Tim Aten Knows: Michelbob’s plans new rib joint in North Naples

Q: Do you have any idea where the new North Naples Michelbob’s location is going to be? 

I’ve heard they’ve already signed the lease. Thanks. — E. Pisano, Golden Gate Estates 

A: Michelbob’s, a landmark restaurant in Naples for nearly 50 years, is expanding — with another location targeted to open this summer in Tamiami Square, the North Naples retail center on the east side of U.S. 41 just south of the Lee County line. 

This spring, Michelbob’s Championship Ribs & Steaks leased the 1,620-square-foot space at 14700 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 10, that was vacated last fall by Aroma Indian Cuisine, which operated there since mid-2021 in an inline unit that also previously was Tako Boba Tea & Sushi Cafe. Michelbob’s new restaurant will be between The Pewter Mug North and O’Mei China Cuisine.  

Tamiami Square, immediately north of Mercedes-Benz of Bonita Springs in North Naples, also hosts other restaurants such as El Gaucho Trattoria and Bernie’s City Diner. 

Michelbob’s team is pushing to open this summer in North Naples, most likely in August. It’s not the first time the award-winning rib joint in East Naples ventured into North Naples. Decades ago, Michelbob’s had a satellite location at U.S. 41 North and 103rd Avenue in Naples Park. 

“Many years ago and many years before me, there was a location that they had, but I’m not familiar with it in any way,” Michelbob’s owner Joe Miller said. “I bought the place almost five years ago now.”  

The new location is farther north in North Naples, about as far north as possible on U.S. 41 in Collier County.  

“We did that strategically because we are trying to attend to Bonita also,” Miller said. “The idea, depending on how this goes, is expansion with takeout-only locations like our Marco location but also ‘micro’ locations, if you will, throughout Naples and then the east coast of Florida.” 

Miller lives near the end of Alligator Alley on the east coast of Florida, where he owns and operates A-OK Jets, a private jet management company. 

“We’re looking to expand over there, with a possible location in the Golden Gate area, and then bringing it over here. It just depends how they do,” he said. 

Rumors proliferated recently on social media that Michelbob’s new North Naples restaurant was going to be in the freestanding building Kelly’s Roast Beef vacated this year in Founders Square, but that drive-thru is going to be Burger Monger, a fast-casual chain based in Tampa Bay. 

“When we put out on social media that we’re opening a new location, everybody thought it was going where Kelly’s [Roast Beef] went out,” Miller said. “I looked at Kelly’s as another location, and it’s a terrible layout. It’s a 3,000-square-foot footprint, and 2,000 of that is kitchen. It was doomed to not be successful from the beginning.” 

Michelbob’s has had a local following for its slow-smoked, barbeque baby back ribs since launching in 1979. Voted tops in the barbecue category of The Best of the Gulfshore 2026 awards by Gulfshore Life magazine, Michelbob’s declares “Best Ribs in America” emblazoned in large, red capital letters atop the restaurant at 371 Airport-Pulling Road, directly across the street from Naples Airport. 

A longtime second location at 915 Collier Blvd. on Marco Island is for takeout orders only, but the new North Naples location will have an estimated 80 seats for dining in, Miller said. 

Miller was introduced to Michelbob’s because its founder, Bob Mattson, is partners with his mother. “He asked me to get involved,” Miller said. 

The involvement includes expanding and refreshing the longtime local brand, especially on digital platforms. 

“We’re trying to change the look a little bit, just modernize, but we’re not changing any of the food or the menu or anything like that,” Miller said. “So, the idea is to grow it because it does have a following; there’s no doubt.” 

New development 

Q: Can you tell me what is being built at Radio Road and Briarwood Boulevard, and when the project is estimated to be completed? How will the ingress/egress work with the Briarwood entrance on Radio Road? The land has been cleared. — Debbie M., East Naples 

Q: What are they doing to the property in front of Maplewood on Radio? — Peggy Karpel, East Naples 

A: The trees on a 3.3-acre narrow strip of wooded property along Radio Road have been cleared ahead of the development of a 70-unit multifamily residential project in East Naples. 

Connecticut-based Greenfield Partners plans to build a pair of four-story apartment buildings at 5065 Radio Road between Briarwood Boulevard and Sherbrook Drive, the respective entrances into the Briarwood and Maplewood residential communities. The project is the last phase of the Briarwood planned unit development, formerly known as the Excelsior PUD. 

Greenfield, doing business as Domica Radio Road LLC, acquired the vacant residential parcel for $3.5 million in March, Collier County property records show. Domica is a real estate development company that’s an affiliate of Greenfield Partners LLC, led by president and CEO Eugene Gorab of Cape Coral. 

The site development plan for Greenfield Radio Road shows two identical buildings separated by a swimming pool and a pool deck. First floor amenities will include a fitness center and a clubroom, architectural plans show. 

The only entrance into the community will be off Briarwood Boulevard. Parking spaces are on the east, west and south side of the property. 

The estimated completion date for the project is July 30, 2027, county documents show. The general contractor is FL Star Construction LLC and site work is being completed by Coastal Site Development and Blueshore Engineering.  

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