Tim Aten Knows: Good Pour, more businesses expand Shoppes at Vanderbilt

The addition of two new buildings at the Shoppes at Vanderbilt is drawing more attention to that lifestyle center in North Naples.

A single-story building is complete and a second-story building nears completion on either side of CVS pharmacy on the northwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads. A wine and spirits retailer recently leased the entire smaller Building 1000 on the north side of CVS, while the more than 20,000-square-foot Building 1100 immediately to the west of the pharmacy has tenants coming and additional opportunities available.

“We’re trying to curate an eclectic mix of tenants there,” said PJ Hill, leasing manager for the Shoppes at Vanderbilt. “As the center has grown and is established now — it’s a fairly large shopping center — we have so much here it gets tricky to find good complementary concepts. We think we’re heading in the right direction.”

The Good Pour

A Florida-based wine and spirits retail chain, The Good Pour launched its Naples location in early September in a new 7,200-square-foot building fronting Airport-Pulling Road in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt. The fresh concept infuses retail with philanthropy; The Good Pour partners with more than 300 nonprofits and donates a portion of its profits to a charity chosen by each shopper.

“It’s a fun kind of twist on your traditional spirits retailer, so we’re excited to see what they do,” Hill said.

The Good Pour was founded in Winter Park by Ray Horal and his wife, Giuliana. Horal said they started with a simple idea.

“What if we could take this crazy industry and help a lot of people? Would people respond? We just kind of believed that people wanted to do good,” he said.

Their first store spiraled into a chain of franchises. The North Naples location is the company’s fifth and their first venture outside Central Florida. Three more locations are under construction.

Coming to Naples, the home of a major annual wine festival, was a no-brainer, Horal said. “To me, it’s the most dynamic wine market in the country.”

The Naples location is locally owned and operated by Naples residents Ivo Atanasov and Jeff Nichols. Atanasov is the general manager and managing partner, while Nichols is the director of beverage and retail strategy.

Expect events with live music, winemakers, distillers, tastings and cocktail classes. The Reserve Room provides an opportunity for private functions and the Tasting Bar allows the chance to sample rare whisky and wine. WineEmotion dispensers offer tastes of spirits before buying bottles.

“We have 16 wines by the glass where you get to taste either 1-ounce, 3-ounce or 6-ounce pours,” Atanasov said. “We have very reasonable prices. We will have eight whites, eight reds, and we have a separate machine with seven spirits by the glass, where you get to taste very allocated bourbons and tequilas and other spirits.”

The Good Pour strives to create an energetic experience and bring product stories to life, Nichols said. “You’re always going to come in and try something, taste something, learn something — events, energy, activation,” he said. “The gift bar is a big piece for us. People can make their own gift baskets, gift box, customize it. It’s like a Build-A-Bear for adults.”

The Good Pour, 2373 Vanderbilt Beach Road, is open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Grand opening celebrations are planned Oct. 16 to 18 with live music, light bites and free tastings.

Building 1100

Three tenants have leased spaces thus far in the new multi-unit, two-story building in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt.

Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill plans to relocate in early 2027 from Uptown Center on Immokalee Road to launch as Rusty’s Rooftop Raw Bar & Grill in a two-story space fronting Vanderbilt Beach Road. The new location at 2343 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 1102, is expected to have a bar on both floors with indoor/outdoor bar seating on the second floor, Hill said.

“Their vision for this location is still to be a twist on their original formula they have at the Uptown Center,” he said. “They want to keep it traditional for what they’re known for but have a nice, fresh new concept that caters a little more to this market.”

Rusty’s will remain open in its original location through January.

“We’ll close one day here and open there the next,” Rusty’s reports on its website. “After 23 wonderful years in our current location, we were unable to reach a lease renewal agreement that made financial sense for the long-term future of the business. Rather than compromise the quality of the Rusty’s experience, we chose to invest in our future and move forward with Rusty’s Rooftop.”

On the opposite end of Building 1100, Corvé Fine Cabinetry & Millwork plans to open a showroom this fall. The first-floor unit at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 1116, will be the second location for the local custom cabinetry business, which also has a space on Old 41 Road in North Naples.

On the second floor above Corvé, the Center for Custom Prosthetics plans to open an office soon at 2349 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 1216. Specializing in custom ocular, ear, nasal and orbital prosthetics, the Florida-based business also has offices in Bonita Springs, Kissimmee and Plantation.

More destinations

Big Daddy Smash Burger is targeted to open in November in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt. The casual restaurant, featuring made-to-order smashburgers and hand-cut fries, is moving into the former space of Imperio Taqueria, which closed in February at 355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 142.

“They are launching this brand. This will be the first location for them,” Hill said. “The people behind this business are experienced in the restaurant/hospitality industry but they want to launch this as a new brand.”

Another new restaurant just leased the former end unit where Crazy King Burrito closed in February. It will be the launch of another new brand, but Hill could not reveal details yet.

“The space is set up in a quick-service manner, and I believe that is the intended vision for this concept,” he said.

Art of Fudge will be taking over the former space of Kitchen Social.

“It’s another great concept — a fresh fudge and confectionary concept — not just as retail but also as an experience where they are going to be offering some interactive experiences, group events and things of that nature,” Hill said. “We’re excited to see them come.”

Paradise Coast Mahjong is coming to Suite 705, one of three units created from The Axe Lodge’s former large space fronting Airport-Pulling. Serenity Medical Spa and TG Hair Salon have taken the other new units.

Mahjong is a tile game that originated in China during the Qing dynasty in the 19th century, but it has increased in popularity with multiple variations, including American mahjong. The new local business plans to open in October with a boutique for mahjong treasures, lessons, leagues, open play, memberships and special events.

“It will be a fun place for people to come play, hang out and purchase anything and everything related to mahjong,” Hill said.

Lola Moda women’s clothing shop also is coming soon to a storefront at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 130. It’s next door to Neighborhood Organics Market & Cafe, which will continue to sell its house-made soups, baked goods and prepared meals until closing in November.

After operating since 2014 at the Shoppes at Vanderbilt, the owners of Neighborhood Organics decided not to renew their lease when it expires in November. “While this was a difficult decision, we feel it is the right time to focus on our family,” the local shop announced this summer on its social media.

“Super sad to see them go. They’ve been with us so long.” Hill said. “But they’ll still be involved in the center. They’re still going to be involved in the farmers market [on Saturdays].”

Shoppers may have noticed another subtle change at the center. Mystic Lobster Roll Co. is now Magic Lobster Roll Co. The recently rebranded business still offers a menu that leads with classic and specialty lobster rolls.

“This just happened. They just transferred ownership within the last few weeks,” Hill said.

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