Lead Photo: The 17th Annual “Cars on 5th” returns on Feb. 6.
CAPE CORAL WALGREENS PROPERTY SELLS FOR $7.794 MILLION
A group of Connecticut LLC investors on Jan. 20 purchased an approximately 15,120-square-foot Walgreens property from CP WSB-20 LLC located at 4 NE Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, for $7.794 million. Rob E. Carroll and Craig D. Timmins of Investment Properties Corp. negotiated this transaction for the buyer. Stream Capital Partners negotiated this transaction for the seller.
STARBUCKS PERMANENTLY SHUTTERS LONGTIME LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN NAPLES
Sunday was the last day for the longtime Starbucks coffee shop on the corner of U.S. 41 and Central Avenue in downtown Naples. The location at 1 Tamiami Trail S. had operated for nearly 20 years as an anchor in that corner retail strip. No plans are pending for a new Starbucks location nearby, but regionally-based Narrative Coffee Roasters, which launched its first brick-and-mortar location last year at Mercato in North Naples, has a second planned to open soon at Eleven Eleven Central, within walking distance of the recently closed Starbucks in Naples. Last year, the Seattle-based Starbucks, which operates more than 15,000 locations in the United States, announced it was closing hundreds of underperforming or less profitable locations this year. The ubiquitous chain began shifting to more drive-thru locations even before the pandemic but is accelerating this movement because of a noticeable trend for more contactless convenience.
DUNKIN’ LAUNCHES DOUGHNUT/COFFEE SHOP IN GOLDEN GATE ESTATES
Dunkin’ launched its newest coffee and doughnut shop with a drive-thru window Saturday in the Neighborhood Shoppes at Orangetree, the Publix-anchored retail center at Immokalee Road and Randall Boulevard. A neighboring dental office is still being built out in the new freestanding 5,423-square-foot outparcel at the northern end of the center. The Heartland Dental office will be the only other tenant in that building. The new Dunkin’, 13600 Immokalee Road, is open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more information go to dunkindonuts.com.
DIGITAL BRANDING, MARKETING WEBINARS COMING SOON
The Above Board Chamber of Florida continues its webinar series from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 11 and Feb. 25. The Feb. 11 webinar, “How to budget for all your social media and which ones are the most important for your business,” includes panelists Robert Wetzel, TLC Marketing and Creative Services; Connie Ramos Williams, CONRIC pr + marketing; Theresa Ayers, Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University. The Feb. 25 webinar, “Best Practices for virtual presentations & branding,” includes panelists Patrick Blake Renda, Dragon Horse Agency; Cotrenia Hood, Steel Blue; Nicki McTeague, Priority Marketing; and Javier Fuller, CONRIC PR and Marketing. Both February Zoom webinars will be emceed by Jeanne Sweeney, CEO and founder of Above Board Chamber of Florida. Admission to each webinar is $10. Guests will be able to join the programs live or save them for viewing at a later date. To register, visit AboveBoardChamber.com.
DECEMBER REPORT: LOW HOME INVENTORY ON MARCO ISLAND
Sold single-family homes in Marco Island were up by 40% in December to 569 versus 406 in December 2019, according to Gerry Rosenblum, a broker associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. Sold condominiums were up by 34% percent in December to 621 versus 462 in December 2019; sold single-family vacant lots were up by 127% in December. Inventory was down in December for single-family homes, condominiums, and single-family vacant lots, Rosenblum reports. For more information, click here.
VIRTUAL JOB FAIR FOR 12TH GRADE STUDENTS HELD MARCH 25
The School District of Lee County’s Career & Technical Education Department is hosting its first virtual job fair for current seniors who plan to go directly into the workforce or are unsure of their future plans after high school graduation. The job fair will take place from 9-10 a.m. on March 25. Current 12th-grade students will have the opportunity to interview for local jobs via an online platform prior to high school graduation. Participating employers must complete the registration form. An optional practice session for employers will take place at 8 a.m. on March 23 to review the online platform. For more information, contact, Kelly Thawley at KellyKT@LeeSchools.net or 239-939-6311.
