-thirds were either working or looking for jobs. Of course, the pandemic created a catastrophic drop: In April 2020, that rate had fallen to 60.2%, but by the end of the first quarter of 2022, that number had recovered to a mere 62.2%.
Now let’s compare those numbers to the same numbers for Florida at the same three times. In February 2020, the participation rate in the Sunshine State was 59.1%, then fell to 53.8% two months later, and by March 2022 had risen to 58.8%. So even though Florida started low er overall, we’re much closer to our pre-pandemic levels than the nation is.
So how is the region doing? To understand the partic ular dynamics of our area, it’s helpful to look at what has happened to the levels of some specific numbers rather than aggregated measures such as participation rates. As we know, our population has been surging. How well have available workers been connected to available jobs?
In the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan statistical area (MSA), the labor force in February 2020 was about 355,000. But by March 2022, it was up to roughly 367,000. Yet the unemployment rate in the same period from
Most readers are familiar with the monthly job market numbers supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For starters, consider the national labor force participation Getty
Southwest Florida appears
the beginning to the end changed little over all—2.6% in February 2020 and 2.5% in March 2022—though it was a whopping 14.1% in April 2020. This means that the local job market ab sorbed lots of those new labor market entrants. That’s good news about the availability of jobs and hiring rates. And the Naples-Immoka lee-Marco Island MSA experienced a similar pattern over the same time frame: a bigger labor force and similar unemployment rates both pre- and post-pandemic.
So the good news is that the local labor market appears robust; likely more so than the nation overall.
But it’s not just the jobs picture that’s en couraging. Other signs point to the robustness of the Sunshine State. For example, while GDP for the country fell by 3.4% in 2020, for Florida, it fell just 2.8%. And in Southwest Florida, I’m encouraged by recent residential housing per mit numbers: Though prices remain high and inventory low, permits issued in the coastal counties rose 28% from May 2021 to May 2022. And regional tourist tax revenues increased by 21% from April 2021 to April 2022.
In uncertain times, it’s good to be in the best shape possible. And Southwest Florida is in an enviable position.
Victor V. Claar is an associate professor of eco nomics in the Lutgert College of Business at Flor ida Gulf Coast University. He serves on the James Madison Institute’s Research Advisory Council and the Freedom & Virtue Institute board.
By David Dorsey
Jamie May shows off the 80-page pamphlet from his Fifth Avenue South office in the ritz iest part of downtown Naples. The pamphlet has a glossy cover showing an immaculate green lawn, a new sidewalk, a crystal-clear swimming pool and a 300-unit, Mediterra nean-style apartment complex called Las Palmas in the background. There are palm trees and a blue sky mixed with peaceful clouds tinted pink from the sunrise.
“Can you find it?” May asks. Not yet.
The pamphlet’s pages are filled with facts: Las Palmas was built in 2021 on 23.84 acres. It has 12 three-story buildings, four two-story townhomes and one single-story clubhouse with a fitness center. The apart ments range from 650 to 1,678 square feet, and the average rents started at just below $2,000 per month. It’s at 11900 Marquina Blvd. in central Lee County, east of Gulf Coast Town Center and Interstate 75, just south of Southwest Florida International Airport and Alico Road, the epicenter of the region’s growth.
In February, May and his team of five col leagues at the JBM brokerage firm sold Las Palmas to PassiveInvesting.com for $109 million. Benefit Street Partners funded the purchase with an $82 million loan. An outfit called NRP Group sold it after developing it with a $38.5 million construction loan from Synovus Bank in 2019.
Las Palmas became another of dozens of multifamily transactions that just keep sell ing, one after the other. The Southwest Flor ida apartment-buying frenzy roughly began
Southwest Florida apartment units' values have increased by about 60% since COVID-19 began.
in November 2020, eight months after the COVID-19 pandemic began shutting down swaths of the economy in March 2020. It’s continuing.
During 32 months, May 2017 through December 2019, there were 27 Southwest Florida apartment complexes of at least 100 units that sold for a combined $1.5 billion. The 9,004 units averaged about $166,592 each in value.
During 30 months between January 2020 and June of this year—including an eight-month, early-pandemic gap with few sales—there were 33 such complexes that sold for a combined $2.6 billion. Those 9,805 apartment units averaged $265,170 in value. That data was provided by the com peting brokerage firms of JBM and New mark and matched.
This means the value of a Southwest Flor ida apartment unit has increased by about 60% since COVID-19 began.
Theories abound why there have been such dramatic increases in these invest ments, including a rush to move to the re gion to escape northern lockdowns and an influx of cash into the development sector from government-assisted, personal protec tion loans. There’s another, simpler reason: The developers are looking to recoup their
investments and propel themselves with their profits to fund the next projects. To do so, they’re going to hire experienced brokers who can sell their creations for top dollar.
Achieving these multi-million-dollar deals takes time, effort and, of course, a ton of money. It also takes developers willing to endure running the gauntlet of an apart ment development cycle.
From July 2014 until December 2021, the apartment cycle took place for West End at City Walk, a 318-unit Fort Myers complex developed by Cape Coral native Joe Bonora.
In 2014, the site was 7.8 acres of raw land that once housed a decaying shopping cen ter that had been razed, then sat dormant during the Great Recession. Bonora’s com pany got it under contract in December 2017 and bought it in February 2018 from Madison Avenue Investment Group for $7 million. Thereafter, construction began.
In December 2021, Tyler Minix, a bro ker with Newmark, sold the fully leased and completed complex for $81.2 million, a price that would have been even higher had Bonora not kept an ownership stake in it. ApexOne, a Houston-based investment company, made the bulk of the purchase.
While the closing takes seconds with the signing of the paperwork, getting brokers such as Minix and May to that moment takes years—about four years in the case of West End at City Walk.
First, land brokers including Phil Fis chler and his team at Fischler Property
Company of Fort Myers are often at the inception of these projects. Back when there was just dirt on the ground.
“A large majority of these apartment complexes are built by developers who are coming here from major markets,” Fischler says, “like Tampa and Dal las and throughout the Midwest. They come to companies like mine to under stand the growth trends. Is the develop ment going where you can’t see it on the ground today? They want to know where the roads are going to be widened, where the utilities are going to be extended, or maybe where a Publix has been ap proved, but it hasn’t been built yet.
“We help them get up to speed on the zoning and the land use. We help them get approvals. They’re dealing with en vironmental situations. They look to us to help them quickly get up to speed on all of those details so they can put to gether a game plan and start evaluating the sites. That helps them decide which sites are a go, and which are a no-go.”
While it takes Minix or May about half a year to market and sell a finished and fully leased apartment complex, it takes Fisch ler longer to shepherd a developer from identifying a piece of raw land to purchas ing it prior to beginning construction.
“Way longer,” Fischler says.
The path to breaking ground on an apartment complex begins with four steps, Fischler explained.
1. Negotiate a purchase contract be tween the developer and the landowner. That usually takes three to four months.
2. Due diligence period. This entails exploring whether the site has wetlands, environmental or other issues involved,
A majority of apartment projects are being built by developers from major markets, including Tampa and Dallas.
such as the presence of endangered species. This can take at least 180 days.
3. Permitting process. In Lee County, it can take eight to 16 months to apply for a building permit. “Only after that time will they close on that property,” Fischler says of the developer.
4. Construction. That can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months, depending on the size of the apartment complex.
“I’ve had some transactions that have gone five years,” Fischler says. “There’s con siderable risk that these developers take on. To find the land, study it and make sure it’s suitable, build the project, then lease it up to where Jamie May or Tyler Minix can sell it.”
Fischler and his team are working with Zimmer Development out of North Car olina on two current projects. One is the 275-unit First Street Village in downtown Fort Myers. The other is the 296-unit Inspi ration at South Pointe off College Parkway on what had been a goat farm. That project has cleared permitting and is on the verge of breaking ground.
Back in 2017, broker Alex Henderson, now a colleague of Fischler, began working with Zimmer on what would become three separate projects. The 432-unit Oasis at Surfside in Cape Coral was completed in 2020; the other two are under construc tion and took longer for various reasons. At South Pointe, the reasons included needing to rezone the site from agricultural land.
“Around the same time we had Surfside under contract, we started looking at the goat farm site,” Henderson says of the 13 acres. “We went into about an 18-month
Brian Tietznegotiation process. We got it under con tract in mid-2019. Through that process, we hired Johnson Engineering to help with the civil work and land planning. We de termined that it would be worth spending the extra time and money to expanding the mixed-use overlay, which is a component of the future land-use map. That was a time ly process. There was an entire rezone that needed to occur.”
Zimmer had been eyeballing the land since 2017. It finally closed for $6.7 million in May 2021. Zimmer had to pay at least an extra $1.3 million to the Lee County government to receive the bonus density on the property, Henderson said. He called it a “pretty stan dard real estate development deal.”
Companies such as Zimmer and Bonora’s Catalyst use the revenue from preceding projects to fund the next ones.
Bonora is Southwest Florida’s rare home grown apartment complex developer. He graduated from Cape Coral Elementary, Caloosa Middle School and then Cape Cor al High School. A college dropout, he em barked on a real estate career in which he saw an opening to do something that wasn’t being done in the early 2010s because of the aftershocks of the Great Recession.
In 2013, Bonora’s company paid $4.5 mil lion for the land that would become Chan nelside, a 326-unit apartment complex in south Fort Myers off McGregor Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road. His company sold it in 2016 for $55 million, and the property changed hands again, for $65.2 million, in August 2019.
Phil Fischler and his team currently are working on two projects in Fort Myers, one of which is downtown.Joe Bonora is SWFL's rare homegrown apartment complex developer, raised in Cape Coral.
