Q: When is Papa Murphy's opening in Golden Gate?
— Lynn McPherson, Naples
A: National pizza chain Papa Murphy's is expected to open its first Southwest Florida location in about a week to 10 days on Golden Gate Parkway, said local franchisee Steve Pyatt.
"We are working hard every day and night to finish up," Pyatt said.
Crews have been working on the Golden Gate restaurant the last two months, but missed a couple of deadlines and its initial goal to open Oct. 17.
"This is our first buildout down here," Pyatt said. "We just weren't prepared for the amount of time it was going to take us. The first time through is the hardest."
Pyatt has hired 20 employees in preparation for his new store's opening at 4990 Golden Gate Parkway, which has been the location of convenience stores and car washes over the years, including Pit Stop Drive Thru and Daddy's Corner. The car wash bays are gone and the building has been subdivided for tenants, with Papa Murphy's using 1,400 square feet, about half of the building's space.
Papa Murphy's is different from the average pizza joint in that it sells "Take 'N' Bake" pizzas – freshly made, never-frozen pies that patrons take home to finish baking. Based in Vancouver, Wash., since 1981, Papa Murphy's has about 1,300 locations nationwide, including 10 in Florida.
Expect to see the local Papa Murphy's out and about and sponsoring community groups and events.
"We make an extra effort to be a part of the community," Pyatt said. "We are going to be big in the community."
The new restaurant's open house celebration will be Dec. 1-4.
Photo by File
Altin's Café and Grill, 368 Fifth Ave. S., center, is expanding into the vacant space to the west, right, of the original restaurant and is expected to reopen this month after being closed for 10 weeks this fall.
Altin's Cafe & Grill
Q: Do you know what is going on with the Altin's restaurant on Fifth Avenue. I generally go there for Sunday breakfast. It is a most enjoyable experience, sitting outside under large umbrellas. The food is good and the service and staff wonderful. The owner (who always greets his customers) usually closes for the month of September. I was told that was to happen this year. I went to have breakfast last Sunday and Altin's appears very closed. When their telephone number is called, a busy signal is always heard. I certainly hope it will reopen. The family that runs the restaurant is super. Fifth Avenue needs places like this.
— Carol Savage, East Naples
Q: What is happening with Altin's Grill on Fifth Ave.? It's one of our favorite places on Fifth. Is it closed for good? Thank you.
— Linda, Canton, Ohio, and Naples
A: The recent closing of Altin's Café and Grill should turn out to be good news for its regular patrons. The café is only temporarily closed for an expansion project that will nearly double its size from about 1,000 square feet to more than 1,800 square feet, said Altin Meleqi, who has operated the local restaurant for seven years.
Altin's, located at 368 Fifth Ave. S., previously was home to Fuel Café and Café Abruzzi. The café's expansion into the vacant space to the west of the original restaurant, will give it 30 to 40 additional seats inside and a few more outside, Meleqi said.
Normally closed in September for vacation, Altin's also was closed in October this year for the construction work. Meleqi said he hopes to reopen his restaurant by the middle of November.
More local restaurant news
■ The English Pub, after operating for more than 30 years on Linwood Avenue, is relocating elsewhere in East Naples. This noteworthy pub crawl has both the patrons and the pub moving. The original pub will close for good Saturday and is scheduled to reopen Nov. 10 at 5047 U.S. 41 E., south of Rattlesnake Hammock Road in the Village Falls complex, said owner Derek Bennett. The new location has been home to Norm's Restaurant & Lounge, OB's Cornerstone Grille, Legends Steakhouse, the Falls Supper Club and Far East Oriental Restaurant. Read the moving story in today's edition.
■ Barbatella Spirited Italian Trattoria is targeted to open during the end of December or the beginning of January on Third Street South. Work began in October on the new restaurant, owned by Chef Fabrizio and Ingrid Aielli, the husband-and-wife team who also operate nearby Sea Salt restaurant in downtown Naples. Barbatella, 1290 Third St. S., will feature pizza, pasta and homemade gelato, and be located near Old Naples Pub in The Courtyard Building spaces formerly occupied by the Garden District and CW Smith Gallery.
■ Square 1 Burgers & Bar is coming soon to Fort Myers to open the first location in Southwest Florida. The 6,032-square-foot better-burger restaurant will be in Page Field Commons, 4977 S. Cleveland Ave. (U.S. 41). The small chain's original location is in Tampa, and two additional sites are in Sarasota. Square 1 is known for its "western refined" concept, for which customers use cloth napkins and real silverware and pay $6.99 to $15 for burgers made out of everything from lamb, ostrich, bison, kangaroo, chicken and turkey to portabello, tuna, Angus and Kobe beef, according to Nation's Restaurant News.
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Find a complete archive of "In the Know" columns at naplesnews.com/intheknow.
