New businesses that recently launched or are coming soon to the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt have filled the available units at the North Naples lifestyle center.

“We’ve really maintained over 90% occupancy here within the center over the past few years, and at this point now we’re at 100%, full capacity, which is great. It’s continuing to grow,” said P.J. Hill, leasing manager for the Shoppes at Vanderbilt, the sprawling commercial center on the northwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads.

Not only are existing units leased but a new multitenant space, Building 900, is under construction off Airport-Pulling Road near the center’s northeast entrance.

“It’s a great new building with an opportunity for some true roadside frontage,” Hill said. “We’re working on pre-leasing currently. It’s going very, very well. It’s going very, very quickly. We already have a few new tenants that have pre-leased the building. I have a few left. I anticipate as we get closer to completing the building that it will be leased up very quickly. So, I think it’s a great opportunity for some new tenants to come in and add to the eclectic mix of what we have currently.”

Built 15 years ago, the Shoppes at Vanderbilt offers a variety of tenants from quick-service and full-service restaurants to retailers and service concepts in a collection of at least a dozen buildings on more than 30 acres. The master-planned center also hosts Vanderbilt Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. “It’s still the largest market in North Naples. It’s huge,” Hill said. “It’s booming every Saturday.”

The entire center is booming with the area’s population. After rocky beginnings that saw it change hands a couple of times over the years, the center is hitting its stride with a growing tenant lineup anchored by Naples Family Fitness center and the newly expanded True Fashionistas consignment store.

Last week, At Faro introduced a store of handmade furniture and accessories. The business offers guests a glass of Tuscan wine or a cup of Colombian coffee while they peruse their exclusive pieces.

Premier Tackle opened shop Dec. 12 in one of the new units created next to True Fashionistas. The fishing tackle shop joins the neighboring Sunset + Pine sustainable kids’ clothing boutique, which debuted in October. That same month, Budding Chef’s culinary classes also started cooking in a local studio that provides hands-on instruction from a professional chef.

Meanwhile, new businesses are coming in the next few months to other units vacated there in 2022. Nautical Bowls, a chain with a menu of superfoods that recently launched a regional location in Coconut Point, is opening another eatery soon in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt.

Imperio Taqueria is moving into the former space of Vampire Penguin, which closed last May. The Cruz family of Golden Gate Estates is in the early stages of their buildout so it may be a few months before their eatery opens, Hill said.

“They’re going to be a family-owned, locally-owned and -operated full-service Mexican restaurant,” he said. “They started their businesses doing farmers markets and food trucks and things of that nature and have been very, very successful and they want to come together and this is their first, official brick-and-mortar.”

Paradise Indoor Golf is gearing up to tee off in 2023 in a large space vacated earlier this year by the Havana Blue Cuban Cuisine & Lounge. The new local business will offer full-service golf simulators to drive, putt or play full games of golf, Hill said.

“That’s going to be a great, fun concept. They plan to do a membership-based structure with a walk-in capability, as well, and there will be food and drinks there, too,” he said. “It’s this individual’s personal dream of his. It’s something he’s going all in with and he really plans to knock it out of the park.”

More new tenants will be coming in 2023 to the new six-unit building under construction.

“We’re going to be bringing in a Crave cookies franchise. It’s similar to Crumbl. It’s going to be exciting,” Hill said. “I’m working currently with a high-end fashion designer and Murano glass retailer as well. We expect some additional retailers there; service concepts, as well. We’re leaving that pretty open and we’re welcoming all opportunities and all different concepts.”  

After Building 900 is unveiled, one vacant parcel remains along Vanderbilt Beach Road.  

“Once that building’s completed and leased, we’re going to be continuing our development,” Hill said. “The following year, we’ll have another building going on the parcel next to CVS. That will be another mixed, stand-alone building with also true frontage to Vanderbilt Beach Road.”