Courtesy of Catalyst Asset Management Brian Tietz
Joe Bonora, a Cape Coral native, developed his first apartment complex—Channelside in south Fort Myers—in 2013. Here’s a look at his Southwest Florida apartment projects, the number of units, year completed and their sales prices after completion.
Channelside
Midtown Uptown Grand Central West End at City Walk
South Fort Myers
Cape Coral Cape Coral Fort Myers Fort Myers
$55 million $16.75 million $64.6 million $48.4 million $81.2 million $168,711 $186,111 $201,875 $172,857 $255,345 2016 Jan-20 Jan-20 Sep-21 Dec-21 326 90 320 280 318
“My first project, Channelside, that’s when I got the bug,” Bonora says. “I knew then that multifamily was going to be my thing.”
After Channelside, Bonora developed Midtown in Cape Coral (90 units), Up town in Cape Coral (320 units), Grand Central in Fort Myers (280 units) and then West End at City Walk (318 units).
That’s 1,434 apartment units built during the last decade that since have sold for a combined $265.95 million.
“Channelside is really what kicked off, locally, a lot of the multifamily projects,” says Matt Simmons, a property apprais er with Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons in Fort Myers. “It was really the first new apartment complex of any size or scale to be built after the destruction of 2006, ’07, all the way up through 2010. It took a long time to flesh out the asset classes, where the bottom was. There was this understandable hesitance to bringing a new product to the market. Joe Bonora delivered that project. It was so well received; it really set off the signal to other developers that it was time to do these again. It paved the way for others to realize there’s demand for new multifamily.”
Bonora’s status as a homegrown de veloper is rare because most local devel opment companies just don’t have the financing to back these big projects.
“The way development works now, these things are incredibly cash-in tensive,” Simmons says. “It’s not as if somebody can just run down to the bank
Newmark and JBM are competing brokerage companies that specialize in selling apartment complexes from developers to investment companies. These two firms sell the bulk of complexes in Southwest Florida. Since 2020, Newmark has sold 18 complexes with at least 100 units totaling 5,646 units for a combined $1.4 billion. During that span, JBM has sold eight complexes of at least 100 units in the region, totaling 2,045 units for a combined $734 million.
Here are the top Southwest Florida deals for each brokerage company since 2000. They are listed in de scending order of price per unit.
COMPLEX
Murano at Three Oaks
Sierra Grande
West End at City Walk
Encore Vive
The Reef at Winkler
The Crest at Bonita Springs
Grand Central
The Cape at Savona Point
Mosaic at Oak Creek
Sanibel Straits
Undisclosed corporate exchange Reserve at Coconut Pointe
Las Palmas
Undisclosed corporate exchange
Estero Oaks
Drift at the Forum
Versol
The Coast Townhomes
Fort Myers
Naples
Fort Myers
Fort Myers
Fort Myers
Bonita Springs Fort Myers
Cape Coral Bonita Springs Fort Myers
Naples Estero
Fort Myers
Fort Myers
Fort Myers
2020 2014 2021 2021 2020 2021 2019 2020 2020 2019 2021 2022 2021 2021 2017 2021 2020 2000 YEAR BUILT
PRICE $122.5 million $113.5 million $112.5 million $91 million $46 million $69.9 million $70 million $77.8 million $66.5 million $54 million $160 million $71.7 million $109 million $128 million $94 million $62.5 million $70.3 million $38.5 million
Fort Myers Bonita Springs Naples 318 300 318 288 160 264 280 319 273 224 320 180 300 384 280 195 240 146 $385,220 $378,333 $353,774 $315,972 $287,962 $264,962 $250,000 $243,590 $243,590 $241,071 $500,000 $398,000 $363,333 $333,000 $335,000 $320,513 $293,125 $263,000
WHEN SOLD May-22 Jan-22 Dec-21 Dec-21 Nov-21 May-21 Oct-21 Jan-21 May-20 Nov-20 Mar-22 May-22 Feb-22 Dec-21 Mar-22 Feb-22 Jun-21 Nov-21
Newmark and JBM are two brokerage firms that sell the bulk of SWFL's apartment complexes.
and get a loan and just build a bunch of apartments. It’s really competitive. It’s really professionalized. A lot of these are built on Excel spreadsheets.
“It’s all being driven—hard—on the fi nancials. On what will maximize the re turns. It’s private equity, it’s syndicated investment deals, it’s people who do this kind of thing over and over again. This is not mom-and-pop development. There’s nothing that prevents local people from doing these things, it’s just there’s a lot of horsepower required to build 100 or more units. You’re talking about a lot of money and a lot of expertise.”
Up next for Bonora: Montage at Mid town near downtown Fort Myers. That’s a 321-unit complex that is nearing the end of the permitting phase and should break ground by early 2023.
Bonora isn’t just developing in his hometown, either. He’s also working on a 287-unit apartment complex in Bra denton, a $90 million riverfront con struction project that will have synergy with an adjacent $50 million arts center.
“I had a basic understanding of con struction and development,” Bonora says of the beginning of his career. “But what I’ve figured out is a lot of what we do is coming up with a theme and then managing that theme. Contractors, de signers, planners, all of the people that you need on board for a project, need to be on board with that theme.
“A big component of development is
understanding the capital. How to make the numbers work is a big part of it. Quite honestly, I spent as much time as I could learning how to do business on my first project. That helped me more than any thing. I learned every part of that process.”
Now that Bonora has been able to get into the rhythm of developing, fully leas ing and selling these apartment complex es, he’s looking to stay invested in some of them for the long term. He’s evolving.
“Most developers, you’ll develop it,” he says. “You’ll invest in it, and you’ll have investors who will have owner ship in it. You put the bids together. You make sure you can get it leased up. Then you sell it. I’m going to try to hold onto them for the longer term. I just feel the growth of the market.”
Minix, one of the region’s top brokers with Newmark, graduated with a finance degree from FGCU and later received a master’s in real estate from the Univer sity of Florida.
Six years ago, he evolved into broker age and began specializing in multifamily investment sales in Southwest Florida. He said it took him about three to four years to get a good feel for the business— and he came into his own just in time for the most lucrative real estate market the region had ever seen. “I love my job,” Minix says. “I am fortunate to work with
A big part of developing is sticking to a theme and understanding the capital, says Joe Bonora.
the best team in the industry and get to work with our amazing clients.”
Minix needs about six months from the initial marketing of a property to closing a deal. There are usually 15 to 25 bidders on various apartment complexes; the number of suitors depends on the loca tion, the size, the age and other factors.
“We market the asset for four to five weeks, conducting property tours and presenting the asset to potential buy ers,” he says. “The initial round of offers are due at the end of the marketing pe riod. The best and final offers are due a week later. We interview the best and the finalists. We analyze and verify the underwriting, financial assumptions and source of equity. We perform due diligence on each investor’s transaction history, historical performance and abil ity to close.”
These are extensive background checks. JBM does them, too.
For May and his team, the methodology is similar. But instead of working for a Park Avenue, New York-based compa ny with about 170 offices and 6,500 em ployees, he presides over a nimble team of just six.
“Wealthy people are migrating to the west coast of Florida,” May says. “It’s like the new frontier. The cost of hous ing is far more affordable compared to the east coast. Southwest Florida was
sleepy until about 10 years ago. Devel opers can’t move fast enough to satisfy the need.”
Apartment complexes have been leas ing to 75% capacity before they’re even finished with construction, May said.
“We typically list them at 25-to-50% leased,” he says. “It’s a value-add strat egy for the buyer. We’ll get 30 to 50 offers on an asset. We’ll give people a ‘whisper price.’”
As the interest from potential buyers intensifies, that whisper price escalates. That’s when May and his team narrow down the candidates to buy the apart ment complex. The original suitors usu ally get cut to three finalists, resulting in another price escalation for the apart ment complex.
As this year began, the per-unit price— the preferred method of discussing these sales by the brokers—kept rising, espe cially in Lee County.
Just a few weeks after the 288-unit Encore Vive at the Forum in Fort My ers sold for $91 million at a Lee County record $315,000 per unit in December 2021, the record fell again. The 194-unit Drift at the Forum sold for $62.5 mil lion in February. At $320,512 per unit, that made it one of the biggest sales of early 2022. A Miami-based investment company bought that one. Since, that per-unit benchmark has been eclipsed again—and again.
Back in May’s office, he’s still wonder ing if a visitor has found one of his mar keting ploys.
“You find it yet?” May asks again. Still not yet.
Turning more pages of that Las Palmas pamphlet, the JBM logo appears, Photo shopped onto paintings, big-screen TVs and even the display screens of the four treadmills on page 13, showing off the “24-hour, state-of-the-art fitness center.”
“I started the business out of a bed room,” says May, a Boston University graduate with degrees in finance and real estate. He now owns a home in Port Royal, the most affluent neighborhood in Naples. “I was riding a bike to do all of these deals.” Not anymore. Nowadays, he’s driving his 14th Ferrari.
“All we do is multifamily,” he says. “Generally speaking, I try to sell 200 units or more. Our niche is new market development. Once it leases up, we come in and sell it for a profit.”
On pages 22-23 of that pamphlet are the “notable one-mile demographics” for Las Palmas. The average, one-mile household income for central Lee Coun ty checks in at just under $200,000. The average, one-mile net worth is $2.54 mil lion. These aren’t just random facts; they’re demographics that inspire investors to take considerable risks when deciding to purchase properties; because after they buy the apartment
Courtesy of JBM Group; Brian Tietzcomplexes, they need to keep them full of tenants to continue to profit from their investments.
