Randy’s Paradise Shrimp Co. closed its Bonita Springs market at 24851 U.S. 41 S. in Bernwood Centre to open a new restaurant and market nearby off Old 41 Road in Bonita.
Q: What happened to Paradise Shrimp opening a restaurant and store in Bernwood in Bonita Springs? The original store was great, and many of us miss it. Will they ever open the restaurant or store?
— Jeanette Tierney, Bonita Springs
Q: We recently returned to Bonita Springs to discover that Randy’s Paradise Shrimp fish market has closed. Last spring, it moved to a new location where it had restaurant seating. We have been told that it closed the new location soon after Labor Day but will reopen.
— Betsy Moynehan, Bonita Springs
A: The timing just wasn’t right for the new Bonita Springs location for Randy’s Paradise Shrimp Co., which temporarily closed Sept. 1 after being open for only about three months.
“We regret to inform you that we are currently closed due to permitting issues. We are hoping to open soon,” according to part of the answering machine message heard after calling Randy’s Bonita Springs location.
But don’t expect Randy’s in Bonita to reopen this season. The local business is holding off reopening until October now, said Randy Essig, president and CEO of Randy’s Fishmarket Restaurant, which has operated locations in both North Naples and Bonita for eight years.
Permitting issues certainly were part of the decision to temporarily close, but the death of the location’s chef and manager, as well as other unforeseen events also played a role, Essig said.
“Staffing, permitting, signage — you name it, you claim it. We had a cloud hanging over the place for 90 days,” he said. “It’s just a whole bunch of little things.”
The initial plan was to temporarily close in the fall with the intent to reopen by Thanksgiving or at least Christmas, but that, of course, did not happen.
Randy’s Paradise Shrimp Co., a full-service restaurant and gourmet seafood market, previously operated for years at the more visible leased location at 24851 U.S. 41 S. in Bernwood Centre before relocating last year a short distance away to units purchased at 25010 Bernwood Drive, off Old 41 Road in the Bernwood Business Park.
Randy’s Fishmarket Restaurant, especially known for its key lime pies made with Randy’s Key Lime Juice, remains open about eight miles away at 10395 U.S. 41 N. in North Naples.
Photo by TIM ATEN
Doc's Pizza House was initially expected to open last fall in a former real estate office at 4575 Bonita Beach Road, but now is not expected to open until this November.
Doc’s Pizza prognosis
Q: Do you have any information on the Doc’s Beach House pizza restaurant on Bonita Beach Road? It’s been signed, but nothing has progressed there.
— Jeff Panozzo, North Naples
Q: I have seen a sign on Bonita Beach Road (on the south side going west) which says “Doc’s Pizza.” Is it connected to Doc’s on the beach? When will it open? We like their pizza and love to see it open at this location.
— D.S., pizza lover
A: Doc’s Pizza House is expected to be open by next season, probably this November, said Lou Bangert, general manager of both the longtime Doc’s Beach House and the future Doc’s Pizza House.
The new pizzeria was initially expected to open last fall in a former real estate office at 4575 Bonita Beach Road. The delay in opening is because of a lagging economy, Bangert said.
“It’s been awfully slow in the summer,” he said. “We just didn’t want to jump into it.”
Plans are still sketchy, but look for work — primarily interior remodeling — to begin this summer to open Doc’s Pizza House, Bangert said.
The new pizzeria will be mostly a to-go venue. Boaters will have easy access to the pizzeria and bar, which has its own dock space on a canal which runs parallel to Bonita Beach Road and connects to Little Hickory Bay.
Although it may be mistaken for a Bonita Springs business, Doc’s Pizza House is actually located in unincorporated Collier County, or North Naples.
The popular Doc’s Beach House has been operating about a mile away on Bonita Beach for more than 20 years.
Photo by TIM ATEN
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt will open its first Florida location in Bonita Springs in this space at the Renaissance Center, 3440 Renaissance Blvd., on U.S. 41 near the Estero-Bonita border.
Handle on Handel’s
Q: What is the status of Handel’s ice cream that was supposed to open in Bonita Springs? I keep looking for it but no signs yet. Thank you.
— Judy, Bonita Springs
A: Expect the first Florida location of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt to open within four to six weeks, said a spokeswoman for the popular Youngstown, Ohio-based chain.
The company originally had planned for a September opening, but then wanted to open by last Thanksgiving or Christmas, said Jim Brown, chief operating officer for Handel’s.
The site’s plan review was approved in early October, according to license information from the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, but noticeable on-site work has not begun.
“We’ve had a number of issues that have pushed it back longer than hoped,” Brown said after the first delay.
Brown did not return telephone messages left for him within the last few weeks regarding the postholiday delay.
Signs have yet to be erected, but the local Handel’s will be in units 2 and 3 of the Renaissance Center, 3440 Renaissance Blvd., on the western side of U.S. 41 near the Estero-Bonita border. The location will be Handel’s first store with indoor seating and store space.
Photo by TIM ATEN
The Keys Bar & Grille, 8939 U.S. 41 N., closed last summer after operating since March 2010 in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples.
