CLEAN JUICE OPENS IN NAPLES, PLANS 10 LOCATIONS IN SWFL
Clean Juice made its regional debut Monday off of Naples Boulevard in North Naples. The fast-casual restaurant franchise especially targets people seeking healthy foo
d alternatives. Its extensive menu of fresh and cold-pressed juices, protein smoothies, açaí bowls, wraps and toasts stands out because all of its products are certified 100% organic by the USDA. The North Naples location of Clean Juice is the first of 10 regional franchisee Mark Heinold plans to open in his territory from North Fort Myers to Marco Island during the next several years, providing more than 250 job opportunities. He already has leased 1,500 square feet of retail space off Ben Hill Griffin Parkway in Estero for a second location. Expect Clean Juice locations eventually coming to Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Marco Island and Collier County near Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard, Heinold said. To read the full story, click here.
CAPE CORAL’S NEW CITY BUDGET ADDS MORE POLICE OFFICERS
Southwest Florida’s largest city has approved its budget and has decided to add more than a dozen new police officers to keep up with the population growth. Cape Coral says these officers are needed based on the growing number of cars on the road and the spike in homes being built in the city. Cape Coral’s new budget provides more than $2.7 million, which will help with hiring 11 additional police officers. It could also add another four with a pending grant. Cape Coral PD hopes to have its new officers out on the streets by December to improve response times, WINK News reports.
ALDI RESUMES CONSTRUCTION ON NEW CAPE CORAL STORE
Aldi (Credit: Aldi)
Aldi, the Germany-based grocery store chain, has resumed construction on another new Cape Coral store. This one will be located at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Veterans Parkway in what had been slated to be a Lucky’s Market. Lucky’s pulled out of Southwest Florida even before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Aldi, meanwhile, just keeps growing. “We’re proud to be one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country,” said Chris Hewitt, Royal Palm Beach division vice president for Aldi. “In 2017, we announced an accelerated growth plan with a more than $5 million capital investment in new and remodeled stores.” Aldi has more than 2,100 stores across 37 states, Hewitt said. “We’re on pace to become the third-largest U.S. grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022,” Hewitt said. Five years ago, there were two Aldi stores in all of Southwest Florida. Now, there are 16. Lee County leads with 10. Collier County has four, and Charlotte County has two. There are three existing Aldi stores in Cape Coral, including one at the Coralwood Mall. That spot had been slated to become a Fresh Market until that chain dropped its plans to expand, opening the door for Aldi. The Veterans/Santa Barbara Aldi, which will be Cape Coral’s fourth store, is scheduled to open sometime in 2022.
HOMEGOODS OPENING NEW STORE THIS MONTH IN NAPLES AREA
HomeGoods (Credit: HomeGoods)
HomeGoods, a chain of home furnishing stores, is opening its second location in Collier County on Oct. 21. The new store is in Freedom Square at 12725 Tamiami Trail E., near the intersection with Collier Boulevard. HomeGoods sells furniture, linens, cooking products, art and other home accessories. The store is being built out between a Burlington department store and a Planet Fitness gym, both of which just opened in September to partially fill the massive space Kmart vacated more than a decade ago. An unnamed restaurant with a large patio is still coming next to Burlington on the southern end of the center. A nail bar and another retailer are taking smaller spaces between the Xfinity store and Planet Fitness.
MISSION BBQ CONVERTING BANK OFFICE INTO RESTAURANT IN NORTH NAPLES
Mission BBQ (Credit: Mission BBQ)
The Mission BBQ chain plans to retrofit an abandoned SunTrust bank branch for a new 112-seat restaurant next year in North Naples. The new eatery is proposed for 5795 Airport-Pulling Road N., the 1-acre outparcel lot between the Culver’s and Chick-fil-A drive-thru restaurants just south of Naples Boulevard in the Promenade at Naples Centre. To create its proposed 4,587-square-foot restaurant, Mission plans to increase the former bank office by 565 square feet. Davidson Engineering estimates total construction costs to be more than $78,000 to convert the bank into a restaurant. SunTrust closed that Naples Boulevard branch last year shortly after merging with BB&T to create Truist Bank. Accounts there were moved to BB&T’s nearby Pine Ridge branch at 5475 Airport-Pulling Road N. Mission BBQ was introduced to the area in May 2015 when it opened on Cleveland Avenue in south Fort Myers.
SCHOOL SYSTEM PLANS FOR FUTURE GROWTH
Dr. Ami Desamours will speak at the Real Estate Investment Society’s (REIS) luncheon meeting held at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 12 in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve’s Clubhouse in Fort Myers. Desamours will report on sales tax revenue fluctuations and their use and also explain school design modifications for public health and safety. Desamours is responsible for budget management and financial operations for Lee County Schools, including financial planning for land acquisitions and development. She has provided financial leadership for the district, Florida Southwestern College, and nonprofit organizations in Southwest Florida for nearly 20 years. Following the presentation, she will respond to questions of specific interest to the real estate investment and development industry. Admission is $30 for members and $40 for guests, which includes lunch. Reservations are required and may be made at the REIS website.