But back up. There it is, on page 21, near the lower left corner. May’s bright red Ferrari is driving through the Las Palmas parking lot.
JBM includes the Ferrari in each of the apartment complex promotional pamphlets it produces. It’s kind of like the “Where’s Waldo” cartoon, trying to find the Ferrari. It’s an in-house touch, May said, one he hopes differentiates his brokerage company from others. In the competitive arena of apartment com plex developments, standing out helps.
Rising interest rates, inflation, sup ply-chain issues with construction, per mitting backlogs, cash shortages—they’re all putting a dent into developing. But land brokers such as Fischler, developers such as Bonora and brokers such as May and Minix remain undaunted—because shelter remains a primary need.
“Sales volume has slowed,” Minix says. “However, the long-term outlook for Southwest Florida multifamily re mains strong. Investors continue to seek high-quality properties throughout Southwest Florida.”
Tyler Minix, one of Newmark's top brokers, specializes in multifamily investment sales.
—Different Avenues: Old 41 Road
Known over the years as Heitman Avenue, County Road 887 and even Tamiami Trail, historic Old 41 Road is a pedestrian-friendly, slow-paced street lined with mostly family-owned businesses in the heart of downtown Bonita Springs. This month’s Different Avenues feature focuses on the importance Old 41 Road has to the city’s past, present and future.
The federal and state governments bypassed historic Bonita Springs and what is now known as Old 41 Road when Tamiami Trail forged a new route 45 years ago. Local attractions such as the roadside Everglades Wonder Gardens, the 100-year-old Shangri-La Springs hotel and the former Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track were suddenly off the beaten path of the new section of U.S. 41. Old 41's timeless Old Florida was no longer part of the Tamiami Trail, an apt ly named stretch from Tampa to Miami that was realigned westward in the late 1970s to bypass downtown Bonita and a nearly seven-mile loop with a major four-lane, divided highway.
“There was a lot of argument back and forth. Some people wanted (Old) 41 to be four lanes through Bonita Springs; some people wanted the bypass done. I think, fortunately, the bypass won over,” says Ben Nelson Jr., who served two terms as a councilman when Bonita became a city in 2000, followed by two terms as mayor. His dad, Ben Nelson Sr., owned Nelson’s Hard ware, the town’s first hardware store, and the Nelson family lived above it on Old 41.
“Some people didn’t want the bypass because they thought, and rightfully so, that it would suck the business life out of Bonita Springs," Nelson says. “But at the same time, some of them, including my father, knew that it would be a disaster for our community in general to have a four-lane highway run through the mid dle of it.”
Because of the bypass, Old 41 Road starts at U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs and ends on U.S. 41 in North Naples. “I still see that as an advantage,” Nelson says. “It allows the community to be walkable. It allows small businesses to thrive.” That was always the vision a lot of Bonita lead ers had for that unique stretch, he said.
Nelson, a third-generation Floridian who grew up in Bonita Springs, bought his father’s construction business in 1980 and grew it into Nelson Marine Construction. He and his wife, Lori, later launched Survey Café in a little 1940era home behind Benson’s Grocery on Old 41.
“When we became a city, one of the main things we wanted to do was breathe life back into and redevelop the Old 41 corridor into a walkable community, one that we could be proud of. And
Old 41 and downtown Bonita were bypassed when Tamiami Trail was realigned in the late '70s.
Dating back to the 1930s, the Wonder Gardens is the oldest-standing attraction in Bonita Springs.
we took those steps to do that,” Nelson says. "We bought up the Bamboo property, the other property across the street from it, what we call the Depot Park. There would be a public-private partnership on the Bamboo property, which would be the economic en gine to run it. It would be like an economic anchor to bring people into town there.”
Running through the heart of downtown Bonita Springs, Old 41 Road attracts locals and tourists looking to explore a quaint, small town different from Fort Myers and Naples. History is alive on Old 41, apparent by a stroll past the preserved Liles Ho tel—built in 1926—or the iconic Wonder Gardens sign, taking visitors back to simpler times.
Local heritage also lives at the McSwain House, a small home built in 1915 on Old 41 and given to and recently restored by the Bonita Springs His torical Society. Next door, though, only a vacant lot remains of the Wayside Inn, a two-story hotel built in 1905 and razed in 2005.
The Shell Factory burned down years ago. The orange-shaped landmark of the Dome restaurant and tavern was replaced by a 7-Eleven on the cor ner of Old 41 and East Terry Street. The shell of the Goodbread Grocery, later best known as the Dixie Moon Cafe, was relocated from Old 41 and Dean Street to the Riverside Park area before the Mosaic at Oak Creek apartment complex was built.
The Wonder Gardens prides itself as being the oldest-standing attraction in Bonita Springs, which proclaimed it a historic destination. Dating to the 1930s, the previously named Everglades Reptile Gardens, established by the Piper family, is a zoo logical and botanical site that celebrates Florida’s roadside attractions of yesteryear.
What was old is new again at Shangri-La Springs, a hotel built in 1921 by developer Harvie Heitman
“We’re starting to see groups walking up and down Old 41 for leisure, for exercise, patronizing the businesses. … I think in another couple of years it will fully visualize and be this tremendous, walkable downtown district.”
—Zach Smith, Ceremony Brewing owner
on 8.5 acres on the western edge of Old 41, a road that then carried Heitman’s name. The hotel’s name and ownership changed many times in the last century. Guests can enjoy stays at a historic resort that boasts visits by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, infamous gangster Al Capone and comedic actor Jack ie Gleason. This spring, the boutique local resort reopened with newly furnished and renovated hotel rooms and suites, comple mented by spa treatments and an organic garden and restaurant set among lush land scaping with champion trees.
Family owned and operated for decades, many local dining spots dotting Old 41 are hidden gems. Grandpa’s Pizza, which re cently received national acclaim, has been creating its famous pies for more than 40 years. Buffalo Chips, an “upscale dive” restaurant and sports bar, has been serving its hot wings and cold beer for at least four decades, as well. Maria’s Restaurant, known for its authentic Mexican cuisine, opened 30 years ago in a space that formerly was The Pig & Whistle Pub. Old 41 Restaurant has served comfort food favorites for 15 years. Trackside Donuts has been a morning ritu al for nearly a dozen years in a former Dairy Queen A-frame.
Joining these popular spots are newcom ers such as Downtown Coffee and Wine Co. and The Bohemian Restaurant, both owned by Brandon and Caitlin Schewe, a young couple igniting fresh attention on Old 41.
“I’m originally from here, so I knew Old 41 when the only things there were pretty much Buffalo Chips or the Wonder Gardens or something in between,” says Brandon Schewe. “There’s still—and I think there al ways will be—lots of culture there. You see a mix. Even right there on the river off Old 41 there’s a lot of nicer homes, so you have that. You have a lot of the middle working class like myself and my wife. Our home is minutes away from Old 41, which makes it super convenient to have two businesses right there.”
The Schewes opened The Bohemian Restaurant in early March in the new En trada building on the corner of Old 41 and Bonita Beach Road following the success of Downtown Coffee, which they opened three years ago in a building that had been vacant for about a decade. “It used to be the old Corner Store and it’s an historic building from the 1940s,” he says.
Schewe hopes other small business own ers follow his lead and open local clothing boutiques and cool, trendy mom-and-pop shops. Other new local hangouts include Seaside Bar & Grill in the Bernwood Design Center on the northern end of Old 41. Char treuse Craft Cocktail Lounge introduced its swanky 1930s vibe last year, and two local breweries, Hopsized Brewing Co. and Cer emony Brewing, both launched last Novem ber on Old 41 and already plan adjacent ex pansions of their businesses.
Ceremony Brewing owner Zach Smith started his quest to open the local taproom
—Different Avenues: Old 41 RoadDowntown Coffee Co. and The Bohemian Restaurant are newer destinations on Old 41 Road.
many years ago when he was still a local schoolteach er. “I live pretty much in the downtown corridor, as well, right here off Old 41," Smith says, “so when I moved up here about 10 years ago, they were just kind of beginning the road construction. Just seeing the infrastructure that was in place and the existing businesses, it kind of had that Old Florida charm where it was inherently walkable—because when a lot of these buildings were built, they weren’t so heavily reliant on traffic and large volumes of cars and things like that, so it was built in a way that was more downtown friendly, more walkable and pedes trian friendly. I knew that unique infrastructure was going to make it a hotbed.”
As both a local resident and a business owner, Smith said it is satisfying to see people coming in and doing exactly what he had envisioned. “We’re start ing to see groups walking up and down Old 41 for leisure, for exercise, patronizing the businesses. So, we’re starting to see that growth," he says. “I think in another couple of years it will fully visualize and be this tremendous, walkable downtown district.”
The walkability is promoted by Riverside Park and its bandshell for live concerts, special events, holiday celebrations and outdoor church services. Old 41 also features two roundabouts designed to slow traf fic while supporting walkability and smart growth.
Across Old 41 from the Wonder Gardens, the Im perial Crossing redevelopment project is poised to personify the city’s tagline: “Small Town Charm. Big Bright Future.” Known as the Bamboo Village property, formerly a mobile home park until the early 2000s, more than 5 acres were purchased by the city for a mixed-use, public-private partnership opportunity. Naples-based Barron Collier Compa nies is the developer behind the proposed Imperial
The mixed-use Imperial Crossing project will be built on both sides of the Imperial River (above) while Rooftop at Riverside food truck park also is planned for Old 41.
“The Causeway Commerce Park is a four-lot land condominium.
… We wanted to build something modern, and that’s why we picked Old 41.”
