Visitor's Annual: Shopping

Whether you’re in search of the ultimate built-to-order mega-yacht, a stunning pair of shoes or the perfect hostess gift, our seaside shopping mecca awaits your discovery. Treasures are to be found in quaint antique emporiums, upscale consignment shops and sprawling outlet malls, sprinkled along palm-lined avenues and in glamorous bougainvillea-draped courtyards.

The shops of Old Naples are legendary, of course. But even our consignment shops, wholesalers and flea markets are upscale. If you spend at least $1,000 at The Diamond District, they’ll pick you up in style in a stretch limo. The 87,000-square-foot Big Cypress Marketplace is a trendy weekend flea market, with more than 150 vendors, a wine market and a performance stage.

A must-shop area is Estero, between Fort Myers and Naples. The main street-style Coconut Point mall has a massive selection of the best-known shops and restaurants.

There’s the International Design Center for world-class home design elements, and Miromar Outlets is drenched in designer names such as Michael Kors, Escada and Waterford.

At Naples’ elite, sophisticated Waterside Shops, you can shop till you swoon among the couture labels straight from the fashion capitals of the world. The most recent shops to join anchor store Saks Fifth Avenue are Nordstrom, Van Cleef & Arpels, De Beers, Salvatore Ferragamo and Kate Spade.

NAPLES
Fifth Avenue South, six blocks in Old Naples, (239) 435-3742. Continental ambiance offers a mix of sophisticated restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Among the upscale retailers are Brodeur Carvell Fine Menswear, Seraphim Boutique women’s wear, Congress Jewelers, Femmes Je Vous Aime, Arabesque, Call of Africa’s Native Visions Gallery and Kilwin’s Chocolates & Ice Cream. Fifth Avenue is home to more than 20 restaurants and sidewalk cafés as well as the downtown Naples Information Center. The Sugden Community Theatre is on Fifth, and The von Liebig Art Center is just around the corner. www.fifthavenuesouth.com.

Third Street South and the Avenues, located in the heart of Old Naples, (239) 434-6533. Featuring a collection of more than 100 charming shops, the thriving Gallery Row and premier culinary finds. Shops include Marissa Collections, Fancy Nancy’s and C. Orrico. Restaurants include Campiello Ristorante, Blu Sushi, Handsome Harry’s and Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Cafe, among others. In addition to providing a source for area information, the concierge will hold and assist with package deliveries, and arrange transportation. Third Street South is also a Naples’ WiFi hot spot, so bring along your laptop. Laptops also available for use at the concierge. www.thirdstreetsouth.com.

Tin City on U.S. 41 at Goodlette-Frank Road, (239) 262-4200. Originally a 1920s clam shelling and oyster processing plant. More than 30 eclectic shops offer kitschy souvenirs, collectibles and handmade goods. Try waterfront dining at Riverwalk Fish & Ale House and Pier 41, or grab a quick bite at Café Europa, a fixture in Tin City for decades. www.tin-city.com.

Bayfront on Goodlette-Frank Road at U.S. 41, (239) 649-8700. Enjoy the European-style architecture while browsing the shops and galleries of this center that includes several dining options, residences and a marina. Specialty stores include Atelier Lizio Naples, Blue Diamond Jewelers, Bayfront Boutique, Gordon Pass Gallery, Jonathan Green Art Collection, Jennings of Naples and The Weatherburn Gallery. Restaurants include Chrissy’s at Bayfront, Martini Bar, Shane’s Cabana Bar, Stoney’s Steakhouse and Roy’s. Other services include Robert of Philadelphia salon, Premier Properties of Southwest Florida, and South Florida Yacht Sales.
www.bayfrontnaples.com.

Mercato. The crème de la crème of shops, restaurants and residences comprise the newest lifestyle experience along the Gulfshore. Mercato, at U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road in north Naples is a 350,000-square-foot village with all the charm of an Old World Italian marketplace. Shoppers stroll among the palms and fountains, relax at cafes and bistros, take in movies, sample real Italian gelatos and hand-made chocolates, and enjoy world-class cuisine.

North from Old Naples on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), fine-jewelry lovers or collectors will encounter several upscale jewelry and watch retailers with buildings that resemble the jewels within. Thalheimers is located at 3200 Tamiami Trail N. at U.S. 41 and Ridge Street, www.thalheimers.com. Fine Swiss watches, custom and designer jewelry, Lladro gallery and other giftware. Bigham Jewelers, featuring jewelry from internationally acclaimed designers, is farther north at 2425 Tamiami Trail N., www.bighamjewelers.com. The striking Bigham building is also home to Trudy Labell Fine Art and Eyetopian Optical.

Village on Venetian Bay, Gulf Shore Boulevard at Park Shore Drive, (239) 403-2204. A newly renovated waterfront village with a taste of Old Italy. Stroll by the bay and shop at more than 50 upscale specialty boutiques for men and women, including Artichoke & Co., A Horse of a Different Color, The Paper Merchant, Ocean Leather, Wildflower, The Village Pub and Mondo Uomo and Donna, as well as galleries, design studios and waterfront restaurants including Cloyde’s Steak and Lobster, M Waterfront Grille, Bayside and a Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop.
www.venetianvillage.com.

