The summer is heating up and so are the number of new retailers, diners and wellness wonders landing or making plans for arrival at Southwest Florida’s shopping destinations.
With Shake Shack targeting its first Lee County locale, Simon Malls-operated Coconut Point on Tamiami Trail in Estero is among those getting a major wave of newness, along with future plazas to come including Midtown at Bonita and Imperial 41.
Here’s what to know.
What two-century-old retailer is opening in Coconut Point?
Within the next couple of months brings a pairing with very different backgrounds: A Simon staple in about 18 of its locations, Brooks Brothers established in 1818 with its tailored clothing and sportswear for men and women. Brooks is already at Estero’s Miromar Outlets Mall, near the Corkscrew Road exit of I-75.
And in a Southwest Florida first, Rowan earrings and piercing, which with licensed nurses began as an at-home service in 2018, has blossomed to more than 100 U.S. studios. Part of its motto: “Every piercing is a milestone, and every milestone can be celebrated with a piercing.”
What major national clothing store is making Lee County debut?
After getting poked in the ears, you’ll be able to fill those newly created slots by walking over to Kendra Scott jewelry and fashion, which is expected to launch around the same time for the chain’s Lee County debut.
Stationed at 16 Sunshine State spots, the shop showed up in Southwest Florida for the first time five years ago at Waterside Shops near Pelican Bay in Naples, its only other venue in the region.
Where’s Shake Shack headed for first time in Southwest Florida?
Also in that same time frame for Coconut, Southwest Florida’s first location from the LaserAway dermatology chain will begin offering treatments, such as hair removal, tattoo removal and skin rejuvenation. And looking to 2027, Shake Shack enters Lee County there for the first time, coming off this year’s Collier County premiere in Mercato that we first told you two summers ago was coming.
Other Coconut moves in the works: Starbucks Coffee was reopening this month following renovations, Estero Bay Olive Oil and Tea is relocating to expanded digs this summer and Toy World will also move to a larger storefront in September.
Where can you find Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls in SW Florida?
Just clawing its way this year into the Coconut is Southwest Florida’s third Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, next to Stone Cold Creamery in Suite 107 at 8017 Plaza Del Lago Drive.
The latest eatery comes fresh on the heels of the Daniels Crossing spot in Fort Myers, which officially debuted in December at 6900 Daniels Parkway, Unit A11. The area’s first local Mason’s opened in 2020 at 2122 First St. in downtown Fort Myers.
What is Doja Cat connection to new Southwest Florida business?
Mason’s is known for its lobster rolls, including classic Maine (served chilled with lemon butter and mayo) and Connecticut (warm with butter) styles. Other menu items include salads, crab and shrimp rolls, New England clam chowder, lobster bisque and lobster mac & cheese.
In addition, new at Coconut is JETSET Pilates that we first told you last year was coming, and previewed the Florida-based emerging chain’s DJ-curated playlists for its 50-minute high-intensity, low-impact full-body workouts. One mix brought together Roxy Music’s “More than This” from 1982, Doja Cat’s last summer release, “Jealous Type” and 1979’s “The Logical Song” by Supertramp.
What booming protein shake shop is making SWFL premiere?
Also just returning there is Clarks shoes, which previously had a Coconut berth, and currently can also be at Miromar Outlets at Corkscrew Road. The British footwear brand has a 200-year legacy of shoemaking expertise.
Also finishing its approach to Coconut is the evolving Fresh Monkee chain with Connecticut roots offers handcrafted, protein shakes touting “clean ingredients, blending health and indulgence” that can serve as a meal replacement, recovery snack or healthy treat on the go. With three dozen locations nationally, it’s the first in Southwest Florida.
What dining-related concepts are headed to Bonita Springs, FL?
And you’re also going to see Fresh Monkee at the rising Midtown the operators there told me this past week, among newly signed leases for what’s been compared to the Mercato.
Those are among the five newest at the Bonita Beach Road mixed-use center east of I-75 although we previously reported first on two of them: Airport Donuts and Dana Tyler Boutique, which started out in Naples Tin City and evolved into a half-dozen destinations over the past two decades or so.
What hydration and wellness chain will be Lee County’s first?
Also newly announced as planting Midtown flags are:
When are the first openings in SW Florida’s Midtown at Bonita?
The group joins other local and national retailers In the Know has reported on including TJ Maxx, Ulta Beauty, Chipotle, Panera and more than a dozen others.
At the site, there’s nearly 25,000 square feet of activity in motion, with buildouts expected to begin in the coming weeks by retail tenants and first openings projected by year’s end.
How many hundreds of square feet planned for SWFL shop area?
Midtown is focusing right now on close to 200,000 square feet of commercial space overall for the walkable environment although it has been approved for up to 315,000 on the 68 acres.
“These new tenants (are) helping craft the experience we want Midtown to be,” said Andrew Zuckerman, president of The Zuckerman Group, which is developing Midtown and has been marking its 100th anniversary as a family-owned business.
Where are Hangry Bison, LowBrow Pizza and Mason’s all headed?
As we’ve first shared with you in the past, the Midtown lineup also includes: The Hangry Bison, Club Pilates, Good Vets, Jeff’s Bagel Run, Noire the Nail Bar, Bonita Beach Wine & Spirits, Gelato&Co, LowBrow Pizza, Mathnasium, a dental office operated by Pacific Dental Services, Cold Stone Creamery, UPS Store and Three Sixteen Cafe.
And remember the Mason’s just cranking up at Coconut Point. They’re rolling in here, too.
How much new shopping expected in downtown Bonita Springs?
About three miles west of there, another Bonita shopping strip is emerging, and Barron Collier Companies has newly signed commercial leases for that, too.
Located in the heart of downtown Bonita Springs and spanning the Imperial River, Imperial 41 will feature approximately 19,000 square feet of commercial space alongside 120 apartments we’ve written about in the past.
What are 5 new dining & retail options coming to Bonita Springs?
Signed tenants include Simple Beauty Studio, Old Bonita Surf Shop, The Brass Alligator and Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy, which has been centered in the Midwest and recently became part of the Southwest Florida powerhouse, the Hoffmann Family of Companies.
Construction is currently underway, with another riverfront restaurant space and three additional retail or office operations still to come. Units are expected to be delivered to tenants a year from now for interior buildouts.
Where is a marina officially opening today in Southwest Florida?
And booming Bonita has another official debut going on today.
The Saltleaf Marina is marking its opening adjacent to the Estero Bay condos rising at the end of Coconut Road, which officially is in Bonita Springs even if to many of us it feels more like Estero.
How large is Bonita Bay’s new Florida clubhouse in Lee County?
And while hundreds of millions are getting spent at that end of Bonita, further south, the Bonita Bay Club, Florida’s largest member-owned private golf club, is embarking on a $110 million clubhouse project.
To be constructed in two phases within the gated community’s 2,400 acres, the new clubhouse is planned as 140,000 square feet including improvements resulting in distinct dining venues: The expansion of the popular 55th Hole restaurant, with indoor and outdoor options and an integrated sushi bar; the Sunset Lounge for casual drinks and light bites; and a rooftop bar.
Writing In the Know for the USA TODAY Network, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com) grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts. Sign up for our free Breaking Ground growth and development newsletter. Subscribe to our News-Press and Naples Daily News apps.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: SW Florida shopping centers adding Shake Shack, Kendra Scott and more
Reporting by Phil Fernandez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Phil Fernandez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