—Steve Hovland, Hovland Real Estate
Former teacher Zach Smith opened a local brew pub on Old 41 Road in downtown Bonita Springs.
Crossing project, with frontage on both sides of the Imperial River. Commercial plans for the vacant property are expected to include new apartments and public space for community events, waterfront access and open green space.
The city expects the development to be a cata lyst to spur additional development and expand on the retail mix to create a vibrant, thriving downtown. To significantly support this vision, the city invested more than $20 million for onstreet parking, the installation of underground electricity and stormwater improvements de signed for greater flexibility in development.
Similarly, Rooftop at Riverside food truck park is planned for the corner of Old 41 and Reynolds Street. The Magnus family broke ground in May for the new venture on a halfacre plot of land across from Riverside Park. Expected to be completed in early 2023, the project will feature eight food trucks and a two-story rooftop bar that will hang over the sidewalk. "It’s going to be terrific event viewing, terrific overflow seating and really wonderful for the community to experience all the great events at Riverside Park,” says co-developer Chris Magnus.
The project will help jumpstart Bonita’s downtown, said Jesse Purdon, the city council or for that district. “This is going to be a legacy piece. This piece right here is going to be the catalyst that starts what’s going to be our down town,” Purdon says.
Nearby, a makeover is planned for the entire square around the historic banyan tree land mark across from Riverside Park. Plans are be ing considered to protect and enhance the tree, estimated to be more than 100 years old. “What a great idea it would be to light it up at night and
to really show off the tree and the magnificence of it for the community,” says Derrick Botana, president of the city’s Historical Society.
More new businesses will be coming soon to Entrada and the Causeway Commerce Park, both Old 41 developments started by investor James Deagle and Steve Hovland of Hovland Real Estate. Entrada expanded on the old First Na tional Bank of Bonita Springs, while the Cause way redevelopment project started with the purchase of the old Causeway Lumber Co., which closed in 2009 after operating for more than 30 years. The development of about 120,000 square feet of commercial property on nearly 9 acres is the duo’s first big project. “The Causeway Com merce Park is a four-lot land condominium. My partner and I own the two south lots; we sold the north two lots,” Hovland says.
“We wanted to build something modern, and that’s why we picked Old 41—because the zoning was flexible with the industrial zoning,” Hov land continues. Tenants include one-of-a-kind local businesses CRU Wine Bar and Grumpy Goat Coffee. “We’ve got an eyelash gal. We've got a photographer. We have every business you can imagine at Causeway," he says. “It’s really neat to see the new workforce and what kind of neat and cool, funky businesses that they’re doing.”
Two of the 22 units in the first building they developed are called The Causeway, set to open soon. “It’s going to be a beer hall that’s better than a food truck place because it’s all air-con ditioned,” Hovland says.
Old 41 stretches slightly more than a mile south of Bonita Beach Road to the Collier Coun ty line, curving west to meet U.S. 41 North in North Naples. The stretch south of Bonita Beach Road, functioning mostly as an industrial park
PARK VIEW
A food truck park (upper right) is being built across from Riverside Park on Old 41 Road.
The historic home of the Dixie Moon Cafe and other local businesses were relocated on Old 41.
“The Old 41 redevelopment area in the downtown district has to be a destination, not a place to drive through.”
—Ben Nelson Jr., former mayor
area, needs to be widened to four lanes with sidewalks, said former Mayor Nelson. “The gov ernment entities have really dropped the ball by not following through with the plans, and there are plans," he says. “Collier and Bonita Springs are going to have to work together on that to make that connectivity.”
Cut-through traffic also needs to be discour aged through the redevelopment area of the historic part of Old 41 by improving and creat ing alternative routes as outlined in the city’s comprehensive plan, Nelson said. “The Old 41 redevelopment area in the downtown district has to be a destination, not a place to drive through,” he says, “or you can’t have that kind of development. You can’t have that walkable community.”
Nelson believes the sense of community and small-town charm can be retained and down town businesses can thrive there. “What you want to do is create a place where there’s inter nal capture, a place where the people who live there work there. They go to the stores there. You also become an attractor for restaurants and entertainment and stuff. It’s doable; it’s all doable with the infrastructure that we have there, if you give the opportunities for the traf fic to go other ways to get around that. The fu ture looks bright for it still. I think there’s so much hope, so much that can happen there in a positive way.”
—Different Avenues: Old 41 Road
Early in the history of PBS and taking a cue from the book, Fundamentally Different, the team sat down to talk about what makes a company great. Staring with over 200 ideas, they organized their thoughts and decided on 28 Fundamentals.
These daily practices make the PBS culture come to life known as The PBS Way. For the month of October, PBS is focusing on the following fundamentals:
#3 BE A GREAT TEAM MEMBER, “Huddle Up! Together we are better.” PBS kicks off October with this Fundamental.
#4 BE PROCESS ORIENTED, “Learn to create systems and processes that support our ability to perform with consistency.”
#5 HONOR COMMITMENTS, “There’s no better way to earn people’s trust than to be true to your word.”
#6 INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS, “Make decisions that build and enhance long-term relationships.”
#7 MAKE QUALITY PERSONAL, “Take pride in the quality of everything you touch and everything you do. Sign in bold ink.”
Since 1986, PBS Contractors has been known for their reputation and dedication to exceptional client service as your Concierge Builder®.
Known for building better lives in the community, “Russell’s Barbecue” is an example of how they support organizations such as David Lawrence Centers, Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs, Wounded Warriors of Collier County, and more.
With every unique project, whether building your dream home, renovating your luxury condominium, or updating a commercial space, PBS and its award-winning team will give you excellence. Experience The PBS Way.
Best Places to Work team photo
Our Golden PAWS Mascot, Buddy
Dale Mullin CEO of Wounded Warriors and Tim Dupre, President and CEO
Jay Miller, Kathy Smart, David Minton, Tim Dupre, Michael Wynn, Bela Lesende, Christina Hatch
Because we are your hometown Florida builder, that’s why! We’re a company made successful by the hard work of real people, like you. We see you at the grocery store, the park, or the school pickup line, and we’re proud to talk to you about building your home.
As experts in living design, we understand that your home is a part of who you are. Your needs change over time, so you need flexible space. For downtime, a private retreat. And an open, welcoming area for friends and family to gather. It’s all within reach in a Christopher Alan Home.
Because we are builder-owned, we don’t answer to shareholders. We focus on your needs, simplify your homebuying process, and make everything just right from the day we hand you the keys until long after you’re settled. You can trust that we put all the thought and care into building your home as we would our own, because…We are your neighbors. We are your trusted experts. We are your hometown Florida builder.
Features, amenities, equipment, materials, floor plans, elevations, colors, and designs vary and are subject to changes or substitution without notice. Items shown are artist’s renderings and may contain options that are not standard on all models or not included in the purchase price. Availability and pricing may vary and are subject to change without notice. Sq.ft. /acreage/dimensions are estimated; actual
may differ.
sizes may vary from home to home and may not accommodate all
final
and
In 1967, Erwin Geis launched a small construction business in Macedonia, Ohio. The company found immediate success and upward trajectory that continued through the second and third generations of the Geis family. Geis Companies has become a national development and construction business with more than 500+ employees. Licensed in 42 states, Geis Construction is one of six different real estate and management firms under the Geis umbrella. It is North America’s premier design/build company with more than 50 years of experience developing projects from five to 1,000 acres. Having successfully developed around 18k acres and designed/built over 1,700 projects, we have expertise in site selection, tenant space planning, interior design, and creative financing structures. The Geis designbuild team is able to provide its clients with the best possible service and return on investment. Geis Construction looks forward to serving clients by developing refined, low-to-highrise products, cold storage, or traditional warehousing. The
Geis companies’ vision is to be the best total service company which provides a full-cycle approach to ensure our clients’ success in “building” their future.
Geis Companies is nationally active and currently breaking ground in Florida markets with seven large commercial real estate projects underway within the Alico Business Corridor of Fort Myers, FL. The Centro, an exciting amenity-rich new apartment community features 264 upscale apartments complete with private balconies. Meridian Business Park is being built on 23 acres and will consist of 4 separate buildings. The 75k-35k sqft. shell buildings will be completed in March 2023 and Geis is available to design the tenant fit-out to a new tenant’s specifications. Legacy is a new 500k sqft. Distribution Center/Warehouse complex designed for users who have needs for 32 ft. clearance and Early Suppression Fast Response sprinkler protected high cube storage.
The word “paragon” means exemplary of a particular quality. In our case, that quality is surpassing the highest possible standards. Since 1995, Paragon has been a premier construction company in Naples, Florida for singlefamily homes, estate homes, beachfront residences, condominium remodeling, home additions and more. Our dedication to our clients, vigilance in remaining an industry leader and reputation for condominium (including high-rise condominium) and single-family home construction services in the area are unmatched.
We believe transparency is key when it comes to completing successful construction, remodeling, home additions and other projects. At Paragon, our contracts are structured in such a way that every detail of every item related to the project is available at any time to our clients. This access, along with candid communication, allows our clients to feel confident in our ability to fully understand and implement their wishes.
Naples General Contractors
Naples General Contractors
Over the years, B&I Contractors, Inc. has become one of Southwest Florida’s most trusted commercial and institutional specialty contrac tors. However, 2022 has been an exciting year for the employee-owned company. Not only did B&I attain its most profitable year on record by earning a revenue of over $166 million in 2021, but also earned Great Place to Work Certification. Great Place to Work® is regarded as “the global authority on workplace culture” and B&I recognizes that the talent, dedication, and sense of pride of its employee owners drive the success of the company. B&I’s president, Gary H. Griffin, also attributes the company’s growth and accomplishments to its investments in new technology, in-house training and professional development, and the value placed in building strong relationships with its customers and community partners. Florida’s businesses, hospitals, and schools rely on B&I for its high efficiency and innovation standards in the installation and service of HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems.