Coastland Center, 1900 Tamiami Trail N., (239) 262-2323. The only enclosed retail center includes well-known names such as Macy’s, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Sears and more than 150 specialty stores, including Bailey Banks & Biddle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, Express and Victoria’s Secret. Dining options include Ted’s Montana Grill, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Ruby Tuesday’s, The Cheesecake Factory and an extensive food court. www.coastlandcenter.com.

Collection at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Beach Road at Airport-Pulling Road, (239) 596-2807. Mediterranean-style shopping and dining village featuring Zucchero Sweet Fashions, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Cosi, Black Truffle Chocolatiers, Zazou, Trendy with a Twist, Absinthe Restaurant, Diva Doghouse & Co., Persona Boutique, Strapazza and Ziggity Dots.

Venetian Village: Getting Better all the Time. Just when you thought it couldn’t be any more delightful, Naples’ Village on Venetian Bay has been expanded and enhanced. Visitors this year will be newly enchanted by the shops, galleries, restaurants and breathtaking views of the bay. The expansion includes a place for live entertainment.

Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay, U.S. 41 at Seagate Drive, (239) 598-1605. An outdoor shopping center set among artistically tiled fountains and anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. Home to luxury boutiques including Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany
& Co., Cartier, Gucci, Coach, Hermès, Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, St. John, Apple and J.Crew-at-the-Beach. Dining options include BrickTop’s Restaurant, Brio Tuscan Grille, California Pizza Kitchen and the Silver Spoon Café. www.watersideshops.com. Mercato, U.S. 41, north of Vanderbilt Beach Road (239). Anchored by Whole Foods, Naples’ newest mixed-use development also includes the Capital Grille, Coldwater Creek, Sur La Table, Z Gallerie and
Books-A-Million.

MARCO ISLAND
Esplanade, 740 N. Collier Blvd., (239) 394-7772. This shopping plaza is set upon 1,100 feet of waterfront on Smokehouse Bay and encompasses nearly 50,000 square feet of fine dining, select retailers, specialty stores and commercial offices. It also houses the 77-boat-slip Esplanade Marina and a bayside sunset amphitheater. Restaurants include Vergina, BayView, CJ’s on the Bay, Tara Steak and Lobster House and Guy Harvey’s Island Grill. www.esplanadeshoppes.com.

Marco Town Center Mall, North Collier Boulevard at Bald Eagle Drive. More than 40 shops, restaurants and cafes in a casual outdoor setting. Dining options include the Crazy Flamingo, Margarita’s, Summer Day Market and Café and locally owned boutiques such as La Scarpa, Lears, George and the Shoe Resort, Beachworks and Marco Craft & Shell Co.

BONITA SPRINGS
The Promenade at Bonita Bay, U.S. 41 and South Bay Drive, (239) 261-6100. A courtyard village includes 30 upscale retail shops, restaurants and offices. Shops include The Little Merchant, DuFrane Jewelers, Bonne Nuit, Evelyn & Arthur, the Mole Hole, Mondo Uomo and Donna and Jami’s. Restaurants include the Silver Spoon Café, Molino’s Ristorante and Roy’s. www.promenadeshops.com.

ESTERO
Coconut Point, south of Corkscrew Road on U.S. 41, (239) 939-1933. Set on seven acres, the shopping area is part of a 500-acre master-planned community. Shops include J.Crew, Apple, Coach, Sephora, Gymboree, Design Within Reach, West Elm, Z Gallerie, Lucky Brand Jeans, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble and more. More than 25 dining offerings include The Grillroom, The Grape Wine Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Ted’s Montana Grill and Blue Water Bistro. The Muvico theatres round out the experience. www.simon.com

Miromar Outlets, exit 123 off I-75 at Corkscrew Road, (239) 948-3766. An inviting Mediterranean atmosphere with covered open-air walkways, sculpted water fountains and an abundance of casual eateries. Miromar offers an extensive selection for bargain hunters with more than 140 outlet shops to choose from. Factory stores include Saks Off Fifth, Escada, Polo Ralph Lauren, BCBG Max Azria, Banana Republic, Cole Haan, J.Crew, Coach, Villeroy & Boch,
Movado and Bose. www.miromaroutlets.com.

International Design Center, 10801 Corkscrew Road, (239) 390-5111. Comprehensive resource for design professionals and consumers. Forty-five showrooms present furniture, fabrics, flooring, lighting, kitchen and bath products, art, accessories, wall coverings and much more. Design referral services and event facilities are available. www.idcfl.com.

FORT MYERS
The River District, downtown Fort Myers, is experiencing a resurgence of retail and commercial development. A destination for particular shoppers looking for the perfect gift or unique home furnishing, the section of McGregor Boulevard just north of Colonial Boulevard is home to many antique and boutique shops and restaurants.