Tim Aten Knows: Paragon Theaters plans to close 4 screens

Because of its likely lease of the 11 movie screens at Mercato, Paragon Theaters plans to close four of its 10 screens at The Pavilion shopping center across U.S. 41 in North Naples.

“We are trying to rationalize the screens in the marketplace and how many we have. So, ideally, I would like to have 11 screens at Mercato and six at Pavilion, so for a total of 17 screens,” said Michael Whalen, co-CEO and co-owner of Paragon Theaters. “We are still operating those four screens probably minimally until the end of the year because Mercato probably won’t open until December or January. So, we’ll continue to operate the 10 screens at Naples through the holiday.”

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema shuttered its only Florida location at Mercato on Sept. 9. The cinema chain had operated the Mercato space since it was vacated by Silverspot Cinema in 2024.

If Paragon Theaters leases those 11 screens at Mercato, it plans to close the four screens it operates in a separate 9,850-square-foot freestanding building in the rear of the northwest corner of The Pavilion shopping center at 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road. The space, connected to the main inline Paragon Theaters via a hallway near the bar, oddly has an on-again, off-again history.

“All of it originally was a theater. It was 10 screens,” Whalen said. “Then, it became a six-plex — six screens — and Tuesday Morning [discount home goods retailer] came in. Then, we came in and leased the six screens with Equity One before Regency Centers had it. Then, that Tuesday Morning space became available and we made it into 10 screens again. So, it’s been back and forth.”

The shopping center may have the opportunity to take back a portion of the Paragon Theaters again, said Andrew Pressler, a leasing agent for Regency Centers, the owner of The Pavilion shopping center.

“We have the option, the potential, to take back the old Tuesday Morning box. Nothing’s really fleshed out completely 100%, but we do have the ability to take that back and lease it to another tenant,” Pressler said.

Options exist for Paragon or another business.

“It’s a good space for someone,” Whalen said. “We’ve had people like an indoor soccer guy look at it. Even the existing cycle shop is looking at it maybe for more inventory space in the back. I think it’s going to lease. We’re also potentially looking at it maybe as a golf simulator business, so maybe I keep it and I do that area with six or so golf simulators. We’re toying with that, as well.”

If the four screens were converted to golf simulators, that rear space could still be connected via the existing hallway to Paragon Theaters’ bar and food concessions.

“It’s an interesting business plan because if I were just to do a golf simulator business, I’ve got to go in and put a kitchen in, do a bar, do a restroom besides the simulators. Here, it’s intact. I already have a kitchen. I already have the bar. I’m really just putting in simulators,” Whalen said. “The cost to make that plan happen is not as great as it would be if a third party was looking to do a golf simulator business.”

Whether another business leases that space or Paragon converts it into a complementary use, the goal is to have only six screens there so that Paragon operates 17 screens total between The Pavilion and Mercato.

“The goal is to have 17 screens functioning in Naples. That’s where we want to be. We think that’s the sweet spot,” Whalen said.

The ultimate goal is to open Paragon Mercato by Dec. 18, the date the sequels to The Avengers and Dune will be released. But Whalen doesn’t want to launch the Mercato theaters until all screens have been retrofitted with Paragon’s signature high-end Lux Box seating.

“I may not be able to get those seats procured and manufactured in time for the 18th, so I don’t want to open it without Lux Box, the biggest feature we have,” he said. “So, if the seats are delayed, which it looks like they are, it’s probably a beginning of January event now — but I’m still trying to shoot for the 18th.”

Meanwhile, Paragon Pavilion will continue to host the Naples International Film Festival Oct. 23 to 25. “We’re happy to do that this year at The Pavilion. We did that two years ago.”

Next year, Whalen said the local film festival could be either at Mercato or The Pavilion.

“Each has benefits. Mercato’s a little bit higher-end for the film festival people. The Pavilion could be kind of cool next year because I’ll be down to six screens, and [they] could just rent the whole place out. It could actually just be the film festival itself without any other outside movies. So, I think there’s some choices to be made.”

EJ’s evolution

After an impressive run in the Naples breakfast-lunch market, Eric J. Becker has stepped away from the daily grind of the restaurant business. But new owners will continue to operate EJ’s Bayfront Cafe and EJ’s Meridian Cafe with the same names, menus and staff.

“I was looking for the selling opportunity, and they were looking for the buying opportunity, and it just worked out,” said Becker, who plans to take a transition year off before starting something completely different.

The longtime local restaurateur needed a hiatus to spend more time with his young family.

“I’ve got two boys now, a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old,” he said. “You know, the restaurant business takes a lot of your time, and I’ve been feeling burnt out for the last couple of years, to be honest. It was time.”

Nevertheless, Becker considers himself blessed. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis, he opened his first cafe in March 2012 at 469 Bayfront Place in the former Chrissy’s at Bayfront dining spot off Goodlette-Frank Road. He took over the former Meridian Cafe in 2022 and added his initials to create EJ’s Meridian Cafe at Meridian Marketplace, 3375 Pine Ridge Road.

EJ’s new owners, husband and wife John Ponte and Danielle Desrosiers, relocated slightly more than a year ago from Rhode Island to Marco Island. The couple had been looking for a local restaurant opportunity when they discovered that EJ’s established eateries were for sale.

“I’m really blown away that everything is made in house. It’s homemade salsas, granola, everything. The chef is incredible and the staff has been there for years. There’s little to no turnover in the establishment. Just a very successful business that Eric built. We’re blessed that he allowed us to purchase the name as well as the businesses. We’re really excited about it,” said Desrosiers, who trained with Becker for many weeks before assuming ownership Sept. 27. All employees were retained in what has been a smooth transition.

“Everybody’s staying. We’re not changing anything,” Desrosiers said. “We might move things around a little bit inside just to update things a little bit, but we’re keeping the menu the same, the staff the same, everything.”

That includes the tried-and-true eggs Benedict and other brunch favorites such as Desrosiers’ go-to: Huevos Rancheros, a specialty dish that includes two fried tortillas with black beans, cilantro, avocado, salsa, white queso cheese and two eggs with a side of sour cream.

“It blows me away. It’s so good,” she said. 

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