As a Nielson Hoover Group Company, the nation’s #1 provider of surety bonds, Smith Insurance & Bonds understands the needs of and can service contractors of all sizes. They represent leading surety companies nationwide and their strength translates into greater negotiating leverage, proven relationships, and unmatched resources to building your surety program.
They pride themselves on providing the right terms and conditions and the best service in the industry. Your contracting firm may benefit from teaming with the industry’s leading surety bond provider with the ability to increase your single and aggregate bond limits; decrease bond rates; renegotiate indemnities; or take advantage of a top-tier referral network of construction-oriented CPA’s, attorneys, and banks.
It’s rare when vast insurance capabilities are delivered with a local and personal touch. This, however, is precisely what businesses can expect from Smith Insurance & Bonds, part of the Nielson Hoover Group of companies and an Acrisure partner.
At Toto Custom Homes building your perfect home is our passion. We offer six fully customizable floorplans from 1450 square feet to 3500 square feet. However, we can build any home whether smaller or as large as 10,000 square feet. We also specialize in waterfront properties as a large majority of the homes we’ve built in the last 10 years were ocean and beachfront homes in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy. Included in our homes as standard features are hurricane impact windows and tile or wood floors throughout. With our team of architects and designers we can turn your dream home into reality so you can live that Florida lifestyle you always wanted. With 25 years experience we know how to listen and capture the essence of what you crave, build it with the highest quality materials and professionalism. Come see us at our new Design Center and Showroom on Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral and let us take you home.
Key
Waltbillig & Hood General Contractors, LLC is a full-service General Contracting and Construction Management firm based in Naples, FL. Waltbillig & Hood has earned a reputation as one of Southwest Florida’s leading and most trusted general contractors. The firm specializes in various types of healthcare and commercial construction projects ranging from medical offices and acute care hospitals to multi-family and senior living developments, storage facilities, automotive dealerships, retail, office, and industrial facilities.
The company’s strong reputation and consistent growth can be traced to groundwork laid in 2016 by its founders, Jay Waltbillig and Brian Hood. Veterans of the Florida construction industry, both shared the vision of creating a company that would excel beyond the highest levels of professionalism and integrity. Founded on the principles of Humility, Innovation, Leadership, and Trust, Waltbillig & Hood believes that serving the people around them will inspire and deliver the best results possible for everyone involved.
Celebrate the holidays in style. From corporate galas to neighborhood gatherings, festive celebrations become extraordinary events at The Ritz-Carlton.
For holiday party information, please contact Resort Sales at 239-598-3300 or visit ritzcarlton.com/naples.
Thanksgiving is fast approaching and that means the winter holidays aren’t far behind. Make planning your company, association, group or personal holiday celebrations in DeRomo’s elegant La Fontana Banquet Room effortless. With our all-inclusive packages, with additional carving stations and bar packages available, DeRomo’s La Fontana Banquet Room can comfortably accommodate parties of up to 100 guests; while our new, beautifully decorated private dining room is perfect for smaller events up to 30 guests.
DeRomo’s Catering will have your guests raving over an assortment of food trays and platters available for pick-up or delivery.
Visit DeRomo’s Market for desserts and cookie trays from the bakery, a vast selection of wines and to find handmade gift baskets available for purchase.
South
Bonita Springs,
34134 239.325.3583
This holiday season, Bowland and HeadPinz Entertainment Centers are the perfect place to host your unforgettable event. From corporate functions to family gatherings, our event planners can customize a fun, memorable party. No boring, awkward small talk at our places! Bowling, a wide variety of arcade games and an array of delicious food and drinks guarantee your guests will talk about this party for years to come.
Select your location (Naples, Cape Coral or Ft Myers), then contact one of our experienced event planners to take care of all the details. (239) 302-2155
(239) 302-2155
NAPLES
HOLIDAY
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort welcomes your group to experience a festive holiday setting in paradise.
jwmarco.com
400 South Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL 34145 239.394.2511
‘Tis the season at Innovation Hotel. Whether your holiday gathering is intimate, or the more the merrier, we’d be honored to host with our festive and enticing menus. Ovation’s six private rooms are ideal for dinner parties up to 30 guests. Our Cinema sets the stage, theater-style, for groups up to 40. Or get cozy around the firepits in the lushly landscaped outdoor courtyard for memorable receptions up to 100.
innovationhotel.com
1290 Innovation Drive, Naples, FL 34108 239.451.4078
sales@innovationhotel.com
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort is an enticing destination for your holiday event, set on three and a half miles of private beach, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Host your intimate seasonal gathering in one of our unique restaurants or a large formal affair in one of our modern, sleek and stylish ballrooms. Whether you prefer indoors or out, we have you covered.
jwmarco.com
400 South Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL 34145 239.394.2511
Innovation’s sales and catering experts are tinkering away to make sure all is merry and bright! Plan your holiday event with our seasonal catering menus for up to 100 guests in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues.
Brian Tietz
Hotel managers do much more than ensure their oper ations run smoothly and their lobbies shine. In addition to monitoring day-to-day operational details, they must react quickly to predicted bookings and set room prices in advance. If they do it right, they see high occupancy rates and reap a strong profit.
“An empty room is a lost commodity, that’s the name of the game,” says Chris Davison, general manager of the Island Inn on Sanibel Island.
The revenue managers have various tools—including hotel room pricing software—to help them find the right room rate. If reservations are lagging in a given week, for instance, hotel managers can lower prices and push the empty rooms out over Expedia, Orbitz, Hotels.com and a dozen other online travel agencies, or OTAs. It’s known as flex booking.
“We flex using third-party OTA websites that allow consumers to search for, book and buy (rooms) online,” Davison says. “We can flex inventory to them when we need to fill a room.”
Successful Southwest Florida revenue managers are seeing good occupancy rates this summer. Bill Waichu lis, managing director of Pink Shell Beach Resort & Ma rina and Sandpiper Gulf Resort on Fort Myers Beach, fo cuses on future reservations like a stockbroker follows the market. When demand rises, visitors are willing to pay more, he said.
By John Guerra“We capitalize, we watch pace,” Waichulis says. “Reserva tions for February, March, April—we see the calls coming in, the bookings, and we push the rates up.”
This year’s brutal winter sent tourists to Florida, as usual, during the peak season. The Collier County Convention & Visi tors Bureau said local hotels achieved average occupancy rates of 67%, 78% and 78% in January, February and March of 2022, respectively. Beach hotels saw even higher occupancies.
Hoteliers also are filling rooms during the slow, languid sum mer season. Waichulis said his June and July 2022 occupancy rates were up 11% over 2021, but his August 2022 bookings are the same as his August 2021 bookings—a strong 2022 summer.
That aligns with a June 2022 Collier County tourism report that says international visitors to Collier County are at the
International visitors to Collier County are at the highest point since before the pandemic.
“WE SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF BOOKINGS FROM GUESTS IN OTHER PARTS OF FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN TRAVELERS ARE LOOKING TO EXPERIENCE ROAD TRIPS AND EXPLORE DIFFERENT AREAS WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THE STATE.”
—Marwan Haddad
highest point since before the pandemic shut the show down in 2019.
“International travelers are finally mak ing their post-pandemic comeback to Col lier County, with 21,000 out-of-country visitors last month alone,” the Downs & St. Germain Research report says. “Inter national visitors comprised only 17,000 in June 2019.”
Davison, at the Island Inn on Sanibel, is seeing the same kind of occupancy rates. “August and September are pacing well, with rates slightly higher than last year,” he says.
Nevertheless, hotels must compete for those domestic visitors. Almost half of vis itors in June 2022 were considering other destinations before picking Collier Coun ty. Compared to June 2021, lodging was down more than 15%, with rates averaging about 10% more than last year, according to the Downs & St. Germain report.
Marwan Haddad oversees sales and mar keting for the 263-room Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. “Restaurant and spa sales on property have been consis tently strong, with our regular bookings having returned to a more normal amount this summer season,” Haddad says. “We continue to see strong demand from both leisure and group customers. Demand lev el is even exceeding 2019 levels.”
This summer, Westin’s June-July occu pancy rates returned to traditionally softer off-season bookings. “Our occupancy rates [varied] from 30% all the way to 100% on some weekends or when we have groups in house,” Haddad says.
To offset slow bookings, the room rate must be competitive, but not so low as to lose money for the hotel.
The base cost of a room (see sidebar, “What’s on a hotel bill?”) is based on de mand and projected reservations. Hotel revenue managers calculate Revenue per Available Room, or RevPAR, by multiply ing a hotel’s average daily room rate by its occupancy rate. For example: If your hotel is occupied at 70% with an ADR of $100, your RevPAR will be $70.
Managers must weigh internal expens es—electricity and other utilities, prop erty tax, employee wages, food, alcohol, everyday cleaning supplies—when setting the minimum price for a room. External factors, such as season, competing hotel room rates and upcoming festivals, fishing tournaments or other tourist events, leave managers constantly adjusting their rates.
The Island Inn opened in 1895 when Sanibel Island was home to a handful of families. The 54-room inn has a mixture
of rooms, suites, studios and cottages. Davison calls it “quaint old Florida, low-density envi ronment.”
“We use an active yield management system that fluctuates room prices based on demand and pricing to maximize revenue,” Davison says. “But I have other input costs: utilities, water, electricity—we have over 100 air condi tioners on property.”