Keeping tabs on Keys Bar
Q: I was wondering what happened to the Keys Bar that was on 41 in North Naples. I thought it was going to Gulf Coast Town Center, but have heard nothing about it.
— R. Warder, Bonita Springs
A: Construction has been under way at the new Keys Bar & Grille at Gulf Coast Town Center with plans to open it during the Feb. 11-12 weekend, said owner Kevin Douglas.
“That’s what we are shooting for,” Douglas said.
A message on the Keys Bar’s website, thekeysbar. com, has been announcing that the new venue would open during Super Bowl weekend, but a delivery issue with a key piece of kitchen equipment — the range hood — delayed the opening this weekend, Douglas said. Earlier plans had targeted opening the new location late last year. The bar, which features a Key West theme and dueling pianos audience-participation shows, will reopen in a new spot next to Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Town Center, off Interstate 75 in San Carlos Park.
The Keys Bar’s initial location closed last summer after operating for more than a year in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples.
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Comments » 21
itmattershere writes:
All over priced do us a favor and don't open.
No1Uno writes:
You get what you pay for and in Naples for many of us, that's what REALLY matters...
jt1120 writes:
Permitting issues = "Economic growth? Now why would we want that?" Ridiculous.
leneggs writes:
These locations are in Lee County not Collier
whatsup writes:
Docs couldn't open up because of the fire department. The bureaucrats have destroyed so many jobs in Lee and Collier counties that its sickening. The fire inspector does whatever he wants and the public has no recourse. Without any reason, the inspector made them put in sprinklers and then demanded a fire hydrant in front of the store despite having a pre-existing hydrant 15 ft away. Thirty years ago when there was a volunteer fire department everything was much better.
cozyboy writes:
FUTUROS makes a great pizza which is located near
the Doc's Pizza sign right on Bonita beach Rd. Great philly cheese steaks too. While so many joints have opened and closed on this strip they have held their own because the food is good and the wait staff are so friendly... It always has been murder trying to get permits be it Collier or Lee County. Collier just rips you off more.
Iseeyouon41 writes:
They all should forget it, save their money and go home..
whatsup writes:
Fututos is very good, both in food quality and value for your dollar.
MiltonFriedman writes:
Doc's takes the cake for overpriced bar food. Home of the $18 hamburger. Yes, $18 if you order their regular burger with onions, mushrooms, cheese, and bbq sauce. He actually charges $1 to add bbq sauce to your burger!
theabyss writes:
Wasn't it reported that the economy was on an upswing??? Maybe I read it in another paper.... hmmmm....
Stella_Blue (Inactive) writes:
So right, whatsup. The FD are business killers.
They stroll in to your business and start pointing fingers.
I have lost respect for most of the inspectors.
fritobandito writes:
Is the new Doc's going to be stupid like the old one and not accept credit cards? It's 2012 -- get with it.
HAP writes:
Ougoing Bill Barnett, oh, but he's back in city council again, (disgusting) and Ben Nelson both libs. Can't you tell by what goes on there.
LovesBS writes:
Yep...all are trying to jump on the gravy train. The inspectors, the fire company, the permitting people BUT the fact remains on the Doc's Pizza...if that operation is like the overpriced beach dump...the Notre Damer will fail.
The other day: 3 beers, large pizza and one salad...$72. Put a tip of $14 on that and you'd think the bill came from the Ritz.
Shameful attempt at looting the 'winter guests' and chasing the locals back to Bullalo Chips.
LovesBS writes:
Hey Boney...your buds are calling you over to Parking Lot #3 at Barefoot. Don't forget the knee pads so the shells don't cut your weak skin.
LovesBS writes:
SB - I'm with you...for some reason since 9/11 the fire guys have been riding the crest of 'We are the saviors of the world!'. Hats, shirts and the rest of the crap testify to the 'hero' status of this group who are no more than public servants.
PUBLIC SERVANTS!
What do these clowns know about restaurants and other businesses other than to give the public the business? Shameful!
Klaatu writes:
REPUBLICANS DON'T RAISE TAXES !
BUT THEIR FEES WILL KILL YA !!!!!
LovesBS writes:
Nope...I know that you and the other Surgen Park pervs also enjoy Parking Lot #3 at Barefoot for hanging out. Check out the CCSD records of arrests for perv activities.
Good news! We know you 'guys' can't pro-create!
Ps Go back and 'read your history of posts'...and you'll agree that William is just an acronym for H-moe! Ha ha moe!
Coastal writes:
Handel’s ice cream is hands down better than anything around and better priced too.
Too bad they picked a terrible location. What ever they think they saved in rent they will more than spend in advertising and promotions to draw people in to try them. And being seasonal, they will have to do it forever.
Jarvis writes:
Seems like a lot of these restaurants left Naples to go to Bonita or Estero. What's the draw? More people under 90 years old? Is it true that younger people give better tips and spend more money and don't use coupons for every meal??
Rummm writes:
Exactly!
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