LEE BIA BUILDERS CARE NAMES 2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lee BIA Builders Care, the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA), has announced its 2021 board of directors, led by president P.J. Anzalone, vice president Justin Thibaut, secretary Annette Nilles, treasurer Steve Krystyniak and immediate past president Dan Beiter. Other members selected for the 2021 board include Paul Beattie, Wendi Carroll, Phillip Ford, Michael Reitmann, Nathan Ritter, Ken Solmonson, Trevor Taulman, Charles Thornton and Jeff Underwood. Gregg Truxton will serve as legal counsel to the board. The board of directors assists Lee BIA Builders Care Executive Director Crystal Stouten in carrying out the organization’s mission of providing emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means.
Kristina Johnson
J.R. EVANS ENGINEERING PROMOTES TENURED DIRECTOR OF LAND
J.R. Evans Engineering has promoted director of land Kristina Johnson to vice president of land development engineering, following her identification of industry-related opportunities and project ownership. In her new role, Johnson will manage teams as they create plans for land development projects throughout Florida. Johnson joined the civil engineering firm five years ago. Johnson’s 14-plus-year portfolio ranges from 300-plus-unit apartment complexes and a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to several commercial developments and golf course remediations. She has also worked on 180-plus-acre residential developments and public-sector utility projects. Oftentimes, Johnson is called on to testify as an expert witness across Florida. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Michigan State University, where she sat on the student-run board of Engineers Without Borders. She holds her Professional Engineer certificate in the state of Florida and is an Accredited Professional of the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Johnson is co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative of the Urban Land Institute and in organizations like the North Naples Community Emergency Response Team.
FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH TO HOST 17TH ANNUAL ‘CARS ON FIFTH’
The Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District (BID) will host the 17th annual “Cars on 5th” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 6. The event will showcase more than 600 cars, including Ferraris and other exotic, vintage muscle cars, with a variety of vendors providing refreshments up and down the Avenue. Organized each year by the Naples Chapter of the Ferrari Club of America, “Cars on 5th” is traditionally the largest annual one-day event in downtown Naples. Fifth Avenue South will be closed off to traffic throughout the event, allowing for a collection of privately owned vehicles to be on display in a safe and socially distanced environment. Attendance will be limited and all attendees will be required to wear a mask provided by the show. Ticket prices are $30 for general admission if purchased prior to the show or $35 day of show. VIP tickets are $80 if bought in advance or $105 the day of the show. Proceeds benefit St. Matthew’s House to assist the homeless and those in need in the community. For more information, visit FifthAvenueSouth.com.
NAPLES NATIONAL ART SHOW HELD ON FEB. 20-21
Naples Art will feature the Naples National Art Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 20-21 at Cambier Park, just off Fifth Avenue South. A competitive juried event, the Naples National Art Show is a fine art and fine craft exhibition that showcases the works of artists in 17 different categories and provides cash awards for winners. The Naples National Art Show will follow all COVID-19 guidelines and precautions for artists and attendees, including mandatory masks for exhibitors and sanitizing stations throughout.
CHARITABLE NOTES
2021 Naples Winter Wine Festival raises Millions for children in Collier County
The Naples Children & Education Foundation(NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), announced its first-ever virtual Festival raised close to $7.2 million for the underprivileged and at-risk children of Collier County. This brings the total amount raised by the Festival to nearly $220 million since its inception in 2001. The Naples Winter Wine Festival marks its 21st year, impacting more than 45 nonprofits in the community and providing more than 275,000 local children with the services and resources. The Virtual Paddle Raise resulted in more than $5.5 million. Every dollar raised will allow NCEF’s nonprofit partners to continue to provide critical services for children in the community. Prior to the virtual auction, the community was encouraged to tune in to the first-ever televised event. This one-hour program courtesy of WINK-TV featured entertainment from 2010 Grammy Award and 2000 Tony Award winner Heather Headley and musical artist Troubadour 77, featuring Grammy and ASCAP award-winning songwriters Monty Powell and Anna Wilson. Personal stories from young adults and children were presented from each of NCEF’s four service categories: Child Advocacy, Early Learning, Medical/Healthcare and Out-of-School Time. Supporters can still bid on more than 125 experiences through the online auction. To bid through today, Tuesday, at 5 p.m., visit nwwfonlineauction.com.
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