Gulf Coast Town Center keeps adding shopping

PHOTO FLORIDA WEEKLY Crowds gather in the Market Plaza in Gulf Coast Town Center last Saturday in front of the recently opened Borders Books and Music. The plaza has attractions for kids and adults. With its official grand opening still months away, the new Gulf Coast Town Center near Florida Gulf Coast University is still adding shops, restaurants and amenities.

When the first phase of the project is completed this fall it will house about 1.2 million square feet of retail space - or just a bit bigger than the Edison Mall. It jumps to 1.6 million square feet when completed in 2008.

"We're waiting on the restaurants to open," said Ashleigh Henry, the mall's marketing director.

And it's the eclectic mix of new and old restaurant favorites mall owners hope will keep the center busy day and night.

Joning the Islamorada Fish Co. in Bass Pro Shops and McDonald's on a mall outparcel in the next two months are:

+Miller's Ale House a nautical-themed sports restaurant was set to open earlier this week along with RJ Gators, a staple on Colonial Blvd for years.

PHOTO FLORIDA WEEKLY Blu Sushi, a staple in South Fort Myers is expected to be open in May. +Hurricane Grill and Wings, featuring more than 30 sauces and numerous signature dishes in a tropical atmosphere.

+P.F. Chang's China Bistro, a full-service, upscale casual dining restaurant featuring traditional Chinese offerings and innovative dishes that illustrate the emerging influence of Southeast Asia on modern Chinese cuisine.

+Blu Sushi, a critically acclaimed favorite in Southwest Florida. Its American version of sushi fuses the refined art of fresh seafood creation with outrageous cocktails in a hip, fun and sophisticated atmosphere, creating an incomparable experience.

+Bar Louie is a hip neighborhood restaurant and bar specializing in oversized sandwiches and jumbo martinis as well as appetizers, pastas and entrees and a wide assortment of interesting beers, microbrews and wines by the glass or bottle.

+Calistoga Bakery Café, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the upscale restaurant has a quick, casual feel. Calistoga showcases a visible, working bakery, with artisan baker's handcrafting every loaf of bread and pastry in each store every day.

PHOTO FLORIDA WEEKLY The Ron Jon Surf Shop recently opened in the Market Plaza area. In addition to these restaurants a small food court will open in two to four weeks, Henry said. Subway is already open; Taco Bell and Starbucks will be added.

The interior mall centers; University Plaza and Market Plaza are complete. Free wireless Internet access is available at the University Plaza.

The Market Plaza has a stage, family pavilion and a sea creature playground for the kids. The stage is available for community entertainment bookings.

"It's open to the public depending on the schedule," Henry said.

On the north end of the mall Costco, the membership warehouse, opens on April 12.

This will be the third store in Southwest Florida for the national retailer of brand name products.

Costco picked the Gulf Coast Town Center because of its location.

"It'll be more convenient for people out east," said Bryan Heath of Costco marketing.

The chain with more than 500 locations in the United States has stores in Naples and at the corner of U.S. 41 and Cypress Lake Drive in Fort Myers.

PHOTO FLORIDA WEEKLY The area's third Costco will open Saturday, April 12 in the Gulf Coast Town Center. This will be one of the largest stores in the discount retailers more than 500 national chain. But this one will be even bigger. At 144,000 square feet it's one of the largest in Costco's inventory, Heath said. n