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Third Street merchants try to stay upbeat despite vacancies, maintenance woes
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It was a tumultuous summer at the Third Street Plaza.
Some businesses in the upscale shopping center in downtown Naples withheld rent this summer to protest maintenance and upkeep issues, taking pictures of deteriorating umbrellas and lights to back up their claims.
And tenants have been moving out in a steady stream over recent months, leaving vacant about 37 percent of the plaza’s nearly 54,000 square feet of retail and office space.
The remaining businesses are cautiously optimistic. Owners believe in their businesses and are hopeful that the plaza owner got the message that the property needs attention.
“(The plaza) is a little jewel that needs to be polished,” said Tricia Lund, who opened Beadniks, a beading store, there last spring with her husband, Billy Lund. “There’s so much that needs to be done.”
The main issues are an inaccessible owner, maintenance and vacancies, tenants said.
When plaza management kept pushing back the planned painting of the plaza and didn’t respond to upkeep requests, a number of businesses, including Beadniks and Blu Sushi, withheld rent.
“There was a little coup,” Tricia Lund said. “We were frustrated and saddened by the lack of attention. ... And people were just leaving in droves.”
Over the years, there has been a lot of turnover in the plaza, especially in the back, said Ed Verdesca, co-owner of Jami’s & Just Comfortable Clothing.
The women’s clothing retailer has had a shop in the plaza since the center opened in 1988 and it is the company’s “flagship store,” he said.
“I also know that if you want to call somebody with a problem you have to call (the east coast) and they have to call Washington (D.C.) and by the time they get back to you it’s too late,” Verdesca said.
Another longtime tenant — The Good Life, a kitchen accessory store that was in the plaza for nearly two decades — recently packed up and left.
“When we first moved into the plaza it was phenomenal because there was so much excitement and so many great stores,” said Debbie Schwarz, co-owner. “... And then gradually it seemed like every summer somebody would leave. ...There was so much turnover.”
In the last few years, the plaza was a difficult place to operate a business, she and her son, Scott Schwarz, said.
The roof was leaking, there were other maintenance issues and the landlord just wasn’t accessible. Add the fact that they could no longer get insurance to protect them from hurricanes and the increasing vacancies and it just seemed like a good time to move, they said.
The Schwarzes closed their plaza store on Oct. 27 and opened in a new shopping center at Vanderbilt Beach and Airport-Pulling roads on Oct. 29.
“Things are -- and were -- bad. I’m willing to look to the future but it’s hard not to consider the past,” said Larry Genga, Blu Sushi managing director. “I got a bad taste in my mouth — but there are always breath mints.”
Recently, the property has gotten some attention; the exterior has been painted. Attempts by the Naples Daily News to contact the plaza owner, Washington Real Estate Partners, and its president F. Davis Camalier, for comment were unsuccessful.
Camalier also hired the Welsh Cos. Florida to market the vacancies about two weeks ago and the Realtors have gotten 30 to 40 phone calls about the vacant spaces, said Jonathan Kepple, leasing agent.
They have three letters of intent for the first floor retail spaces from a cafe, a high-end men’s and women’s clothing retailer and a cheese and wine marketplace.
“They’re offering an aggressive rate to contract tenants that are going to be there long term,” Kepple said. “...People would make it through season there and then they drop out in summer. We don’t want that to continue.”
The first-floor retail spaces are listed at $20 to $25 per square foot per year and the office spaces at $15 to $18 per square foot per year. Maintenance fees, which include membership in the Third Street South Merchants Association, are listed at $10.50 per square foot per year.
Some tenants, including Beadniks and Blu Sushi, also feel that the Third Street South Merchants Association doesn’t do much to help promote the plaza.
The association is “working very hard to include them in many more things,” said Tony Ridgway, Third Street South Association president and owner of Ridgway Bar & Grill and Tony’s Off Third.
Plaza business owners also are concerned about the vacant corner property at Third Street South and Broad Avenue South — the Old Naples Building; the building was built in about 1922 and has been everything from a town hall to a movie theater.
Since Fantozzi’s moved out last year, owner Charles A. Camalier III, is working to preserve the historic structure and make it economically viable, said John Passidomo, his attorney. The top possibility for a tenant is a restaurant, he said.
Meanwhile, business owners in the plaza are cautiously optimistic about season. They have plans to bring music, fashion shows and other events to the plaza.
“All of us who are here are trying to work on the plaza,” said Svetlana Ilieva, co-owner of Ana Vlad European Collections. “... We can do it together, that’s why I want to stay positive — for the new people who will join us.”
Within the last month and a half or so, things have finally started to change, but the owner needs to look beyond painting and be proactive about filling vacancies, said Jennifer Ewing, co-owner of Femme Fatale clothing boutique.
“They’re going in the right direction,” she said. “ ... But it’s taken this long to do it and it’s not going to happen overnight. Season is here.”
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#1 Posted by Treasonous on November 17, 2007 at 6 p.m.
what always amazes me is why people who hate America so much continue to live here.
Thanks goodness its a relatively small group out there that are always focused and take joy in our shortcomings,failures and mistakes.
Also interestingly enough these very people arent part of the solution to better things either.
With the biggest zeal and zest, they gladly point out whats wrong with our country..and whats wrong with you and me ...they will tell you what to give up..how to live... yadda yadda yadda..but their plan wont resemble America anymore.
This country, even with all its dents and bumps and bruises..is still the best country in the world.
Statistics show that the USA has the highest amount of immigration requests pending and the highest rate of granting Immigrants access here.
There is a reason why so many people from other countries want to come here. I could list all the good about our country..but those that love it here know whats good here..and those that hate it here ..would hate it even worse if they lived in another country. And they know that...thats why they remain.
