In the Know: Taco Bell and more coming to Cameron Commons

Q: Isn’t there supposed to be a new Taco Bell being built in the plaza at the intersection of Collier and Immokalee? I see the new bank, a new Culvers, but no sign of TBell progress!

— Kevin Williams, Naples

A: Groundwork for Taco Bell began last week on a narrow lot in the Cameron Commons retail center on Immokalee Road just east of Collier Boulevard.

“Taco Bell is coming. They should be starting their construction in the next month or two,” said Bill Young, senior associate for CRE Consultants.

The freestanding eatery in the Mexican-inspired chain recently broke ground between the future sites for Culver’s restaurant and Brickyard Express Car Wash, which will be built just west of the RaceTrac gas station and store. The 42-seat Taco Bell with covered patio dining will be positioned perpendicular to Immokalee Road, similar to its sister location in Green Tree Center at Immokalee and Airport-Pulling roads in North Naples, architectural plans show.  

Expect Florida-based franchisee Coastal QSR to open the 1,747-square-foot Taco Bell in the first quarter of 2019. The quick-service drive-thru is being built by Florida-based CW Hayes Construction Co., which also built three of the five other Taco Bell locations in Collier County.

Next door to Taco Bell, Culver’s will open first. The 4,218-square-foot restaurant is under construction by Naples-based Build LLC. The fast-casual franchise of the Wisconsin-based chain known for its burgers and frozen custard is targeted to open at the end of next month, said Mike Busalacchi, the Naples resident who co-owns the two other Culver’s franchises in Collier County.

“We are right now scheduled for July 30,” he said. “We’ll know pretty hard here in the next couple of weeks.”

The site still needs electrical power and is scheduled to receive its equipment shipment in early July.

“If that happens we are on track for the 30th,” Busalacchi said.

In another building immediately to the west of Culvers, Dr. Nestor Villarreal and Dr. Vanesa Vaquer started seeing patients May 4 at the new Bellaire Bay Dental Care. The full-service dental office is part of Illinois-based Heartland Dental Care, which through its Professional Resource Development company also owns the recently completed 5,680-square-foot building immediately to its west that will be shared by Verizon Wireless and Sherwin-Williams Paints. Pending permits, those retail stores are targeted to open in August, said John Collier, real estate manager at Heartland Dental and Professional Resource Development.

Meanwhile, Chase Bank opened May 8 next to CVS Pharmacy on the last lot in the first phase of Cameron Commons. The new bank, at 8843 Immokalee Road, has a 24/7 drive-thru ATM, but not a drive-thru teller window. Lobby hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Also in the original retail strip, a dry cleaning business is coming soon to the unit between Pelican Larry's Raw Bar & Grill and Edison's Smart Fitness center.

Two lots remain vacant in the second phase of Cameron Commons. The aforementioned carwash is planned on the acre that fronts Immokalee Road next to RaceTrac on commercial property owned by Naples-based Niagara Falls Hydro LLC. Information on when the 4,800-square-foot business will begin construction was not available.

The final lot, another commercial acre on Sage Avenue between the Goodwill store and The Warehouse restaurant, is still available for sale, Young said. 

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