November 2006: The News-Press
Destination: Naples Big Cypress Market

Construction of the Naples Big Cypress Market is under way, an 87,000-square-foot, air-conditioned venue that will hold 300 booths for vendors, a winery, a stage for shows and a second-floor mezzarline.

Like the Sandy Butler on the way to Fort Myers Beach, or Coconut Point town center in Estero, the Market aims to be a destination point -a place where residents will drive to and spend hours shopping and being entertained. It's scheduled to open September 2007.

"A lot of people are' looking for something other than going to the beach and golfing down here,'' said Keith Basik, who is developing the project on 60 acres along East Tamiami Trail in Naples.

"They go shopping to be entertained to some degree," Basik said.

The market will be situatt d near a 140-lot RV park and large storage THE NEWS-PRESS units, all built by Basik Development. Basik put a $30 million price tag on the project.

"It's a long car drive but if they have good deals and specialty items I might go:' said Holly Morris, a Bonita Springs resident who visits the Flamingo Island Flea Market on Bonita Beach Road.

Visitors to the Old Florida-style building will walk into an arena decorated with photos of the Tamiami Trail being constructed and artifacts of the Calusa Indians. The arena will be the focal point of the 20-acre market and will feature an entertainment stage for chefs, musical acts and other demonstrations.

There will be space to add 700 seats in the arena and Basik said he wants to host special events such as car shows, big band nights and country line dancing.

From the arena shoppers can walk to corridors where vendors will sell everything from jewelry and clothing to fresh seafood. One corner of the market will be designated the Winery, a place where vendors will sell grapes and wines.

Some of the vendors will be upscale, Basik said, but most will be for bargainhunters. A short walk outside will lead people to a 5,000-square-foot farmer's market and tiki bar.

But with the construction of Coconut Point and Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park, are there enough shoppers to go around?

The Flamingo Island Flea Market in Bonita Springs said yes.

"I don't know if we're seeking the same shoppers:' said Gene Vaccaro, owner of the Flamingo market, who noted that his buyers generally are from Bonita, Estero and San Carlos Park.

Vaccaro said business is good for his flea market, despite the recent opening of the two new malls. "We're a little bit ahead of last year," Vaccaro said.