Tim Aten Knows: New retailers, restaurants coming to Naples

Q: Any idea what’s replacing Saks Off 5th on 41? – Jennifer Evans, Naples 

A: TJ Maxx discount department store is coming to the 27,000-square-foot space that Saks Off 5th vacated this spring after operating for 10 years at Park Shore Plaza on U.S. 41 in Naples. Saks Global shuttered all but 12 of its 50 Saks Off 5th locations nationwide this year during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring. 

TJ Maxx is the flagship chain of TJX Companies Inc., which also owns the retail store brands HomeGoods, HomeSense, Marshalls and Sierra. Coincidentally, Sierra also is coming soon to Park Shore Plaza in the 18,676-square-foot space vacated last year by Party City. 

“We can confirm that Sierra and TJ Maxx will be opening at Park Shore Plaza in Naples. These additions further strengthen the center and complement the lineup of national retailers already serving the community,” said Maria Pace, vice president of marketing for Brixmor Property Group, the New York-based company that owns Park Shore Plaza. 

A TJX spokesperson could not confirm opening dates for these new stores, but based on the latest information available to Brixmor, Sierra is expected to open before the end of this year between Burlington and Kirkland’s Home, and TJ Maxx is anticipated to open during the first quarter of next year between The Fresh Market and Barnes & Noble stores. 

Sierra primarily sells discounted activewear, footwear, outdoor gear and sporting equipment. The retail brand operates more than 150 stores across the United States, but its lone location in Florida is in Jacksonville, its website shows. 

Inventory at TJ Maxx includes family apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty products and home goods. The brand has more than 1,300 locations nationwide, including area stores at Carillon Place retail center in Naples and Coconut Point mall in Estero. 

More Brixmor 

One of the largest owners and operators of open‑air neighborhood shopping centers in the nation, Brixmor continues to see significant demand from retailers across its Southwest Florida portfolio, which includes Park Shore Plaza, Naples Plaza, Granada Shoppes in North Naples, Freedom Square in East Naples, Marco Town Center on Marco Island and the Center of Bonita Springs.  

“The leasing activity at Park Shore Plaza reflects the strength of both the center and the Naples market,” Pace said. “Following the recent Saks Off 5th closure, we saw strong retailer interest and were able to quickly backfill the space. The addition of Sierra and TJ Maxx, alongside HomeGoods, means Park Shore Plaza will be home to three TJX brands.”  

Although Kirkland’s announced that it was closing its home decor store in Park Shore earlier this year and even had an everything-must-go sale, the store continues to operate with new inventory. Last fall, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. acquired Kirkland’s Home brand assets with plans to rebrand the chain in the next year or so.  

This May, Juice Society opened a new juice bar and eatery in Park Shore Plaza. The local business built out the former space of Duck Donuts, which closed last summer after operating for five years. Founded and owned by Kallie and Matt Isadore, Juice Society features a menu of superfood bowl creations, organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, aqua frescas and other healthy options. Its first regional location is in Coconut Point. 

Elsewhere in Brixmor’s local centers, Just Salad is coming this fall to a 2,478-square-foot outparcel space fronting Immokalee Road in Granada Shoppes. The salad-based, fast-casual restaurant chain is building out two units that previously were home to Coffee Bar, Starbucks, Supercuts and Metro by T-Mobile.  

Moving into the Granada Shoppes’ longtime end unit vacated this spring by Moe’s Southwest Grill, Vero Ristorante Italiano also is targeted to open this season. The local restaurant will be operated by a couple relocating from Italy. 

Freestanding outparcels at Granada Shoppes remain vacant where Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Red Robin most recently operated restaurants. 

In Freedom Square at U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard, the 4,000-square-foot former space of Z’s Music Kitchen has been gutted in order to create the future Bora Mediterranean Cuisine. Bora, named for the north wind that blows through the Mediterranean in winter, will be a locally owned modern dining spot and bar with Mediterranean cuisine made for family-style sharing. Bora is owned by Clirim “Jimmy” Bilaj and Karmela Brisku, who also have owned and operated Mela’s Cafe in the Shops at Hammock Cove for more than two years. 

Dropping anchor 

Q: Do you know what is going to be going in at the Michaels store on U.S. 41 at Tamiami Crossing? The store sign says it is “permanently closed” now. – Anne Marie H. Bularzik, Naples 

A: Total Wine & More is planned for that large space vacated this summer by Michaels near the intersection of U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard. 

It will be the second location in the Naples area for the Maryland-based Total Wine chain, which also has a store in Promenade at Naples Centre, 6424 Naples Blvd., in North Naples. The wine retailer operated for 15 years nearby in Carillon Place before relocating in 2022 to a larger space vacated by Lucky’s Market. 

Total Wine’s 16,995-square-foot unit in Tamiami Crossing will be only about half the size of its superstore in North Naples, but will be convenient for residents of Marco Island and the growing region of southern Collier County. Store plans show a mezzanine with a 40-seat wine education room, a wine information center on the sales floor, as well as walk-in spaces for a beer cooler and a cigar humidor. Except for new signage, exterior changes are minimal, architectural plans show. 

Construction plans have not been approved yet and a target opening date is not available. 

Michaels craft store permanently closed June 6 after operating 10 years at 13100 Tamiami Trail E., Unit 105, in Tamiami Crossing, the retail center owned by Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group. Michaels opened in 2016 as part of Tamiami Crossing’s inline retailers that also include Bealls Home Centric, Ross, Marshalls, PetSmart and Ulta.  

Regional stores for Michaels remain open on Pine Ridge Road in North Naples and in Coconut Point in Estero, as well as in Cape Coral and Fort Myers. 

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