Tim Aten Knows: Atlantic Forge steakhouse coming to Coastland Center

Q: Any idea what’s going where Uncle Julio’s and Bahama Breeze was? – Mario Zabala, Naples

A: Renovation work will bring to life Atlantic Forge Mediterranean Steakhouse in the former Uncle Julio’s Mexican restaurant outparcel at Coastland Center mall in Naples.

The freestanding building was vacated in February when Uncle Julio’s closed after operating for about 3½ years. Atlantic Forge is building out a high-end restaurant at 2096 Ninth St. N. on the mall’s northwest corner at U.S. 41 North and Golden Gate Parkway.

The nearby Bahama Breeze location at 2088 Ninth St. N. remains vacant after Florida-based Darden Restaurants shuttered 15 of that brand’s locations in May 2025. The remaining Bahama Breeze locations will be converted to other Darden brands when the Caribbean-inspired dining concept is retired next spring. While the longtime location of Bahama Breeze in south Fort Myers will be converted to Yard House next summer, Darden still does not have plans for its short-term Naples location at Coastland Center.

Atlantic Forge plans major interior and exterior changes to the nearly 11,500-square-foot restaurant building built for Uncle Julio’s. The building’s most prominent design feature — an expansive colorful mural on its western wall — will be repainted white and feature the name of the new restaurant in gold letters.

The new hospitality concept received final approval Aug. 26 by the Naples Design Review Board for proposed changes to the building’s façade, landscaping and signage. In addition to repainting, plans include removing the ironwork near the patio area, installing Mediterranean-style landscaping and updating the signage.

The existing building’s scale, footprint and site layout are unaffected by proposed improvements. The project’s cosmetic enhancements align with the restaurant’s Mediterranean theme, utilizing a color palette of white, gold and browns to brighten the facade. To reinforce this aesthetic, some existing landscaping such as agave and umbrella plants will be replaced with Italian cypress trees and bougainvillea and podocarpus evergreen shrubs, the city notes.

“Our proposed improvements include the addition of firepit tables, freestanding firepits, some planters and a built-in gas fireplace feature on the patio,” Jason B. Taylor of Bradenton-based Taylor Studios Inc. design house told city staff and DRB members.

Additional information about Atlantic Forge and its proposed menu, ambiance and offerings is not yet available. The new restaurant is anticipated to open in early 2027.

Two other restaurants are already in the works nearby at the Naples mall. Rodizio Grill Brazilian steakhouse is building out the interior/exterior mall space vacated by Aurelio’s Pizza, and Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill has a new outparcel restaurant under construction in the Macy’s parking lot at U.S. 41 and Fleischmann Boulevard on the mall’s southwest corner.

Restaurant redo

Q: Heavy construction on the old Dorona steakhouse spot by the mall in Naples. Any word what it will be? – M.S., Naples

A: Northwestern Concierge Clinic is building out that former longtime restaurant space on the southern end of the Centre Pointe retail center on the northeast corner of U.S. 41 and Golden Gate Parkway in Naples.

Dorona, a modern Italian steakhouse operated by the Aielli Group, permanently closed there in May 2025 after operating more than seven years in what previously was The Gateway of Naples retail center next to Naples High School. That 7,380-square-foot restaurant space at 2110 Tamiami Trail N. also previously was home to TGI Friday’s and Midtown Kitchen & Bar.

Specific information regarding services planned at the future Northwestern Concierge Clinic are not yet available, but the new office is not the first Naples location affiliated with Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Corp.

Northwestern Medicine Concierge Medicine Naples operates on Fourth Avenue North in Old Naples. Northwestern also has redevelopment plans for the former Collins Hotel and Frank’s Pure Automotive station at 1100 and 1190 U.S. 41, but detailed information has not been announced since the properties were acquired and shuttered in 2023 and 2025, respectively. The health system has hospitals, medical groups and hundreds of diagnostic and ambulatory locations worldwide.

When NMHC purchased the former Ramada Inn property in Naples three years ago, a spokesperson said the healthcare business was drawn to Southwest Florida because of the connection between the region and Chicago transplants and visitors.

“As a destination of care, Northwestern Medicine serves patients from across Chicagoland, all 50 states and more than 100 countries,” said Christopher N. King, chief media relations executive for Northwestern Medicine, a nonprofit, integrated academic health system anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “We know many of our patients and their families spend time in the greater Naples area and are seeking NM care closer to where they live, work and visit.” 

The Tim Aten Knows weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at Tim.Aten@NaplesPress.com.