Tim Aten Knows: SWFL restaurants come, go during slow summer

Although it was a busy summer for restaurants coming and going in Southwest Florida, most regional dining spots report an off-season that was slower than usual for business.

Looking back at the third quarter of 2026, area restaurants opening and closing had a revolving door of activity during July, August and September. Bagel shops, bakeries, bars and burger joints dominated the newcomers.

‘Now open’

Third-quarter highlights included fanatical excitement when the first regional Whataburger opened. Its September launch on U.S. 41 across from Bell Tower had folks waiting in line in south Fort Myers. The Texas chain plans to open another location in October across from Coconut Point in Estero.

Other burger chains opening additional locations in the market included Shake Shack in September at Restaurant Row and McDonald’s in late August on Livingston Road in East Naples. Detour Diner expanded its food truck location to a permanent retro burger joint in September off Daniels Parkway in south Fort Myers.

Philly’s Famous Cheesesteaks & Hoagies launched this summer in Beach Road Plaza in Bonita Springs, as Jersey Mike’s Subs opened on Fort Myers Beach. Sour & Dough Artisan Bakery opened in early September in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples.

Bagel shops multiplied with the August openings of That NY Bagel Place in Winchester Center in Golden Gate Estates and Empire Bagel Factory in Cape Coral. Empire Bagel also opened locations in September in Meridian Marketplace in Naples and on College Parkway in south Fort Myers.

Mornings brought more choices when Another Broken Egg Cafe opened in Triangle Shoppes in East Naples. That includes additional coffee shops with Lovr Boys Cafe & Roastery expanding its local popup with a brick-and-mortar spot on Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs; Naples’ GLDN Hour Coffee Co. reopening on Fourth Avenue South in September after closing on Sixth Avenue South in July; Foxtail Coffee Co. serving another location in August on U.S. 41 in Fort Myers; and Fort Myers’ first 7 Brew Coffee opening in late September on College Parkway.

Other spots offering liquid refreshments included two new spots launching in September in Bonita Springs. Hide-A-Wai Mojito Bar opened in the city’s historic district on Old 41 Road, and Cheesesteaks.com added Bar 218 next door to its location on U.S. 41 in Bonita. Offering milkshakes and more, Ice Sssscreamin’ opened a second location in July in Cape Coral, and Yonutz came to the Promenade in Bonita Springs in late August.

New Latin-inspired restaurant options include Tacos & Tequila Cantina, which opened its fifth area location in Cape Coral at the end of June; Que Chilero, which launched its local Guatemalan-centric eatery in August on U.S. 41 East in East Naples; and Burrito Shak, a Tex-Mex franchise, which opened in August in Cape Coral.

New Italian restaurants include Piccolo Buco, a Cooper’s Hawk spinoff, that came in July to the new Marketplace at Coconut Point in Estero. La Pizzeria, a Neapolitan offshoot of Mercato Italiano on U.S. 41 in Naples, opened next door in September; Neapolitan Gourmet II in Bonita Springs is now Una Bella Pizzeria; and The Brooklyn Trattoria became the new name in August for Papa Joe’s Trattoria, which launched in July at the former Zen Asian BBQ in Naples Park.

Chef-owner Esteban Ortiz also switched up concepts on Marco Island; his Zaza Mexican restaurant morphed into Mareazul Mediterranean Restaurant in early September. Under new ownership, Mystic Lobster Rolls became Magic Lobster Rolls in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt in North Naples, and Fuse BBQ revealed a speakeasy this summer inside its longtime restaurant on U.S. 41 in Naples.

Just Salad opened locations in September at Granada Shoppes in North Naples and in Naples Plaza across from Coastland Center; and Rose Modern Mediterranean launched this fall at the former BAM German Bakery in Cape Coral.

‘Sorry, we’re closed’

A major franchisee of Moe’s Southwest Grill filed bankruptcy, leading to the closing of 14 Florida locations, including the restaurants at Berkshire Commons in East Naples, Granada Shoppes in North Naples and Gulf Coast Town Center in south Fort Myers. Another chain, McAlister’s Deli, closed its North Naples location in July after operating for more than a decade; and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s dine-in theater shuttered in early September at Mercato.

Pizzerias closing this quarter included Aurelio’s Pizza, which shuttered its only area locations in Naples and Estero; and Gino’s Pizza on Cape Coral. The Detroit Pizza Joint popup off Immokalee Road in North Naples closed in late August to prepare for the launch of its new location coming soon to south Lee.

After serving the Naples area for more than six years, Go Pita relocated its East Naples location in late July to a new commercial kitchen, where it continues to offer catering, meal prep, pickup and delivery. St. Matthew’s House closed LuLu’s Kitchen in June with plans to retool for a new concept in East Naples.

Doug’s Seafood closed in Bonita Springs at the end of August after a long run with a few different owners; Beachin’ Cakes came to an end in mid-August at Meridian Marketplace in Collier County; and Living Vine Organic Cafe shuttered in south Fort Myers at the end of June. This summer also saw the closing of two local bars: Kaleidoscope Beer Co. in Naples and RAD Corkscrew Winery in Estero.

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