Tim Aten Knows: Aldi, Publix launch Nov. 20 in Golden Gate Estates

Q: Do you know when the new Aldi is supposed to open on Immokalee in Naples? Thank you! – Heather N. 

Q: Any news on when the Publix on Oil Well in Naples is opening? Thanks. – Tom M. 

A: Two grocery stores in Golden Gate Estates are launching on the same day next week about 2.5 miles apart. Both the Publix supermarket in the Shoppes at Orange Blossom on Oil Well Road and the Aldi store in The Randall at Orangetree on Immokalee Road have grand openings Nov. 20, a week before Thanksgiving feasts.  

It’s the fifth Aldi store in Collier County and the second Publix store in Golden Gate Estates. The Publix in the Neighborhood Shoppes at Orangetree opened in early 2017, almost across the street from where the new Aldi is opening this month at 13725 Immokalee Road. 

The new Publix at 1715 Oil Well Road will open after a brief celebration event at 7 a.m. Nov. 20. While Aldi actually opens a day earlier to give shoppers a sneak peek on Nov. 19, its ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening is at 8:30 a.m., half an hour before the store opens Nov. 20. The first 100 customers that day will receive a free eco-friendly bag stuffed with Aldi products and a golden ticket that could be worth up to $100. 

Both stores are early destinations in new retail centers that are expanding to meet the needs of residents in the Estates. Both mixed-use developments are contributing to the extraordinary commercial and residential growth east of Collier Boulevard. Major apartment complexes are under construction at both locations. 

The Shoppes at Orange Blossom 

Publix will be the first business to open in The Shoppes at Orange Blossom, under construction by WMG Development on the site of former citrus groves between Palmetto Ridge High School and the entrance to The Ranch at Orange Blossom gated community. The new development will include nearly 90,000 square feet of commercial space and 384 apartment units. 

The new construction in the Orange Blossom Ranch master planned unit development includes a Publix-anchored inline retail center that will include a Publix Liquors store, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Wingstop fast-casual restaurant, Great Clips hair salon, The UPS Store and Encore Nails salon. Expect most of the businesses to open in early 2026. 

“They’ll deliver the space to the tenants to start their buildout right when Publix opens, so I believe it’s the last week of this month they’ll start delivering those spaces to tenants. Most of the tenants have their permits ready to start [interior] construction,” said Bob Pekol, senior associate for Fort Myers-based LQ Commercial real estate services. 

A Fifth Third Bank outparcel also is under construction in a corner of the parking lot in front of the Publix-anchored strip. Immediately east of the retail strip, the 384-unit Emblem at Orange Blossom apartments and amenity center are under construction by Quarterra Multifamily, a subsidiary of national homebuilder Lennar Corp. 

In front of the apartments, WMG will start construction soon on outparcel lots for at least six businesses along Oil Well Road. From west to east, plans show a 3,956-square-foot Circle K convenience store with 12 fueling positions; a possible fast-food restaurant with drive-thru service; a 2,313-square-foot Starbucks coffee shop with a drive-thru that will share a building with a Heartland Dental office; a 2,500-square-foot Chipotle Mexican Grill with a Chipotlane pickup window; and a 7,226-square-foot Mavis Tires & Brakes shop with eight service bays. 

The Randall at Orangetree 

Aldi is opening on a string of outparcel lots in The Randall at Orangetree on the so-called Randall Curve along Immokalee Road. The grocery store follows the launch of 7-Eleven and AutoZone in the new development. McDonald’s and Sunshine Ace Hardware also have opened in the adjoining Winchester Center. 

In addition to Aldi, The Randall at Orangetree has other businesses readying to open soon in front of the sprawling 400-unit Vintage Naples taking shape in low-rise apartment buildings behind them. Chase Bank and Brickyard Car Wash are set to open, while preliminary plans have been filed for construction of the first area location of Texas-based Christian Brothers Automotive, a proposed 10-bay, 6,195-square-foot automotive repair shop directly behind Aldi.  

Four additional commercial lots are still available for sale or ground lease in The Randall at Orangetree through Estero-based Trinity Commercial Group. The remaining lots could host a variety of retail and restaurant uses, said TCG partner Tony Mangione.  

Immokalee grocery store 

On Oct. 31, Collier Area Transit began a free bus route from the CAT transfer station in Immokalee to the Publix supermarket in Ave Maria to bridge the gap for Immokalee residents temporarily without a major food store.  

The Winn-Dixie supermarket in Immokalee closed Oct. 26 ahead of its conversion to an Aldi grocery store. Because the site was the only major food store in Immokalee, the residents of that northern Collier community will be without a grocer until Aldi opens. 

Passengers can ride for free on the new express bus route 128 between Immokalee and Ave Maria from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to shop for groceries.  

Bill McDaniel, the Collier County commissioner for District 5, which includes Ave Maria and Immokalee, said he was contacted by Collier Community Foundation President and CEO Eileen Connolly-Keesler, who volunteered to pay half of the costs for the special bus route. 

“The total cost for a 12-month bus route is $111,000, plus or minus, and the Community Foundation is going to pick up 50%. We’re going to pull 50% out of our public transportation reserve to support it,” McDaniel said during the Oct. 28 Commission meeting. 

McDaniel said ridership of the route will be reviewed quarterly and the route will be discontinued when Aldi opens in Immokalee, which is expected to be within the next year. 

“Immokalee is a little bit of a unique community,” he said. “It’s not like in our urbanized area where folks can just go to another store because it’s right around the corner. Immokalee is close to 30 miles away, 28 miles away or so in any direction, whether you go to Lehigh Acres or whether you come to town.”  

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