In the summer, Southwest Florida hotels market to residents in other parts of Florida, including large cities.
“We get a lot of ‘tank of gas’ customers, any where from Ocala to Daytona, south to Miami,” Davison says. “That customer really comes out in the summertime. We also get regional customers, from Georgia and other states in the region.”
The Westin, at the mouth of the Caloosa hatchee River, relies on locals to fill the summer slow season.
“We offer a Florida resident rate and summer packages that guests can take advantage of when booking rooms, and we also incorporate geo graphical targeting via our social media channels to help attract locals in the area,” Haddad says. “We see a large number of bookings from guests in other parts of Florida, especially in the sum mertime when travelers are looking to experi ence road trips and explore different areas with out having to leave the state.”
Read hotel websites to learn the fees and charges that are automatically added to your room bill. In addition to the daily room rate, here are a few common add-ons to hotel bills.
Hotel/resort fees: Some hotels apply this for highspeed Internet access, a newspaper, unlimited local calls, TV, mini-bar, housekeep ing services, grounds upkeep, use of an exercise room, etc.
You may get a great room rate, but the price is made up for in the fees, so check what the fee includes. Pink Shell in Fort Myers charges a $45 a night resort fee that includes breakfast at the hotel restau rant, daily beach lounge chair and umbrella, valet parking, complimentary kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals and more.
Negative-option billing:
The actual term for fees billed without your express permis sion for services you didn’t use, such as the fitness room, having a safe in your room, use of the business center and other charges. Ask the hotel to remove them if you didn’t use them.
Room occupancy tax: This can consist of three separate room rental taxes, including state sales tax, city sales tax and hotel room occupancy tax (usually called the “hotel tax”).
Tourism/marketing tax:
This helps fund efforts by municipalities to brand their destination image.
Tourism Business Improvement District tax: Collier County calls it the Tourist Development Tax, or TDT. The lodging industry self-assesses this for promoting the destination and increasing business. Lee County’s 5% TDT funds its Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Parking: Valet parking or even self-parking charges of $10 to $50, especially in downtown areas.
Bar fee: If you order food at the bar, some hotels now charge you a room service fee because the concierge brings it to the bar.
Room service tip: Make sure the hotel doesn’t auto matically add this in before you add it to your hotel payment.
Room rates and more: What’s on a hotel bill?Robert Exelbierd
During the slow season of summer, many hotels rely on locals to fill the lull; some even offer resident rates.
Hotel occupancy rates are expected to drop to 70.7% in 2023, versus 71.2% this year.
Robert
There are hints that hotels will see fewer bookings next year. The Lee County Convention & Visitors Bureau pre dicts the occupancy rate will drop to 70.7% in 2023, ver sus 71.2% this year. The average cost per room will drop from $182 to $178 next year, and revenue per available room will likewise drop from $130 to $126.
Waichulis agrees with predictions that hotel and mo tel bookings could weaken with increased competition.
“Our projections for 2022 and 2023, we’re starting to see the pullback a little bit. I can’t see us charging as much,” says Waichulis, whose properties enjoyed 85% oc cupancy year-round.
But hotel managers have learned not to reduce room rates excessively—in the 2008 crash, hoteliers raced to the bottom in prices to steal share from each other, but all that caused was multiple years to regain the rate that
was discounted, Waichulis said. “If you charge 30% less … you can’t get that (lost revenue) back in less than a year,” he says.
So, after weighing the internal and external costs, ho tel managers will use all their tools—third-party OTAs, hotel pricing software and common sense—to find the right room price. Like other managers, Davison will use his skills to keep the 127-year-old Island Inn operating at a profit by concentrating on the details. “If you know the cost of one air conditioner, multiply that times 100,” he says. “Though we’re a small place, those things add up.”
ai166188494445_11863 Gulfshore October Sarasota.pdf 1 8/30/22 2:42 PM
It all starts with a conversation.
Jeff Radcliffe
Senior Vice President Commercial Lender
(941) 249-6198
Jeffrey.Radcliffe@LMCU.org
Jeremy Young Vice President Commercial Lender
(941) 249-6199
Jeremy.Young@LMCU.org
By Artis Henderson
After a four-month test run, Chef Beraduce had to pivot, make changes to his business.
Chef Patrick McGrath Beraduce, who grew up on Marco Island, has the kind of culinary pedigree that makes him stand out. He attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, then spent a year in Boston work ing for Legal Sea Foods, one of the largest seafood compa nies along the Eastern Seaboard. From there, he moved to Seattle, where he worked at a hot new distillery. But despite his big-city successes, Beraduce came down with a case of homesickness. In 2019, he moved back to Naples to be closer to his family, and with the move came a dramatic career leap: He decided to launch his own business.
“There was no hesitation,” says Beraduce, now 28. “I was ready to work for myself. But there was definitely fear.”
Luckily, he didn’t let the fear stop him. In fact, he pushed ahead with his plans to open a meal prep service, and when his test run revealed that he needed to pivot after just four months, he was open to that, too. “Don’t get discouraged if your business needs to change,” he advises other entrepre neurs. “It’s important to let things evolve.”
Soon Beraduce was running a successful after-school dinner club for elementary school students. His busi ness, Quality Thyme Meals, teaches young learners how to make dishes such as Moroccan-spiced fish and Korean
Brian Tietzkimchi fried rice. Everyone goes home with a hot meal that’ll feed a family of four. He also offers private in-home ca tering across Southwest Florida. “I’m constantly coming up with new dishes. As a chef, that’s exciting,” he says.
Beraduce has a wide skill set, and one of his most useful tools has been his gift for gab. “My fiancee makes fun of me because I can talk to anyone,” he says, “and my mom used to get report cards for me in elementary school that said, ‘Patrick is an excellent student, but he talks too much.’”
His ability to chat serves him partic ularly well now. He makes it a point to talk to as many other business owners as he can, and he suggested new entre preneurs do the same. “A lot of young entrepreneurs feel like they don’t need help,” he says. “But you can’t do it all by yourself.”
For those who don’t have a natural talent for chitchat, he suggests join ing a group such as Business Network International, which brings together people from a variety of industries with the express purpose of networking.
Beraduce talks to many business owners to make as many connections as he can.
Beraduce joined BNI six months ago, and he said the experience has been invalu able: “I wanted to network with as wide a range of people as I could, and I’ve gotten referrals from people I’d never have thought to talk to.” For example, the massage therapist who put him in touch with one of her clients in Port Royal, now one of Beraduce’s most important catering gigs.
“You never know who’s going to be able to connect you to someone,” he says.
Lane Valente Industries Inc. purchased a 10-acre parcel in Enterprise Charlotte Air port Park in Punta Gorda for $1,539,846. John Wilson from RE/MAX Realty Group Com mercial Division represented the buyer and seller.
Ursus Holdings LLC purchased 612 N. 11th St. in Immokalee from S&A Rodriguez Realty Group LLC for $2.36 million. Felipe Arcila and Todd Sabin of KOVA Commercial Group represented the seller.
5385 Yahl Street LLC purchased 7,200 square feet of commercial space at 5385 Yahl St. in North Naples from Joseph R. Aline and Angela L. Aline, co-trustees of the Aline Revocable Trust, for $1.8 million. Rob Carroll, CCIM, MAI, and Clint L. Sherwood, CCIM, of Invest ment Properties Corp. represent ed the buyer and seller.
791 Tenth St. South of Naples LLC purchased 3,500 square feet of office space at 791 10th St. S., Suite 201, in Naples from 791 10th Street South #201 LLC for $1.25 million. Clint L. Sherwood, CCIM, and David J. Stevens, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the buyer and seller.
Indian Creek Ranch purchased a fully leased 55,000-square-foot industrial complex at 62936295-6297 Thomas Road in Fort Myers from Suncoast Aluminum Furniture for $5.9 million. Jim McMenamy with RE/MAX Realty Group Commercial Division represented the buyer, and Maddie Sawatzky with Colliers International represented the seller.
RNA ALF LLC purchased the 71room, waterfront Red Roof Inn at 13000 Cleveland Ave. in North Fort Myers from Shivam Sundaram Hotels LLC for $5.5 million. DSH Hotel Advisors represented the seller and Plantation Realty represented the buyer.
Southwest Florida Music Education Center Inc. purchased 41,923 square feet of office space at 2655 Northbrooke Drive in North Naples from Hodges University Inc. for $10.05 million. Clint L. Sherwood, CCIM, and David J. Stevens, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the seller.Indian Creek Ranch LLC purchased the Winn-Dixie shopping center at 61 Bell Blvd. N. in Lehigh Acres from Gottlieb Lehigh Acres LLC for $5.3 million. James B. McMenamy with RE/ MAX Realty Group Commercial Division negotiated the 1031 transaction.
Kakiland LLC purchased 7.95 acres of vacant land on Lee Boulevard, east of Alvin Avenue in Lehigh Acres, from National Christian Foundation for $2.25 million. Felipe Arcila of KOVA Commercial Group represented the buyer and seller.
M&H Investment Properties LLC purchased 3.79 acres of vacant land at 625 NE 10th Place in Cape Coral from National Christian Foundation Real Property for $1,975,000. Felipe Arcila represented the seller, and Carlos Acosta of CRES of SWFL Inc. represented the buyer.
Cup 1214 LLC and Keiren LLC purchased a 12,497-squarefoot industrial building at 3086/3090 Evans Ave. in Fort Myers from Base Hit Equities 771 LLC for $1,607,142. Hunter Ward, CCIM, of LSI Companies brokered the deal.