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Comments » 26
Stella_Blue (Inactive) writes:
Irish pizza.....kangaroo burgers......and the English Pub is leaving Linwood for a black hole location.
Hmmmm.
cozyboy writes:
Imagine that, a new pizza Chain, something which is sorely lacking in our wonderful paradise. And a hamburger for 15 bucks! Does that include the condiments? Heck it's just November , they could both be around for 6 months.
buck4568 writes:
With all the available commercial space available in Collier County Papa Murphy's picks that location? Won't last a year!
scorky writes:
Evidently you have never tasted Papa Murphys pizza. Really good. I hope they make it.
I had there pizza when I was in Washington state it was very good .
LSPinNaples writes:
That time of year for restaurants to come and go. Good news about Altins. What happened to Ruby Tuesdays...closed and no work going on, then again, where is the opening at Mangrove?
bigcat21 writes:
actually its a great location, lots of traffic and lots of working class people....not everyone can afford north naples or downtown! I hope they do well!
IMSufrin writes:
I will miss the English Pub's old location. So much atmosphere there (except for the constant sewer backup problems in the restrooms!). I really hope that they can transfer that same feel to the new location, but now it's twice as far from home, so unlikely I'll be going too often.
Still, I wish them luck, and I will definitely try it out.
IMSufrin writes:
Barbatella and Square 1 - just more snowbird-geared moneytraps high on price and snob appeal, low on food quality. $15 burger? Not feelin' the love, sorry.
IMSufrin writes:
Just read the story on English Pub's move. Very excited for them, and maybe I'll just have to learn to drive a little farther from now on!
Happybutterflyisback writes:
Take out pizza I have to cook anyway?
luvsnaplessometimes writes:
If you just have to pop it in the oven, I can handle that. We need a good pizza joint in the Gate. Sometimes I don't feel like driving into town. It has to be better than the standard Dominoe's, Pape John's, I'l Primo, etc.
BigFan writes:
I know right about Mangrove. I was down there walking the other day and talked to the Owners, guess there were a lot of things that had to be fixed that were existing that the Owners and Contractor didn't account for, due to the fact it was such a old building. But they had me in and it looks great, way different and nice. Contractor did a good job just took a little longer than they planned she said. But hopefully within next few days, just waiting on couple city issues I heard.
Happybutterflyisback writes:
Pizza Hut, Hungry Howies, Little Ceasars. Yeah they all SUCK! I guess I'll give it a try, has got to be better than the ones you and I listed. I picked up a pizza from Pizza Hut the other day, why I still don't know, It was still raw. Yuck!!! I had to pop that back in the oven, so might as well :)
slogoodland writes:
take a pizza home to cook that will go over like a snow ball in hellll
bananas8187 writes:
Off topic. The Cuban Mini Mart on Bayshore has closed. Does ANYONE know where to find a whole front shoulder (lechon), already cooked, Cuban style? Bone in, skin and fat on, about 5-6 lbs?
We bought them there for 15 years. Best deal on great food in this town. So sorry they are gone.
naples_voice_of_reason writes:
Good luck English Pub...your gonna need it way down there and so far away from what's going on.
NaplesSparky writes:
I got a flyer in the mail today with coupons for Pap Murphys saying they were Open. so i went down there to pick up a pizza at about 8:30pm and they aren't even close to ready to open. They weren't kidding about working day and night though, there was a guy inside doing work that late. Its unfortunate they didn't time that flyer better, but I'll wait for them. I'm dying to try their Cowboy pizza.
dlowagtbe writes:
4075 #12 Pine Ridge near Collier Blvd.....World Bakery & Cafeteria...delicious whole pork shoulder.
bananas8187 writes:
Thanks. I will check it out ASAP.
Happybutterflyisback writes:
There is a Cuban market off 951 behind just turn by the McDonald's and make a right on the 1st street. They also have hot, fresh Cuban bread! I get mine there all the time, World Bakery has them also but it's not nearly as good.
Happybutterflyisback writes:
I got the same flyer and already knew they weren't open. Dying to try their stuffed pizza!!!!
bananas8187 writes:
Thanks. Where on 951 is it? The McDonalds near Davis, GGC, pine ridge or Immokalee?
Happybutterflyisback writes:
Golden Gate City sorry
bananas8187 writes:
Not a problem at all. Appreciate the lead, and I'll try to let you know the outcome.
HarryNuts writes:
LOL
Irish pizza...that I still have to bake. Hmm
Lets see what the prices look like and if it tastes better than a DiGiorno pizza from Publix.
I'm not too sure about the kangaroo burgers.
HarryNuts writes:
Why would you make a stupid comment like that? It's a busy street, a TON of people drive by it every day, and where do you suppose is a better place? Near Pelican Bay where all the cranky old farts can complain about expired coupons?
I'm sure the rent is a lot more realistic as well.
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