Q: Any idea of what is happening to the old Red Lobster on 41 near Mooring Line Drive? —Nicholas Zimmerman, Naples
A: Chick-fil-A is proposing a drive-thru restaurant at the site of the former Red Lobster restaurant on U.S. 41 in Naples, but the project is facing early criticism.
After presenting the plans on behalf of Chick-fil-A to the Naples Design Review Board in a public meeting on April 26, Nick Forthman of Narrate Design was granted an indefinite continuance to redesign the project after hearing concerns from DRB members about the site plan and architecture. “It’s not a walk in the park to get a drive-thru in the city,” said DRB chair Stephen Hruby.
The Atlanta-based fast-food chain plans a 4,524-square-foot restaurant with two drive-thru lanes and indoor and outdoor dining on the nearly 1.5-acre property at 2355 Ninth St. N., according to plans filed with the city. Until closing in November 2022, it was home for decades to the only Red Lobster location in Collier County.
The new restaurant is proposed to replace the longtime freestanding 8,494-square-foot restaurant in the Moorings area. The property was originally developed in 1969 as an office building, according to local government records.
The Design Review Board has issues with Chick-fil-A’s mundane building design proposal and its perpendicular orientation on the property. “I personally can’t support this plan as is,” Hruby said.
DRB member Luke Fredrickson suggests a complete redesign to better suit Naples.
“I would really recommend relooking at this entire site,” Fredrickson said. “We’d really like to see a building toward the front of 41 and the parking behind. I get it; this works great for a drive-thru, but it doesn’t work great for the neighbors or the design of Naples.”
DRB members were in agreement that the building’s design needs to be totally reworked. “The building itself lacks a lot of character. It looks just like a couple of boxes put together and it has no design to it really at all,” said DRB member Doug Haughey.
The proposed Chick-fil-A still has a few more hurdles before it can break ground. “The project is required to obtain administrative site plan approval prior to submittal for consideration for final design review. A conditional use permit will also be required per Section 58-503 of the land development code to allow the drive-thru in the HC-Highway Commercial zoning district. Outdoor dining approval by City Council will also be required prior to final design review,” city staff reports.
The project has not been submitted for site plan review yet, said Deputy Planning Director Leslee Dulmer, noting that the drive-thru is going to require a conditional use review to see if it’s appropriate for that location. That includes a high level of scrutiny and a public hearing process.
The city also would like to see the petitioner address the use of corporate architectural elements, discouraged by the city’s Design Review Handbook, Dulmer said.
Because the name of the project filed with the city is “Chick-Fil-A Naples Coastland,” it’s possible that the proposed freestanding Chick-fil-A could replace the longtime Chick-fil-A location nearby in the Coastland Center mall food court, but this could not be confirmed by Chick-fil-A representatives. Chick-fil-A has two drive-thru locations in North Naples.
Chick-fil-A reps also had pre-application meetings last summer with Collier County Growth Management staff members about two other new locations in North Naples, but these projects have not progressed since then and additional plans have not been filed. One proposal was for a new 3,686-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant at the former Red Robin and Applebee’s freestanding restaurant outparcels in Granada Shoppes on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 North and Immokalee Road. The other proposal was for a 5,335-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant with a separate Wawa store and gas station on more than 5 acres on the vacant northeast corner of Pine Ridge Road and Logan Boulevard.
7-Eleven reopening
Q: Do you know the status of the 7-Eleven on Third in Naples? —Kris Johnson Chirillo, Naples
A: The franchisee of the 7-Eleven store at 1353 Third St. S. in downtown Naples hopes to reopen this summer before the second anniversary of Hurricane Ian’s storm surge that flooded and temporarily closed the longtime location of the convenience store chain.
Franchise owner Terry Hutchison, who also is vice mayor of the city of Naples, is now looking to reopen his store this August.
“Naples residents and contractors working hard to fully restore neighborhoods have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of their 58-year-old, go-to convenience destination closest to Aqualane Shores, Port Royal and Old Naples,” Hutchison said. “There has been obvious construction activity inside and outside of the store over the past weeks. Much has been accomplished.”
A new roof and complete renovation of the interior—including a surprising new floor plan—are in the works, Hutchison said. “7Now, the program which connects every customer to store products and enables front-door delivery in minutes, will be part of the offerings. Get ready. It’s coming. Oh, thank heaven!”
Tony Brito, owner of Napoli Pizza, said he also is working to return his local pizzeria to the restaurant space adjoining 7-Eleven on Third Street.
In addition, Hutchison recently gained approval from Fort Myers Beach town officials for plans for another one of his 7-Eleven stores demolished by Ian. “We’re really looking forward to moving forward with construction. This is going to be an incredibly beautiful new store on a new footprint,” he said.
Murals are going to be incorporated into the site, which will be much larger than the previous store built in the mid-1960s. “So, we’re really excited about it, and we believe that site will be up with perhaps a ribbon-cutting in 2025,” Hutchison said.
Fresh opportunity
Speaking of 7-Eleven, local restaurateurs recently branched out with another business venture involving the chain of convenience stores and gas stations.
Arjan and Esmeralda “Alda” Vasha, owners of Alda’s Diner near the corner of Vanderbilt Beach Road and Collier Boulevard, are the new franchisees of the 7-Eleven store and station at 12750 Tamiami Trail E., which is in front of Lowe’s home improvement store on the corner of the East Trail and Collier Boulevard.
The Vashas took over the store April 18 after completing franchise courses and corporate training.
“It’s a new journey for us,” Arjan Vasha said. “It’s been my dream to own a gas station, especially 7-Eleven.”
Taking over what had been a corporate-owned store, the Vashas plan to extend the same type of hospitality they have served for nearly five years at their mom-and-pop diner, which they intend to continue operating, too.
“I’m going to treat people the same way I treat people at Alda’s Diner. We are going to do good and take care of the customers,” Vasha said. “We are going to be involved in the community and the schools.”
The couple also plans to open additional locations of Alda’s Diner and 7-Eleven.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
