In the Know: More businesses coming to Orangetree area

Q: You probably answered this in the past, but I’m wondering what is going up next to the Orangetree Publix. Rumors are CVS.

— Alison DePrisco, Naples

A: It’s not a rumor. That gold-colored building going up fast in the Neighborhood Shoppes at Orangetree will be a CVS Pharmacy.

The business is still on target to open in September on the corner of Immokalee Road and Randall Boulevard in northern Golden Gate Estates, said Stephanie Cunha, public relations manager for CVS Health. Although operating hours are not available yet, Cunha said the new pharmacy will not be open 24/7 nor have a MinuteClinic.

Construction began in February on the 15,000-square-foot store with a drive-thru pharmacy window at 13400 Immokalee Road. CVS purchased the 2-acre vacant commercial lot more than 10 years ago on the hard corner just west of what is now the China Palace restaurant in the Publix-anchored strip.

The long-awaited Publix supermarket opened in March 2017 on that corner. Months later, a Publix Liquors store, Diamond Nails salon and the Chinese restaurant opened adjacent to the supermarket on the western end of the strip.

Only one lot remains vacant in the nearly 10-acre Neighborhood Shoppes at Orangetree. The outparcel pad on the northern tip of the shopping center originally was planned as the site of a local bank, but new plans are being considered for the 1.25-acre lot.

A single-story mixed-use commercial building with four units has been proposed for that vacant parcel. The largest unit tentatively will be a 1,883-square-foot restaurant planned for the northern end of the 5,423-square-foot building and includes a drive-thru window and outdoor seating at umbrella tables, architectural plans submitted to the Collier County Growth Management Department show.

“We are talking with Dunkin’. It’s a strong likelihood it will be a Dunkin’ Donuts,” said Steve Lowitz, of Cypress Commercial Development, but a deal has not been finalized.

“Dunkin’ is not able to confirm that this location will be a Dunkin’ Donuts. I will continue to follow up, but, at this time, they are not confirming that this location will be a Dunkin’ Donuts,” emailed Charniece Jarman, of Priority Marketing, the Fort Myers firm handling public relations for the local franchisee of the national doughnut and coffee chain.

Plans show the restaurant’s drive-thru lane snaking around the eastern and northern sides of the proposed building to the drive-thru window under an overhang on the northern end. Other proposed units are 1,288, 1,141 and 1,111 square feet, plans show.

Proposed tenants or types of businesses being considered for the units are not available yet, but Lowitz wants to provide “essential services” to that immediate area.

“I’m focused right now on the permitting,” he said. “I’m not worried about it right now who the tenants are going to be. I don’t like to start too early in the process. I just want to be sure we do the right ones for the neighborhood. You basically put the shell up with minimal inside improvements until you know.”

The permitting process with the county is expected to take two to three months, but the hope would be to begin construction by the end of the year, said Lowitz, who developed the neighboring communities of Orangetree and Valencia Lakes with business partner Roberto Bollt.

A block of 20 parking spaces is proposed north of the multitenant building near a third exit planned from the shopping center onto Immokalee Road. Plans show 16 parking spaces planned on the western side, or front, of the building and another eight spaces on the southern end near the two entrances from the future building’s lot into the Publix parking lot.

Have a local question? Email it with your name and city of residence to intheknow@naplesnews.com. Tim Aten’s "In the Know" is published every Monday and Wednesday.Like and follow In the Know on Facebook now at facebook.com/timaten.intheknow.