First, in 2011, the Stojkoski family launched Aqua Seafood & Steaks on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples. Then, they introduced Aqua to Bonita Springs in 2022. Now, they have opened their most notable location yet in North Naples.
“It’s the biggest, the nicest,” co-owner Goran “Gordon” Stojkoski said about the new 10,000-square-foot Aqua Seafood, Steaks & Raw Bar in Green Tree Center on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Immokalee roads. “We have a beautiful outdoor patio with a pergola that we have. We’re doing a lounge here too that’s going to be ready in about a month.”
For many years, the large space at 2348 Immokalee Road was a local hub for residents to pay property taxes, register motor vehicles or get hunting, fishing and driver licenses. The former Collier County Tax Collector’s office closed there in 2021 and relocated to a new office at Heritage Bay Government Center.
“When we got it, it was four walls and concrete floors. We transformed it,” Stojkoski said. “It took a year of construction, but it turned out great. We’re really happy with it.”
The third Aqua quietly opened Oct. 31 and was celebrating its grand opening on Nov. 6. The upscale restaurant has a total of 225 seats with 90 of those outside around a fountain. European-style doors open up the front of the restaurant to the patio.
Seating includes an expansive full bar, a chef’s table and a private wine room with 6,000 bottles of wine. A piano is centered on the back wall of the restaurant for live entertainment, which is planned for evenings Wednesday through Saturday.
Diners at Aqua North Naples can expect the same menu and happy hour specials that are served at the Bonita Springs location. “Our menu is identical to Bonita but bigger than downtown just because of our kitchen capacity,” Stojkoski said. “Downtown, our kitchen is so limited we can’t serve everything that we can up north.”
Aqua North Naples is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner service is 3 to 9 p.m. daily and happy hour is 3 to 6 p.m. daily.
The extensive dinner menu has five raw bar selections, 14 starters, six salads, 10 pasta dishes, four risotto choices, 11 seafood entrees, eight steaks or chops and five other main dishes: chicken or flounder piccata, ossobuco, free-range half-roasted chicken, Kurabuta pork Milanese and braised short ribs. The lunch menu includes six sandwich selections, as well. Additional menus are available for happy hour, wine, cordials, desserts and cigars.
The addition of Aqua to Green Tree Center checks two boxes for the center’s management, which has wanted both a steakhouse and a seafood restaurant in the plaza for years.
“They’re a great fit for us,” said Jack Crifasi of Crifasi Real Estate, which manages and leases Green Tree Center. “[Stojkoski] has quite a place there. It’s going to be a big draw. He’s done a great job with the decor. He’s just a good restaurateur. They know what they’re doing.”
Plans are culminating at Green Tree Center, which recently updated its facade with a contemporary look with an expansion of covered outdoor seating and the addition of water features, fire pits and landscaping. Next to Aqua, a walkway was added through the building to connect the main parking lot with more parking behind the center.
“This area, North Naples, is hot,” Stojkoski said.
Next up, the Aqua brand is expanding to Cape Coral in 2025. The local restaurant concept will anchor the retail tenants planned at The Cove at 47th, a flagship luxury apartment complex. “That will be the only two-story rooftop Aqua,” Stojkoski said. “I’m excited about that one.”
Still in the works is another new Aqua at Aquarius Hotel proposed to be built in Naples. The three-story boutique hotel is planned to replace the one-story commercial strip on U.S. 41 that is home to Liki Tiki BBQ, Pastrami Dan’s and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Awaiting permitting, Stojkoski said the building won’t be torn down for about another year yet so the businesses there will be open for another season.
“For some reason, people think we’ve already knocked the building down,” he said.
The Stojkoskis also own Liki Tiki BBQ, which has another location in Fort Myers Beach.
