Brooks Burgers original spot relocating in downtown Naples

Brooks Burgers is losing its longtime original location in downtown Naples. After more than 15 years, the local burger joint is moving this fall to another downtown space. 

“Our lease is up and downtown is sold,” said owner Todd Brooks “We, basically, have 60 days to move. So, I’m pretty jammed up and between a rock and a hard place. So, downtown’s closing. We and the employees are sad because it became home to everybody.” 

The one-story building at 330 Ninth St. S. is under contract for sale and will be demolished for redevelopment. Brooks has to be out by Nov. 30. 

“I get it. It’s an old building. Nobody’s going to buy that and not knock it down, but it’s one more part of Naples that’s disappearing,” he said. 

Brooks had planned to buy the small multitenant building but it appreciated in value too quickly. “It ended up selling for more than $5 million,” he said. Listed for more than double what Brooks had planned to pay for it, the highly visible property sold quickly, he said. 

“We had planned on purchasing it but did not know that the values had gone up that fast.” 

Brooks said he will miss the unique throwback character of the nearly 60-year-old downtown space along U.S. 41. 

“What I like about the downtown location is that we have kind of a dive feel, which I don’t think you get a lot of that in Naples,” he said. 

New opportunity 

The good news is Brooks Burgers will continue to have a presence in downtown Naples as Brooks Burgers & Bar. Brooks recently signed a lease for The Alley and Mini Bar spaces that closed in mid-June at 1200 Central Ave., about a half-mile away from the original Brooks Burgers. However, Brooks will not be taking the adjoining former spaces of The District and Staff Only. 

Christopher Shucart, who owns that city block of real estate bordered by Goodlette-Frank Road, Central Avenue, 12th Street South and First Avenue South, wasn’t sure whether one business would take all of the components – The District, Staff Only, The Mini Bar, The Alley and The Kitchen – or they would have to be divided and leased separately. 

“I wanted to find the right person, and my thought was whoever is the right person and the right concept will then dictate whether it’s the whole space or whether it gets divided back up,” Shucart said. “In this case, I think this is the perfect use and concept and operator. He may end up taking District, as well, but I think this was kind of the bite-sized piece that was needed to get it in motion — kind of like eating an elephant. You’ve got to eat it one bite at a time kind of thing.” 

Brooks has plans for his new downtown location with a goal to open during the first week of December or possibly even the last week of November. 

“Inside the Alley, we’re going to make the inside part kind of look like downtown with our airplane stuff. Kind of casual,” he said. “The outside part is not going to change a whole lot right away because we don’t have time to plan it with the city.” 

Brooks’ intention is to obtain city approval to put a chickee over the outside turf area with cooling fans in early 2027. Because 70% of the seating is outside, Brooks wants additional protection from the heat and rain. A palm-thatched roof will make a big difference by providing shade and a more comfortable, tropical atmosphere, Brooks said. 

“I think people like that feel of sitting under a tiki hut having a drink,” he said. “We’ll also be a little more family friendly. I think we’ll have a lot more kids and families come in there. It’s not going to be bar-driven. We’re not going to be like a nightclub with live music every night.” 

Brooks wants to get rid of the picnic tables because he doesn’t think they are comfortable. But his goal to open sooner rather than later outweighs early changes. 

“I need to hit season, so we’re going to try to get it open by Dec. 1, in that general area,” he said. “I’m hoping to have less than two weeks of down time.” 

Brooks plans to add a bar menu and a few items to the main menu. “We’ll still stay true to our core being burgers,” he said. “Obviously, that’s what’s made us successful. We’ll have some pizzas and some bar appetizers like that so people can sit around and watch the game. Again, I think the goal is to make it comfortable.” 

Brooks beginning 

In 2010, Brooks relocated from St. Louis and bought his original restaurant location in downtown Naples. He converted a Lindburgers chain restaurant to Lindburgers & Bottles, but retained the burger joint’s aviation theme before eventually rebranding it as the eponymous Brooks Gourmet Burgers & Dogs, now just commonly called Brooks Burgers. 

Brooks also still operates the car-themed Brooks Burgers near Paragon Theaters in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples. He sold another location at Logan Landings in North Naples, but he still licenses the use of his name and burgers at Brooks Grill & Tavern. Brooks also operates Brooks Bar & Grill at Hibiscus Golf Club off Rattlesnake Hammock Road in East Naples, but that location is expected to close next year when work begins to convert the longtime public golf course into The Lantern private club. 

Meanwhile, Brooks Burgers’ local brand continues to evolve. 

“I think the biggest thing you’ll see with Brooks Burgers this year — as much as it isn’t really what we are — we’re going to embrace the smashburger,” Brooks said. “We’re going to really push to have the best smashburger in Naples. There’s a lot of people who like smashburgers now. I think the smashburger is the hottest trend in the United States right now.”