FSU INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM EARNS ACCREDITATION
The Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cape Coral Hospital/Lee Health has received initial accreditation and approval to begin recruiting its first class of residents, who are expected to begin training on July 1, 2022. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the sanctioning body of graduate medical education in the U.S. and Canada, made the announcement at its September meeting. The program, which takes three years to complete, is approved to accept 12 residents a year for a total of 36 at full capacity. FSU College of Medicine is also the academic sponsor of a family medicine residency program at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. That program accepted its first residents in 2014. Founding Program Director Dr. Maja Delibasic and residency program faculty will begin conducting virtual interviews in mid-October. The program received nearly 1,000 applications in its first 24 hours. If pandemic conditions sufficiently improve, the top 25 to 30 candidates will be invited to Cape Coral in late January or early February.
AAA: GAS PRICES SLIP LOWER, YET UPWARD PRESSURE REMAINS
Florida gas prices declined another 2 cents last week. The state average has been on a downward trend for the past two weeks, slipping a total of 5 cents since setting a new 2021 high of $3.10 per gallon in mid-September. “After weeks of declines, gas prices face renewed upward pressure after the price of crude oil rose 3% last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Crude prices have remained elevated this year, because unlike the years before the pandemic – where supplies far outpaced demand – the global fuel market has tightened. Many countries reduced fuel production, due to the pandemic, and are now struggling to keep pace with returning demand.” Oil prices rose last week on concerns that the cartel’s planned 400,000 barrel per day increase would not be enough to meet global fuel demand, AAA states. Last week, the price of U.S. crude oil set a new 2021 high. Friday’s settlement of $75.88 per barrel was $2 more than the week before, and the most expensive daily settlement since October 2018. Naples is currently among one of the most expensive metro markets in Florida for gas, at an average $3.10 per gallon. Punta Gorda is among the least expensive, at $2.97 per gallon.
HUFF NAMED CHIEF NURSING AND OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE AT HEALTHPARK MEDICAL CENTER
Kristie Huff has been appointed to chief nursing and operations executive at HealthPark Medical Center. Huff, who has more than 25 years of healthcare and leadership experience, previously served as Lee Health’s system director of patient care services from May 2005 to November 2011 before joining Care Logistics as chief nursing executive and senior vice president of transformation. Huff earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. She began her new position in early September. The role was previously held by Darcy Allen, who is transitioning from the role of chief nursing and operations executive at HealthPark Medical Center to chief nursing and operations executive at Gulf Coast Medical Center.
KERWIN JOINS INSPIRE ONCOLOGY IN NAPLES
Inspire Oncology, led by board-certified radiation oncologists Dr. Bruce Nakfoor and Dr. Michael Hanus, has welcomed Dr. Timothy Kerwin to the practice. After graduating from Emory University School of Medicine in 2003, Kerwin completed a radiation oncology residency at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. He has been in private practice in Florida since 2008 and practicing in Naples since 2011 for 21st Century Oncology and GenesisCare. Kerwin, a fellow of the American College of Radiation Oncology, has served as division chief of radiation oncology for Physicians Regional Medical Center since 2012 and cancer committee chair for Naples Community Hospital since 2014.
CHARITABLE NOTES
‘Clips for Cancer’ raises $300,000 for children with cancer
Clips for Cancer raised $300,000 to support services for children diagnosed with cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. While Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Clips for Cancer ended Thursday, donations for the event are still being accepted. More than 50 community leaders to let pediatric cancer survivors shave their heads on Facebook Live during the month for awareness of the effects of cancer treatment, which often includes hair loss, while also raising funds for Barbara’s Friends – Golisano Children’s Hospital’s cancer program. Behind the clippers were 20 pediatric cancer survivors from Golisano Children’s Hospital ages 8-23. Since it started in 2018, Clips for Cancer to date has raised over half a million dollars to assist families during their child’s cancer journey. In addition to the shaving events, Barbara’s Friends Advisory Board members Jenna Montone held donation classes at the Pure Barre Fort Myers and Gateway studios she owns, raising $2,000, and Justin O’Brien and his partners at 3 Peppers Burrito Co. donated 100% of proceeds from all kids’ meals sold throughout the month, raising over $3,500.
Boys & Girls Club of Collier County receives $15,000 donation from Comerica Bank
Comerica Bank donated $15,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County for its “Grand Slam for Great Futures” campaign, which provides scholarships for children and teens whose families could not otherwise afford the full cost of programs. While presenting the donation on Sept. 29, Comerica executives announced an expanded partnership that includes financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs at the Boys & Girls Club. The bank also donated new school supplies, including calculators, notebooks, folders, markers, glue sticks and art supplies. The donation coincided with Comerica’s national launch of gomerica. Comerica held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 29 at the Boys & Girls Club, the launch site for the mobile bank bus.
Public Relations Society of America’s Gulf Coast Chapter donates to Dream Flights
The Public Relations Society of America’s Gulf Coast Chapter (PRSA) presented a $500 check to Darryl Fisher, founder and pilot of Dream Flights, on Sept. 28. The donation will fund two additional flights for veterans. Four World War II veterans from Aston Gardens were given flights from the Naples Airport in a 1943 Boeing Stearman, including 98-year-old WWII Navy veteran Marty Monahan. Dream Flights is a nonprofit organization established and dedicated to seniors and the U.S. military veterans living in long-term care communities. Dream Flights provide the opportunity to ride in the cockpit of a Boeing Stearman, the airplane used to train many military aviators in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the organization states.
