Q: Any idea when 7-Eleven gas station is opening at Founders Square? It’s taking forever. — John Tancreto, Naples
Q: I really question that Lake Park Diner is coming to the Founders Square area as mentioned. There are still for sale signs on that piece of land. No construction happening. — Lee Durst-Wollet, Naples
A: In the three months since we published the last Founders Square update, Sunshine Ace Hardware opened for business April 22 to anchor The Plaza at Founders Square. More retailers, restaurants and medical offices are still coming this fall to that retail strip in the center of Founders Square on the southeastern corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard.
Today’s questions ask about the outparcels along Immokalee Road in front of The Plaza. Many readers each week ask about the status of 7-Eleven, which has been completed since last fall but has yet to open because of a reported fiber-optic cable connection issue with Comcast.
7-Eleven
Believe it or not, the new 7-Eleven convenience store and gas station at Founders Square is scheduled to be open for business well ahead of 7/11 — National 7-Eleven Day, the annual date when customers receive a free small Slurpee, the chain’s signature frozen beverage, at all 7-Eleven stores between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on July 11.
7-Eleven plans to finally launch its new store, gas station and car wash at Founders Square with a soft opening June 21, said Golden Gate Estates resident Steven DeRoso, a 17-year employee of Lowe’s who co-owns his first 7-Eleven franchise with his wife, Elisa.
“Everything is good to go. The grand opening is the 6th and 7th of July. So, it’s a two-day event,” DeRoso said. “Obviously, hiring is well underway. We’re just trying to staff up and get ready for that opening date.”
The anticipated opening at 8868 Immokalee Road has been notable because people have seen that the business has been ready to launch for six months. It’s one of the only stations with gas pumps on the “afternoon side” of Immokalee Road, which has a steady stream of eastbound traffic passing directly in front of it during the afternoon drive. The DeRosos initially had planned to open last fall.
“The original date was Sept. 30 because we were trying to get in there before the Thanksgiving rush and all that,” he said. “In fact, we were planning on being open for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and all that. Then, obviously, there was that snafu with connectivity or whatever it was.”
Construction on the 7-Eleven store was finished before work on The Plaza at Founders Square behind it even started. “They built the entire plaza, almost finished the entire plaza, opened the Ace Hardware for business, and we’re still waiting to get in there,” DeRoso said. “Now we have a definitive date and I think that with connectivity fixed 7-Eleven is really rushing to push this thing along based on how long it’s been in this status, basically. The store is done.”
Nearly 20 sales associates are needed to staff the store. Some of the associates they hired stayed with them during the delay, but many did not.
“We have several on board who are good to go,” he said. “We would have loved to have opened earlier. We had that store fully staffed twice over.”
Lake Park Diner
On an outparcel lot immediately west of 7-Eleven near The Pointe at Founders Square restaurant-centric hub, Lake Park Diner anticipates breaking ground on its third location in July. The building permit application is in the review process and the restaurant is projected to open in the first quarter of 2024, according to a representative of Naples-based Paul Fleming Restaurants, the majority owner of the dining concept that the late Adam Smith launched in Naples’ Lake Park neighborhood in 2019.
The second prototype of Lake Park Diner is anticipated to open in early fall of this year in Bonita Springs on the south side of Bonita Beach Road west of U.S. 41. The freestanding restaurant expands on the original spot by nearly doubling its size with more seating inside and out, an outdoor covered bar, more parking and a dedicated takeout area.
A fourth location of Lake Park Diner is planned to follow in northern Sarasota County. The Naples-based casual dining concept is planned to be built in Lakewood Ranch’s Center Point at Waterside, joining an anticipated restaurant lineup with Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Marlin Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Crisp & Green, Toasted Yolk Cafe, Owens Fish Camp and more in a 50-acre mixed-use development.
Lake Park Diner bans genetically modified food and products created with antibiotics, hormones and steroids. The menu features small plates, salads, sandwiches, grass-fed burgers and favorites such as fish and chips, miso salmon and rotisserie chicken. Beverages include cocktails, beer, wine and over-the-top milkshakes.
Kelly’s Roast Beef
On the other side of 7-Eleven on the outparcel lot just east of the Immokalee Road entrance into Founders Square, Kelly’s Roast Beef restaurant and drive-thru is near completion. This first area location of Kelly’s is targeted to open in mid-August.
The Massachusetts-based fast food restaurant chain is especially known for its roast beef sandwiches and lobster rolls. Franchisees plan many more Florida locations, including others in North Naples and East Naples.
Roadies Pit Stop
Breaking ground this month on a 1-acre vacant outparcel immediately east of Kelly’s Roast Beef will be Roadies Pit Stop, a slightly more than 1,000-square-foot quick-service coffee shop with three drive-thru lanes.
“Roadies itself is going to be a drive-thru only. So, there’s not going to be any ability for customers to come inside the store. The stores are actually going to be very small, very efficient,” said Bryan Gentile, co-founder of the new concept that he plans to expand beyond this inaugural location.
The business will focus on coffee and energy drinks with a high-energy environment, Gentile said.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
