Q: I’ve heard a rumor that a Costco is coming somewhere in the area of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock. Is that true? —Maria Marina, Naples
Q: Do you know which restaurant is coming to Hammock Park on Collier and Rattlesnake? —Ana Purdom, Naples
Q: Lots going on at the corner of Collier and Rattlesnake. Any idea when the 7-Eleven or First Watch or Royal Scoop will open? —Bradley Gimbel, Naples
A: The announcement of a new Costco Wholesale store coming to Collier County is not ready for prime time because the proposed project is still in the early planning stages, but so many readers have been asking about it that the topic cannot be ignored.
A 158,146-square-foot commercial building with fueling stations and 850 parking spaces is planned on more than 32 acres on the southeast corner of Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Collier Boulevard, immediately north of Physicians Regional Medical Center-Collier Boulevard, site plans show. Proposed to front the store along Collier Boulevard are at least four outparcels ranging from 2.2 to 1.3 acres.
“The proposed project is a retail development, with commercial sales of groceries, merchandise and on-site sale of gasoline and alcohol. The existing forested site will be developed with the primary commercial building, gas station, associated parking and utilities,” according to information from public records regarding a Jan. 30 pre-application meeting for the project that applicant Hacienda Lakes of Naples LLC had with the Collier County Growth Management Department. Additional activity has not been recorded yet.
The pre-app does not mention Costco, but “Project name Costco” appears on attached correspondence with county administrators. The square footage for the proposed big box store and the addition of fuel pumps fits plans for a Costco membership warehouse.
Administrative staff members at the longtime Costco store on Naples Boulevard in North Naples are telling inquirers that a newly proposed store in South Naples could be three years away. A corporate spokesperson for Costco could not be reached for comment on the proposal for 8392 Collier Blvd., which is Hacienda Lakes of Naples Tract G.
Publix Supermarket at Naples Lakes on the northwest corner of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road is kitty-corner from the proposed Costco. If developed, Costco’s gas pumps would be directly across the street from a new 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store on the northeast corner of that intersection, while a RaceTrac station and store are on the southwest corner.
Folks who have been around a while undoubtedly will remain skeptical until Costco opens. After all, BJ’s Wholesale Club had plans years ago to land in the steel-framed structure that ended up being an Amazon last-mile delivery station at Davis Boulevard and Collier Boulevard; Sam’s Club formerly had planned to launch another area store at Courthouse Shadows, where Marea Apartments are today in East Naples; and Target previously had set its sights on a couple of sites along Collier Boulevard that didn’t end up panning out.
The address for the Costco project applicant is affiliated with FL Star Development LLC, the Naples-based company that originally proposed and developed the Hacienda Lakes mixed-use planned unit development near the intersection of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road. FL Star representatives could not be reached for comment.
Hacienda Lakes MPUD was created in October 2011 when more than 2,260 acres of mostly agricultural land was rezoned by a supermajority vote of the Collier County Commission. The project was permitted to include 1,760 homes, 327,000 square feet of retail space, 70,000 square feet of professional and medical office space, 135 hotel rooms, 140,000 gross square feet of business park or educational facility and a school. Hacienda Lakes of Naples conveyed a tract of land to the Collier County Public Schools for a future elementary school.
Across Rattlesnake Hammock Road to the north, FL Star Development already is working on multiple projects: the 2,200-home Hacienda Lakes development, the Hammock Park Apartments with 265 luxury units and the Hammock Park retail center.
The exterior shell is nearly completed for the multiunit Hammock Park retail center fronting Collier Boulevard. Leases for four of the seven units have been signed, said Tony Mangione, a partner of Trinity Commercial Group, the company leasing the space at 8590 Collier Blvd., which is expected to be delivered to tenants next month for interior buildouts.
First Watch, an American daytime cafe, will anchor the northern end of the center in a 5,047-square-foot unit with outdoor dining space. It will be the seventh location in Collier County for the Bradenton-based restaurant chain.
Other tenants coming to the nearly 20,000-square-foot center include Royal Scoop ice cream, CoCo Nails and Pinnacle Health Specialists’ urgent care medical clinic. The remaining units still available have spaces with 2,773, 1,417 and 1,354 square feet. Mangione said he has had activity on the three vacancies for a possible pizzeria, coffee shop and dentist. All of the businesses in Hammock Park are expected to be able to open this summer or fall.
“The center is designed to complement our new Hammock Park Apartments, providing residents within the community and the surrounding neighborhoods with the convenience of upscale retail shops nearby,” said Gary Hains of FL Star in an earlier news release.
By the way, the 7-Eleven, which appears to have been completed and ready to open for months on that corner, is tentatively targeted to open in April. The store has reportedly faced the same kind of internet issues that delayed the launch of the 7-Eleven at Founders Square for months last year.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