27702 Simmons LLC purchased a marina property with boat slips at 4794 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs from Hazel Wistrand Trust for $1.5 million. Bill Young and Biagio Bernardo of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the buyer and seller.
Vestas Airoil U.S. LLC leased a 25,000-square-foot industrial space in Woodlawn Industrial Park, 28261 Woodlawn, units A-E, in Punta Gorda from NSMKM LLC. Fred Kermani, CCIM, AIA, of CRE Consultants represented the lessor, and Jared Chilson of Rossman Commercial Realty represented the lessee.
J. Alexander’s Restaurants LLC
dba J. Alexander’s leased 8,160 square feet of restaurant space at 8860 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 103, in North Naples from Trail Boulevard LLLP. Patrick Fraley, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Arthur Shifrin of The Koniver Stern Group represented the lessee.
Lola 41 Restaurant Naples LLC leased 6,886 square feet of retail/ patio space at 560 Ninth St. S. in
Naples from Golfhunt LLC. Patrick Fraley, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Christopher Haass of Cohen Commercial Realty repre sented the lessee.
By Adam ReganAmeriprise Holdings Inc. leased 5,124 square feet of office space at 5811 Pelican Bay Blvd., Suite 300, in North Naples from PB Building 5811 LLC. Gary Tasman and Shawn Stoneburner of Cushman & Wakefield Commer cial Property Southwest Florida represented the lessor.
Bramshill Naples LLC leased a 3,680-square-foot office in the SunTrust building, 801 Laurel Oak Drive, Suite 300, in North Naples from American National Insurance Company. Thomas Webb, CCIM, MSRE, and Michael Mahan of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor and lessee.
Ackerman LLP leased a 2,736-square-foot space in the Truist Building, 801 Laurel Oak Drive, Suite 401, in North Naples from American National Insurance Co. Thomas Webb, CCIM, MSRE, and Michael Mahan of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor.
Roe Agency Inc. leased 2,274 square feet of office space at 5644 Tavilla Circle in North Naples from Napoli Property of Naples LLC. W.T. Pearson and Matthew Baker of Pearson Commercial Real Estate Services LLC represented the lessor and lessee.
US Bank National Association leased 8,808 square feet of retail space at 9105 Strada Place, Suite 3-210/3-205A, in North Naples from PR Mercato LLC. Gary Tasman and Shawn Stoneburner of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida represented the lessee.DNA Comprehensive Therapy Services LLC leased a 4,108-square-foot space at Corkscrew Palms Blvd. in Estero from Hamleg Corkscrew. Matt Stepan, CCIM, and Jeffrey Clapper of Premier Commercial Inc. repre sented the lessor, and Katherine Scatuorchio of Franklin Street represented the lessee.
The Straino Financial Group LLC leased 3,484 square feet of office space at 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 301, in Naples from Naples Financial Center LLC. Patrick Fraley, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor and lessee.
HighTower Holding LLC leased a 2,154-square-foot office space at 9045 Strada Stell Court, Suite 101, in North Naples from Vander bilt 101 LLC. Enn Luthringer, CCIM, of CRE Consultants represented the lessee, and Clint Sherwood of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor.
Transcend Capital Advisors LLC leased 2,089 square feet of office space at 821 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 102, in Naples from Fifth Avenue South LLC. Todd Sabin of KOVA Commercial Group represented the lessor and lessee.
Sunset and Pine Boutique LLC leased 1,537 square feet of retail space at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 102, in North Naples from The Shoppes at Vanderbilt LLC. Sara Masterson of Invest ment Properties Corp. repre sented the lessee, and PJ Hill of The Shoppes at Vanderbilt LLC represented the lessor.
South LLC. Derek Bornhorst, SIOR, CCIM, Bob Johnston, SIOR, and Jerry Messonnier, SIOR, of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor, and Peter Cecora of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the lessor.
Relax Estero LLC dba Spavia leased 3,000 square feet of retail space at 19533 Highland Oaks Drive, Unit 410, in Estero from SREG University Highlands LLC. Rob Carroll, CCIM, MAI, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Ty Hensley of Trinity Commercial Group represented the lessee.
Trane U.S. Inc. leased a 57,433-square-foot space in Meridian Center South, 10411 Meridian Center Parkway, suites 6-10, in Fort Myers from Meridian
Latino Pack LLC leased a 5,117-square-foot space at 11495 Cleveland Ave., Suite B, in Fort Myers from Fort Myers Warehouse City LLC. Jose Pastor and Jeff Forsythe, CCIM, of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessee, and Michael Costa of IMC Equity Group represented the lessor.
True Skin Aesthetic LLC leased a 1,668-square-foot space at 9400 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 203, in Bonita Springs from AAPA LLP. Matt Stepan, CCIM, and Jeffrey Clapper of Premier Commercial Inc. represented the lessor and lessee.
Maverick, the Collection, LLC leased a 1,509-square-foot space at 26251 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 4, in Bonita Springs from Heart Partners LLC. Matt Stepan, CCIM, and Jeffrey Clapper of Premier Commercial Inc. represented the lessor and lessee.
By James Raia
Peace
The 2022 Lexus NX 350 is an automotive dichotomy. Now in its second generation and eight years removed from its debut, the futuristic-looking sport utility vehicle is categorized as a subcompact luxury crossover. But that description may seem con tradictory and inaccurate: Luxury in vehicles was once determined by spaciousness, top-end construction, top-line materials and a handsome, confident and powerful presence powering along the highway. The NX 350 has none of that.
Lexus remains the luxury brand of Toyota. Its upscale offerings were vaulted to the top of the well-respected J.D. Power & Associates ratings in 1991, the carmaker’s third model year. More than 30 years later, the brand’s SUV lineup gets similar indus try ratings. But as represented to an extreme by the NX 350, Lexus has gone rogue. The manufacturer’s insistence on its in-your-face front grille remains perplexing. It looks out of place on a subcompact SUV; it’s an unnecessarily aggressive design best reserved for vehicles in dystopian movies. The NX 350 has further futuristic leanings with its sharply chiseled body design. It’s a collection of wicked curves and draftper sons’ imaginations. Collectively, it looks unfinished.
Exterior missteps are countered by the top-level mechanics, efficiency and overall quality driving, particularly in the hybrid trim. The SUV in its hybrid choice features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine matched with hybrid components to produce 239 horsepower—45 hp more than the 2021 model. All-wheel drive is standard on the hy brid trim, optional on other levels.
Acceleration is quick, a 7.2-second effort in the 0-to-60 miles per hour standard. It’s more than one second faster than last year’s model. The Lexus is propelled by an eight-speed automatic transmission with which shifting from park to drive or into reverse is somewhat rough.
The hybrid’s fuel efficiency is complemented by a smooth overall ride. Many vehi cles’ hybrid engines have a whiny tone while advancing to freeway speeds. The NX 350h has the same trait, although it’s replaced by near silence at freeway speeds.
By James RaiaAcceleration: 0-60 mph, 7.2 seconds
Airbags: 8
Fuel economy: 41 mpg city, 37 mpg hwy
Horsepower: 239 Manufacturer’s
Suggested Retail Price: $48,500
Manufacturer’s website: lexus.com
Price As Tested: $56,405
Warranty: Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Powertrain, 6 years/70,000 miles; Hybrid Components, 8 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 6 years/ unlimited miles; Roadside Assistance, 4 years/ unlimited miles
The NX 350’s exterior extremes are further offset by another positive Lex us quality—state-of-the-art technol ogy. Wireless Apple CarPlay and An droid Auto connectivity are standard on all levels. A 10-inch head-up display projects detailed information well. Lexus reports its navigation system is now cloud-based, a more accurate mapping approach.
The Lexus reputation has also been honed through the years via its em phasis on safety. New for 2022 are for ward collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, road
signs and oncoming traffic warnings.
A 10-speaker stereo system is standard and includes a free trial of Amazon Music. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system is optional on models equipped with the Premium or Luxury packages. Optional features include a panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, an ambient interior lighting system with 64 different color choices and black open-pore wood trim.
The NX 350 Hybrid seats five and has 22.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. Though the back seat and liftgate adjust easily, its overall cargo availabil
ity of 46.9 cubic feet is less than many competitors’ dimensions.
As a new generation Lexus, the im proved little SUV has positioned itself more competitively in a tough hybrid market segment that includes the Jag uar E-Pace, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Cadillac XT4, Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2 and Volvo XC40.
HERE AND HERE Other info goes here and here and here and here.
A subcompact SUV priced in the mid-50K range seems overpriced; a luxury vehicle priced the same seems fair. Lexus avoids both. It calls the NX 350 Hybrid a front-engine, all-wheeldrive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon.
Southwest Florida residents and visitors to the area are as active as the inhabitants of any region of the country. In our four metropoli tan areas and nine counties, recreation reigns—kayaking to golfing, fishing to hiking, swimming to cycling. But paddleboarding in Clam Pass Beach Park in Naples, sailing, scuba diving, trail running, wa ter skiing, walking … even the bliss of viewing manatees in Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers doesn’t always go right.
If a problem occurs—mosquito bites and minor scrapes, or more problematic issues—near-immediate mobile care is best. It can mean the difference between continuing an activity or stopping for the day, and addressing more serious medical matters promptly can prevent serious complications.
Many companies offer simple first aid as well as potential life saving solutions, with efficiency, compactness and comprehensive equipment integral for product worthiness.
My Medic (mymedic.com) offers several options including the Recon Standard Kit ($249.95) and MyFAK (First Aid Kit), a smaller option ($119.95). The Recon Standard, which has enough supplies to treat six people, weighs 6.3 pounds and is divided into color-coded sections for quickly identifying different sections of treatment equipment.