If a big depression befalls us, will it be the first time? NO! Did we recover before? Yes. Will we again? Of course!
#2 Posted by firefly16 on November 17, 2007 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
shoooooooshhhh....that's the sound of Coconut Point and Gulfcoast Mall sucking all the business dollars out of Olde Naples..
#3 Posted by alancodi on November 17, 2007 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, what area has the "funnest" beach? Whoever has the beach area with the most enjoyable atmosphere will also draw the most tourists. Maybe if downtown Naples is losing tourists to the northern shops, they should revamp the atmosphere on the pier. Then crowds would return to the beach, and shop nearby...
#4 Posted by naplesnewby on November 17, 2007 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Greed kills.
#5 Posted by volochine on November 17, 2007 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Landloards need to "Smarten Up"...Lower the rents and clean up their properties, or the vacancies on Fifth and Third will continue....
#6 Posted by streetrodder on November 18, 2007 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The party's over only if we say it is.
A lot of what a downturn in an economy is, are what people "think" or are "lead to think" might happen. It's an attitude, a perception. Once people start to "feel" that there MIGHT be trouble, THEY STOP SPENDING. And when people stop spending, stop investing, when small business stops employing, thats when we all suffer, and that is when there is trouble.
Attila, your so smart you should know this and stop adding to the supposed fear in this town..
#7 Posted by mend on November 18, 2007 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a R.N. and a stay at home mother of two.
Lots of people share my view and we are not real estate agents. Not everyone in this town is a real estate agent Attila.
#8 Posted by mend on November 18, 2007 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh they deleted the AMerica hatin' persons post...tsk tsk tsk.
So I'll rephrase it for you...
Americans haven't had a raise in wages in years, you elected oil barrons to run the nation and you wonder why your now energy poor, Greenspan & the Bushi'tas told America to SPEND it's way out of Recession so you morons did.
When Bush took office a barrel of oil was less then half what it is today, gold was 270 (it's in the 780s today) a gallon of gas 140 a loaf of bread 99 cents. Today you can at least double every one of those prices...yet your wages stayed the same.
Your jobs went elsewhere (to wit, only 14 million manufacturing jobs in America today) and Congress and the IRS gave tax incentives to Companies to do so!
There is only one party, the Money Party, it has two wings, Demoncratic and RepubliKlan. Neither of them represents US & to vote for anyone of them is a major catastrophe waiting to happen.
Hey Nazi Daily News! Kiss my (_!_)
#9 Posted by Treasonous on November 18, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Attila
Why when someone responds to your false acquisitions, do you not respone?
#10 Posted by mend on November 18, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let the rich people worry about taking care of 3rd street...It ain't our problem.
#11 Posted by techie on November 18, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for you Mend... Finally someone who makes some posts that are accurate and relevant.
I think we have all heard "what realty firm are you with?" enough. Maybe we can challenge people to use their brains and vocabulary before posting.
There is no reward for the most posts to NDN...
#12 Posted by workattack on November 18, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We're going to be less rich.
#13 Posted by will1313 on November 18, 2007 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Attila will run in and save them for the sake of his European renters he talks about so much in Olde Naples.
#14 Posted by workattack on November 18, 2007 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The locals never worked at 3rd street. Imported Euro-trash and third worlders grovel at the feet of wealthy, white, fat, Northern business owners that spend 10 times more for junk so that they may feel as though they are 'enlightened' members of the ruling class. (they secretly all have tatoos of Attilla on thier buttocks)
#15 Posted by cupcake on November 19, 2007 at 6:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You tell him Junkyard....
#16 Posted by mend on November 19, 2007 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard the saying for 1-800- Mattres (Leave the last "S" off for savings)
Olde Naples takes it to a new level add an extra "E" for Expensive.
Lets face it Bonita Springs and Estero are nicer than Naples and that is evident on 41... It will continue because Naples is overpriced, snooty, and Old"e"...
#17 Posted by workattack on November 19, 2007 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JYD
I give up. What?
#18 Posted by mend on November 19, 2007 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JYD-
I can dig that.
And I'm on board...
#19 Posted by mend on November 19, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You want to see ugly, just stroll down 3rd st. or 5th av. S. any day or night and gaze upon the mounds of rotting flesh disguised as the elite.
The real Europeans mock what Naples has become, a cheap imitation of the Old World complete with the wannabe Huns to take it to its well deserved grave, only to be re-born when the last vestiges of phony achitecture have finally decayed.
#20 Posted by cupcake on November 19, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cupcake. You can see the light. Good post!!!
Attila, What year is your Cadillac?
#21 Posted by workattack on November 19, 2007 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are so many piece of crap buildings in Naples that I guess aging eyesight doesn't see.
Especially when you are peering over the steering wheel in your Caddy...
#22 Posted by workattack on November 19, 2007 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Workattack-
You can ask Attila himself about his Caddy, live and in person, at Tony's off Third.
Attila actually posted where he was headed at 8:39AM this morning.
This guy really needs some friends. Maybe Cupcake, Workattack, JYD and I should share a Cup O' Joe with the poor guy...
#23 Posted by mend on November 19, 2007 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would buy him a cup of coffee in the hopes that the caffeine would clear his head... I am out of town for the holidays plus my Caddy is in the shop...
#24 Posted by workattack on November 19, 2007 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your right workattack,
But its a busy week for us all. How about next week?
#25 Posted by mend on November 19, 2007 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I get my coffee at a little redneck joint on my way to my real job, the way God intended it.
#26 Posted by cupcake on November 20, 2007 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Attila,
Why do you love everything European?
What's wrong with American?
Just do us all a favor, leave Naples and move to Europe!
#27 Posted by mend on November 20, 2007 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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