Sears Outlet to open in East Naples, The Naples Daily News, 3-16-15
1. The Naples Daily News
In the Know: 2 new retail stores
coming to East Naples
Tim Aten , 6:00 AM, Mar 16, 2015
Bo and Trish Sharon are the founders of Lucky's Market, an organic grocery store chain based in Boulder, Colo.
The first Lucky’s Market’s in Florida opened Jan. 7, 2015, in Gainesville. A location in East Naples is targeted to open
near the end of the year.
3. Sunshine Ace Hardware is relocating in April from this store in Naples South Plaza to its new location nearby.
EAST NAPLES, Fla. - Two new retail stores in Southwest Florida are planning to open before the end of the year
along U.S. 41 East in East Naples.
Lucky’s Market, an organic grocery store, is coming to Naples Towne Center, and Sears Outlet is replacing Sunshine
Ace Hardware after it relocates to its new location nearby.
Lucky’s Market
The former Coastal Home by Bealls store near Aaron’s lease-to-own retail store and Towne Centre 6 movie cinema
is being transformed into a natural and organic grocery store. Lucky’s Market plans to open its 38,000-square-foot
local store as early as this fall at 3815 U.S. 41 E.
“We would love to open by the end of the year. Probably late this year or early 2016,” said Krista Torvik, a
spokeswoman for Lucky’s Market, a boutique supermarket chain based in Boulder, Colo.
“We kind of think of ourselves as a one-stop shop for people who like fresh food,” Torvik said.
Lucky’s 10th store opens this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Its first Florida store opened Jan. 7 in Gainesville.
“It has been very well received. People are loving the store. Sales are great. We think Florida is a really good fit for
Lucky’s Market,” Torvik said.
This year, the company plans to open eight more stores, a growth trajectory it intends to continue, she said.
Launched in 2003 by chefs Bo and Trish Sharon, Lucky’s specializes in organic, natural, gluten-free foods and
antibiotic- and hormone-free meat and fresh seafood. The Sharons passionately support local farmers and organic
foods with a garden-to-table practice.
“Locally grown is important for our local and regional food economy. And, because we buy what we can in season
and based on availability, our produce is fresher, our meats and seafood taste better, and we’re helping our local
economy excel,” Lucky’s website reports.
“Home Grown” is a label Lucky’s Market uses to let customers know that a store product is from a local farm or
producer. “Grown here, not flown here” is a sign displayed in Lucky’s stores.
Another large sign communicates Lucky’s overall philosophy: “We believe good food is a right, not a luxury.”
“Everyone, no matter what walk of life they are in, should be able to get good, healthy food,” Torvik said. “We bring
good, healthy food to more people.”
Lucky’s has departments for produce, meat, dairy, deli, seafood and wine and spirits, as well as for bulk goods,
natural living and nutrition.
“There are also usually juice bars and a section for prepared meals in the stores,” Torvik said.
4. The unique stores are designed to be inspirational to its local communities. For instance, when shoppers bring in their
reusable bags, they can choose to receive a 10-cent-per-bag credit or donate the amount to a local nonprofit
organization. Three nonprofits are selected each quarter to receive bag credit donations from their local Lucky’s
Market store, which matches the donations, doubling the charitable gifts.
Sears Outlet
First of all, Sunshine Ace Hardware has spanking new digs. The longtime Wynn family business is relocating its
East Naples location a short distance west on the Trail next month.
Last year, the Wynns demolished the building and its foundation at 4433 U.S. 41 E. that formerly had been home to
Morningstar Music and a couple of steakhouses. The new 22,000-square-foot building they built in its place is just
about ready for occupancy.
“We intend to be in our new store on the 13th of April,” said Sunshine Ace Hardware store manager Stephen Parker.
The existing store that anchors Naples South Plaza will be closed for three days, April 10-12, during the transition.
“We’ll have a slightly different store setup inside,” Parker said. “Everything in there will be pretty much new. It will be
very nice. I’m excited for our customers to see it.”
Sunshine Ace Hardware will own its own freestanding building now for its East Naples store after leasing space since
2007 in a former Winn-Dixie store on the corner of Rattlesnake Hammock Road and U.S. 41 East.
This summer, Sears Outlet will move into the 25,000-square-foot space to be vacated by the hardware store.
The Sears Outlet at 4929 Rattlesnake Hammock Road will be the first in Southwest Florida. The nearest locations are
120 miles away in Miami Beach or nearly 150 miles away in St. Petersburg and Hialeah.
Sears Outlet provides customers with in-store and online access to new, “like new” and reconditioned products,
including home appliances, apparel, consumer electronics, lawn and garden equipment, mattresses, sporting goods
and tools.
New products have not been out of their boxes, but they may be an overstock or out-of-season item. Like new or
reconditioned items could have been floor models or returned products. Some of the products may be discontinued,
scratched or dented. As the condition and availability of items varies, so do the prices, which usually are lower than
manufacturers’ suggested retail prices.
Sears Outlet will join co-anchors Dollar General and Anthony’s Ladies Apparel and other longtime merchants at
Naples South Plaza, which now is being managed by American Commercial Realty, based in West Palm Beach.
“With such tremendous residential growth on the East Trail and a new anchor that will draw customers from the entire
Collier County market area, Naples South Plaza is perfectly poised for success,” said George Kleier, director of
leasing for ACR.
A renovation of the center is planned, including enhancements to the façade and landscaping, as well as
infrastructure upgrades such as new roofs, according to a recent ACR news release.
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