More redevelopment projects are coming to Davis Boulevard in East Naples.
Mangrove Outfitters Fly Shop and Brookside Market are targeted to open this spring in adjoining spaces at 1947 and 1949 Davis Blvd. The building, in front of Brookside Marina and next to Capital Pawn, has been vacant since 2017 but previously was home to a paddleboard and kayak rental shop, a dive shop, a canvas and upholstery shop and the Brookside Marina small boat sales center over the years.
After 27 years of business in the same location in East Naples, Mangrove Outfitters is making the more than two-mile move to a new location. Tom Shadley, a local boat captain and owner of Mangrove Outfitters, has served the Naples-Marco Island area since opening his fly shop in 1994 at Patriot Square retail center, 4111 Tamiami Trail E.
The shop sells high-end rods, reels and other fishing gear and apparel such as shirts, hats, rain jackets and sunglasses. It also provides in-house professional fishing guides.
“At its core we are an outfitter,” said Shadley’s son, Cody, who is a captain and runs local charter trips for the business. “We have all of the gear you need to go fly fishing, specifically.”
The recent population migration and the desire for outdoor social distancing during the pandemic has been good for business. Mangrove Outfitters’ sales were up 22% in 2020 and 32% last year to outfit folks to fish off the beaches and the back bays. “Saltwater fly fishing is just exploding,” Cody Shadley said. “There’s a huge focus on this type of fishing. All of our guides run trips through Naples, Marco Island, Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades National Park, Estero Bay. It’s really the whole area.”
Shadley plans to eventually phase in a concierge type of business to outfit new boats and help new owners learn how to operate their vessels; as well as a boutique travel company to destinations such as Belize, Honduras and Mexico.
The new fly shop is expanding from about 1,100 square feet to 1,760 square feet. While the showroom size will remain about the same, the additional square footage will mostly be used for a fitting room, a workroom and storage.
Next door, Cody Shadley, Bryan Flores and Matt Flores will be co-owners of Brookside Market, a 956-square-foot store with beer, wine and provisions for a day of boating or fishing. Outdoor seating at umbrella tables will be available for fishermen to relax with a beer and share tales about the big one or the one that got away.
“I think it’s good for the neighborhood,” Shadley said. “I think it’s going to add value to the community, provide a space where they can come and get them out on the water.”
It’s not the only new redevelopment project on that end of Davis. Under construction directly across the street is Metropolitan Naples, a mixed-use project that will have three,15-story buildings with luxury condominiums. The ground floor of each building will host restaurants and boutique retail shops. Next door to it at Davis and U.S. 41 East will be The Ellington, a 10-story mixed-use project with a luxury hotel, condos, restaurants and retail.
More redevelopment plans also are in the works for the adjacent Brookside Marina space that once was home to West Marine retail store and Castaways Backwater Cafe. Another proposal would expand the marina to 120 boat slips.
“In 10 to 15 years I think that whole area is going to be pretty different,” Shadley said.
