If you head straight east from downtown Fort Myers, you don't hit another Starbucks for 111 miles until Palm Beach County's Wellington. And even along I-75, with about a dozen at or just off the exits in the two counties, you're cruising for 36 miles north from Colonial Boulevard before you can spot the familiar greenish Siren logo again at Kings Highway in Charlotte County.
Well, java heads jammed in traffic, those gaps are about to shrink as we found in investigating Fort Myers reader Sheldon Hartman's question: "What’s going on at the old gas station site of Route 80 and Orange River" Boulevard?
What are the particulars for this Starbucks on Palm Beach Boulevard?
Of course, like many of our roads in government's diabolical plan to confuse tourists, that highway goes by at least a few monikers, State Road 80 and Palm Beach Boulevard to name a couple. And if you really want to baffle them, call it State Road 25, its designation until 1945 that still shows up in most public land documents In the Know will peruse.
But here's what else could be perplexing for the geographically challenged and a little messed up about that corner, which had hosted Marathon among its gas brands over the decades. It's officially not on State Road 80 or even Orange River. Nope. Its actual address is the street running behind it, 4030 Boatways Road.
However, it will become a landmark for directions as the Starbucks at the I-75 and Palm Beach exit after the folks survive the complete permitting process for the 1.12 acres of future frothy goodness. Visitors might enjoy the interstate roar of the 80 mph cars, more or less, from the 560-square-foot outdoor seating adjacent to the interior 2,526 square feet.
Based on the construction trajectory, by early next year you should be waiting in the sometimes long drive-through lines and eventually encountering baristas.
Starbucks off Bonita Beach Road and Interstate 75.
What other development is planned; where else is Starbucks headed?
And Boatways is busting out in more ways, with conversations this month with county officials on a proposed La Quinta by Wyndham on 2.35 acres along the curvy strip.
That would go with other entities stashed in there including Comfort Inn, Waffle House and Cracker Barrel, which In the Know learned Thursday from LSI Cos.' new data report, is Southwest Florida's fifth largest employer among eateries specializing solely in sit down dining, not fast food. The organizations ahead of it: Bloomin' Brands with Outback Steakhouse a mainstay in its stable; Darden Restaurants; Perkins; and Dine Brands that has Applebee's as part of its posse.
As the massive growth surges away from the coast, look for many more projects along that eastern corridor connecting to Alva and Babcock Ranch, which LSI shows has had about 900 new housing permits in the past year and has its own Starbucks rising off State Road 31, seven miles north of State Road 80. And in the eastern Collier County desert without a Starbucks, we know residents of Ave Maria, which has sold more than 430 homes so far in 2023, are lobbying for their own, or at least hoping and praying.
Unrelated to Aldi deal, what furniture store moving into old Winn-Dixie?
As reported by my colleague J. Kyle Foster and others, Aldi hasn't determined yet which of the Southwest Florida Winn-Dixie sites it's acquiring will be converted to its brand although we learned this past week the latter is also selling its pharmaceutical assets to CVS and Walgreens.
And we do know what is happening with one of the Jacksonville-based chain's former haunts here in the region.
There was a lot of enthusiasm in emails and social media about Clive Daniel Home setting up a Lee County outpost in an old Winn-Dixie, which we first unveiled earlier this year.
New Clive Daniel Home opening in old Winn Dixie location in Fort Myers.
What's prompting Clive Daniel's new location in Southwest Florida?
When we write about a new furniture store coming, we don't usually receive as much feedback as we do with Naples' homegrown Clive Daniel, and its buzz flows over in Facebook. "I love that it’s going to be added to an existing area and not taking over another rare piece of vacant land. Way to go," Fort Myers photographer Mir Anda said. "Looking forward to shopping at this beauty."
And that recycling strategy fits into CEO Daniel Lubner's motto these days for the dozen-year-old company of "Reuse. Restore. Rebuild."
It's the rebuilding that's helping propel Lubner into Lee after Hurricane Ian's horrific Sept. 28 pounding on spots like Fort Myers Beach, where he said he's picked up a lot of clients.
Who's the new guy heading up the Clive Daniel operation in Fort Myers?
For Lubner, a Fort Myers High graduate and City of Palms area resident, it's a bit of a homecoming for the new venue, which has hired a general manager ahead of a Gladiolus Crossing fall opening at Winkler Road and Gladiolus Drive. Lubner digs GM John Diaz's passion and wealth of knowledge after more than three decades of experience in the industry and interior design.
John Diaz at Clive Daniel Home
“If I didn’t have children, I would do this job for free,” said Diaz, who reminds me of his boss with his fervor. “From design to sales, I love each part of the furniture business. It never feels like work to me.”
To mark Naples-based Clive Daniel Home's arrival in Sarasota, Ford's Garage there marked the occasion with the honorary naming of a dish as part of a welcome. Don't be surprised if there's a similar play in Fort Myers when the furniture firm launches in the city.
What other expansion is happening for Clive Daniel in Lee County?
A team of about 40 is anticipated in the 46,872 square feet that might eventually receive a mezzanine to move it closer to the 65,000 square feet in Sarasota, 70,000 in Boca Raton and 85,000 at U.S. 41 and Harbour Drive in Naples.
But its largest space will come in the form of the 175,000-square-foot warehouse that's just about ready at 16670 Oriole Road in Fort Myers and had already been hiring for a building manager.
“We have numerous local, national, and international projects, so it’s crucial for us to be able to store and move large volumes of product in a quick and efficient manner,” Lubner said. "We want a facility that will match our 10-year growth plans."
In the Know: City Mattress on U.S. 41 in Naples.
What growing furniture outfit is making its debut in Cape Coral?
And speaking of furniture-related companies and firsts, City Mattress made its Cape Coral debut over the weekend at 915 N.E. 15th Place crammed into the intersection of Del Prado Boulevard and Pine Island Road.
At 10,005 square feet, it was planned as the chain's largest, according to LandQwest, which helped negotiate a $1.2 million deal for its 1.26-acre parcel.
Headquartered in Bonita Springs, the group has about 25 stores, with now eight addresses in Southwest Florida including clearance and outlet centers.
Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com), who graduated from Bishop Verot High School, writes In the Know as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Support Democracy and subscribe to a newspaper.
