A proposed mixed-use redevelopment project on U.S. 41 in Naples would replace the iconic Pastrami Dan’s and two other restaurants with a new three-story hotel and restaurant.
If the proposal for 590 Ninth St. N. is approved, the one-story multitenant commercial building with Pastrami Dan’s, Liki Tiki BBQ and Tropical Smoothie Cafe would be demolished to make way for the construction of the Aquarius Hotel and Aqua restaurant on half of a city block, according to architectural plans unanimously approved Wednesday during a preliminary design review by the Naples Design Review Board.
The project still must obtain site plan approval, as well as City Council approval for outdoor dining and conditional use for transient lodging units prior to being submitted for final design review consideration.
“We do realize that we are taking down the building that has Pastrami Dan’s in it,” said Mark McLean of Naples-based MHK Architecture while presenting the plans to the city. “Do realize that Dan is retiring, so we’re not forcing him out. Dan is on a lease until he wants to be off his lease. But Dan is retiring, so we are taking Pastrami Dan’s and this entire building down.”
Dan Costaregni and his family have been creating their popular hot pastrami sandwiches and tacos since 1975, the last 35 years on the southern end of the retail strip on the corner of Sixth Avenue North and U.S. 41. A Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise has operated in the unit next door to Pastrami Dan’s for more than 16 years and another vacant unit formerly was home to Naples Gold & Silver.
Property owner Goran “Gordon” Stojkoski, who also owns and operates Liki Tiki BBQ on the northern end of the strip, said Pastrami Dan’s had an opportunity to be a part of the redevelopment project.
“We offered to put Dan in the hotel on the first floor, but he said he was too old and was going to retire,” Stojkoski said. “Pastrami Dan’s is going to operate until it’s time to knock the building down. We’d like to break ground in about eight months from now.”
While Dan Costaregni, 66, plans to retire, he said his 33-year-old son, Nicholas, possibly could continue the longtime business elsewhere if they are able to find an affordable location.
“We don’t know yet. We had a good run but, like everybody, when you get to a certain point physically, it’s harder,” he said. “Hopefully, my son may take it over if he wants to, if we could maybe find a restaurant going out of business.”
Pastrami Dan’s has a lease until November 2026, and Stojkoski must give him six months’ notice if the lease is going to be terminated, Costaregni said. So, expect the local icon to still serve classic lunch fare for many more months.
Except for next month. Pastrami Dan’s will be closed for vacation during the month of September. “We open back up Oct. 2,” Costaregni said.
The Stojkoski family purchased the 0.69-acre parcel in January 2021. Their Liki Tiki BBQ venue in Naples will be replaced by Aqua, a restaurant and lounge that has locations on Fifth Avenue South in Naples and on Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs.
Liki Tiki BBQ, a concept that the Stojkoskis also operate on Fort Myers Beach, replaced their All American Sports Bar & Grill in 2020 in Naples. When it opened in 2015, the sports bar broke a nearly 20-year string of Chicago-themed eateries on that corner that included Old Chicago Pizzeria Pastas & More, Sweet Home Chicago and the longtime original location of Aurelio’s Pizza in Naples.
In addition to planning 18 transient lodging units in the Aquarius Hotel, the Stojkoskis’ Aqua local dining concept will share the ground floor of the hotel with a parking garage for the project. Aqua will fill the 6,486 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, which includes more than 1,700 square feet of outdoor dining.
Plans show nine hotel rooms on each of the two upper floors, a swimming pool and an amenity deck with an outdoor bar on the second floor, and more than 40 parking spaces at grade under the building and behind the restaurant and hotel lobby.
The hotel rooms will vary in size, ranging from 760 to 1,463 square feet. The boutique hotel will have rates of more than $1,000 per night, Stojkoski said.