Sutures and scalpel, multiple CPR and burn shields, splint rolls, antiseptic wipes, alcohol prep pads, rolls of gauze, antiseptic creams and bandages galore are all snugly included in three sec tions. The pack, 12.5 inches tall, 8.5 inches wide and 7.25 inches deep, is constructed with heavy-duty nylon Cordura. The smaller MyFAK includes much the same, minus sutures and scalpel, and has the supplies to treat two people. It’s 7.5 inches tall, 6.5 inches wide and 5 inches deep and weighs 2.8 pounds.
Moskinto and Moskito are new offerings from MoskintoUSA (moskintousa.com), a brand manufactured in Miami. Its products
By James Raia
From bug bites to more problematic injuries, these firstaid kits could come in handy on SWFL adventures.
are touted with the slogan “Explore the Outdoors Again— Itch-Free.”
Moskinto is an after-bite itch relief patch, with its goal stated in its subtitle: “Don’t Scratch It. Patch It.” A super lightweight box contains a not-quite one-inch square patch resembling a more detailed tic-tac-toe grid. The waterproof patch strips are drug- and latex-free, and can remain on your skin for several days after providing relief from mosquito and other insect bites.
Place a patch on a bite and the body’s lymphatic system works to quickly lift and drain the itch-causing insect resi due. Available in three quantities and ranging in price from $6.99 (24-pack) to a sliding box holding 15 plastic contain ers of 24 ($69.99).
Moskito Insect Repellent ($13.99) is a moisturizing pump spray, water-resistant and effective for 14 hours against bites from insects and mosquitoes including tiger mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and other potential vectors of diseases such as Zika, Lyme disease, dengue and Chikungunya. It works well against bites from No-see-ums, biting midges, horse flies, deer flies, stable flies and black flies for up to eight hours. Moskito Care, a water-based lotion, includes Picaridin, a syn thetic molecule and a derivative of pepper. It doesn’t include solvents or alcohol and moisturizes the superficial layers of the epidermis without an oily, greasy or sticky effect.
WoolAid (woolaid.com) hopes its Merino wool adhesive bandages replace plastic bandages made with latex. Sus tainable, breathable and softer than traditional bandages, WoolAid products are made with hypoallergenic and biode gradable fibers.
The result: A strong, flexible bandage with an absorbent wound pad. Merino wool regulates skin temperature and moisture levels. The new product’s motto: “When Life Hurts, Let Nature Heal.” Available in a travel pack ($4.99), wellness pack ($7.49) and outdoor pack ($9.99).
My Medic, Moskinto and WoolAid products are avail able at select retail locations in Southwest Florida and on Amazon.com.
The success of the original prompted other lightweight storage solutions: the odor-proof Opsak, Shieldsak, Subsak and the bio hazard transportable Crbnsak. The latter can withstand direct heat to 170 degrees. Mobile devices, medical devices, food storage, emergency water. It’s all made easy and efficient. Prices start at $8.99 for an aLokSak two-pack.
Courtesy of LOKSAK
Previous careers selling cars and houses, training dolphins and whales and commercial modeling—plus a near-lifelong fondness for scuba diving—helped make Linda Kennedy of Naples who she is today. She’s a self-titled upscale bag lady.
Kennedy is the president and CEO of Loksak Inc. It manufactures waterproof, dustproof and humidity-proof zipped storage bags. The original, called aLokSak, is hermetically sealed and resealable. It’s made from polyethylene blended film and is 100% waterproof. It’s air-tight, flexible, puncture-resistant and certified waterproof to 200 feet. The aLokSak is available in three sizes, 5”x4”, 16”x24”and 12”x48”, and is available in many colors.
The little hamlet of Havana sits 14 miles north of Tallahassee, almost to the Georgia border, and it’s easy to miss. But don’t discount this redbricked haven.
Havana became a town in the early 1900s, centered around the Florida, Georgia and Al abama railroad system. Its main industry was shade-grown tobacco, which was used to make fine cigars. As the tobacco industry declined, Havana reinvented itself as a destination for an tiquing. Today, it’s cultivated a loyal following for its quaint charm. Visitors drive from all over the state searching for the perfect vintage find. Hava na is a great stopover on a Florida-Georgia road trip, and there’s enough here to make it a destina tion unto itself.
Shops line the town’s main street, each of them with a unique flavor and flair. We love The Planter’s Exchange (204 2nd St. NW, Havana; 850.539.6343; theplantersexchange.com) for its sheer size—14,000 square feet. With more than 40 individual dealers inside the antique mall, there’s enough here to fill a U-Haul.
Robert Exelbierd By Artis HendersonIn the early 1900s, Havana became a town centered around the Florida, Georgia and Alabama railroad.
Wanderings (312 1st St. NW, Havana; 850.539.7711; thewanderings.com) has a lovely mix of new and old, with a well-cu rated collection of items from around the world, especially Southeast Asia. It offers a fresh take among the old baseball cards and Elvis memorabilia of neighboring shops.
Plan a trip around the fourth Satur day of the month, when Havana hosts an open-air market beside the Shade Tobac co Museum (204 2nd St. NW, Havana; 850.270.7315). The Havana Market fea tures fruits and vegetables, farm-raised meat, fresh eggs and pasta plus wood working, homemade soaps and jewelry. It runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Havana isn’t big on fuss, but it does com fort food remarkably well. Stop by Gocki’s at Havana Trading Company (208 1st St. NW, Havana; 850.616.1364; gockis.com). The not-to-be-missed Boom-Boom Bowl is filled with house-made mac and cheese, and it’s just the right amount of cheesy, salty delight. Be sure to order a cold glass of iced tea to go with it. Like most things at Gocki’s, it’s homemade.
Antiquing can be hard work, and it’s nice to take a pause in the day. Weezie’s Cottage Living (201 1st St. NW, Hava na; 850.539.9001) is filled with modern
After a long day of antiquing enjoy Weezie’s wraparound porch and rocking chairs.
Havana's open-air market boasts fruits and vegeta bles, fresh eggs, pasta and homemade products.
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Chris Cifatte Matt Devitt
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A six-hour drive from Southwest Flori da, Havana makes for a great road trip destination.
items selected with good taste, many of them coastal-themed. There’s a bar inside the shop that offers beer, wine and sodas, and Weezie’s has a gor geous wraparound porch with hang ing ferns and rocking chairs. If a gen tle breeze is blowing, it’s the perfect place to sip a glass of wine and while away the afternoon.
Havana is a long drive from South west Florida—about six hours with out stopping. For travelers headed south for the winter, it’s an excel lent layover point. It also makes a great road trip destination. But for those who don’t have the patience to spend that long in the car, the Tallahassee Regional Airport is just right for private aviation. Naples Jet Center (377 Citation Point, Naples; 239.649.7900; naplesjetcenter.com) offers concierge charters.
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During the right time of year, camping in Florida can be the perfect escape. Fall is when mugginess subsides and the temperatures dip to a comfortable warmth for a peaceful night under the stars. Southwest Florida offers a variety of camping styles, depending on how rustic you’re looking to get. Here are a few to check out.
Koreshan State Park is known as the former home of the religious cult from which its name came, but it’s also prime camping territory. It features 60 campsites, each with electricity and water, a nearby bathhouse and laundry facilities. Twelve of those sites are along the tranquil Estero River. Just a short walk away is the Koreshan homestead, which features restored buildings that have been transformed into mini-museums. $26 per night
The journey to Cayo Costa State Park is worth it. This remote island north of Captiva is only accessible by boat, but that’s what makes camping so
By Justin Paprocki
nice. Though electricity isn’t available on its tent sites or in its cabins, you will have excellent stargazing at night and 10 miles of beach to explore during the day. Fishing and snorkeling tend to be popular ways to pass the time on the island. $40 for cabins; $22 for tent sites per night
Myakka River State Park is one of the most popular camping desti nations along the Gulf Coast. You’ll be comfortable in one of its 90 sites that feature electricity, water and a fire ring, and you won’t be far from a restroom with hot showers. The park also features more primitive camp sites, located along its hiking trails, in tended for backpackers. $26 per night, $70 per night for cabins, $5 per night for primitive sites
Everglades National Park has a little bit of everything. It has multiple campgrounds with hundreds of sites that have easy access to running wa ter and electricity. Or, if you are feel ing particularly adventurous, you can go backcountry camping in the Ev erglades wilderness. Be forewarned: Backcountry camping comes with no amenities, and many sites are accessi ble only by kayak or boat. $30-$55 de pending on campsite and amenities.
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661 Goodlette Frank Road, Suite 103 Naples, FL 34102
• D.O. New York College of Osteopathic Medicine/NYIT, 1983
• Board Certified in Pain Medicine by American Osteopathic of Board of Anesthesiology
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, Bioethics Fellowship
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey, Anesthesiology Residency
• United States Air Force, Homestead, Florida, two-year Fellowship in Pain Management
26741 Dublin Woods Circle Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Physicians Regional Medical Center
8340 Collier Blvd., Suite 205 Naples, FL 34114
• American University of the Caribbean, Coral Gables, FL
• Board Certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology by American Board Anesthesiology
• University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL Anesthesiology Residency
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Pain Management Fellowship
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, 2006
• Double Board Certified by American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Subspecialty of Pain Medicine
• Medical College of Virginia, Pain Medicine Fellowship, Richmond, VA
• Temple University, Residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Philadelphia, PA
M.D. University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia, 1996
Board Certified in Pain Medicine by American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, Pain Management Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, OH, Internal Medicine Residency
Castle Connolly’s National Top Doctors, 2012-2022
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