Just Around the Corner

It's quite a change from only five years ago, when Estero and Bonita residents had to visit Naples or Fort Myers for recreation and diversion.

The trend is linked to the tremendous commercial development of the past decade. "If you go back 10 years, there weren't too many places to go to eat or to shop, mostly just groceries," says Stefan Johansson, vice president and project manager for WCI Communities. "As the population has increased, so have the commercial offerings."

A drive along U.S. 41 through Estero and Bonita reveals the transformation.

The area has welcomed new Publix supermarkets, Walgreen drugs, chain restaurants such as Carrabba's Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse, and Home Depot. And there's talk of more in the future.

Bill Wolf, broker for Commercial Realty Group of Bonita Springs, says Lowe's Home Improvement may come to Bonita, and Meg Judge, chairman of the board of the Estero Chamber of Commerce, says Wal-Mart is eyeing the community. Ron Dillon, vice president of Florida operations for Oakbrook Properties, reports that the Simon Group is progressing with its planned regional mall in Estero, known as Coconut Point Town Center.

The economic impact of such development is phenomenal, say local experts. "It means more jobs, more interest from other commercial developers and more opportunity for the area," says Wolf, who predicts that the new mall will create 5,000 new jobs for Southwest Florida residents.

But it's not just big-box and chain stores that are defining commercial development in Estero and Boniti. It's growing interest from local and national companies that choose the blossoming area for corporate headquarters or major operations. Source Interlink, Localtel, Abbey Carpet, McGarvey Development and Colonial Bank have moved their offices to Bonita. And Estero has become a hub for major entertainment and shopping with the completion of TECO Arena and Miromar Outlets. Then there's the education component of Florida Gulf Coast University and its rapidly expanding campus. "And to think, less than five years ago, Estero didn't even have a gas station to call its own," Judge says.