🍻 Four Bars, One Big Question + NY-Grade Bagels + Your Take on Naples Growth + Help Shape Nightlife

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Hello, Friends & Neighbors! ☀️

A real estate guy opens four bars in one location. A Bonita bagel shop nails the elusive over-easy egg. Naples is throwing down for Cinco de Mayo with more than a few reasons to raise a glass. It’s that kind of week.

Inside this issue:

As always, I really appreciate hearing from you. Your comments from last week’s poll made the newsletter better — and I'd love to keep sharing more of what you have to say.
If you have thoughts, feedback, or just want to tip me off to something happening locally, you can always reach me directly at [email protected].
I want this to be a real, honest conversation about what's going on here — and you’re a big part of it.

Enjoy the read — and if you missed a past issue or want to share with friends, the full archive is here:
naplesfloridareview.beehiiv.com

Talk soon,

Last Thursday, I had a chance to sit down with Christopher Shucart — the guy who owns the real estate and the concept behind The District Naples and their three associated concepts. He went straight from a perfectly timed real estate purchase to an unfamiliar restaurant business. I still think he might be insane for that – but I completely appreciate that he’s caught the restaurant bug. 

If you’re not familiar, The District is that sprawling building in the middle of town — in an insanely desirable location, just footsteps from Fifth Avenue between 41 and Goodlette on Central Ave, and right where tourists want to be during season and locals love to access in the offseason — with four different bars, plus two other businesses you might know: The Bowl and Yacht Club Subs (both big personal favorites).

Chris reached out after reading this newsletter, and I’m always willing to meet up with someone local — especially when it means getting a little insight into what’s happening behind the scenes in Naples’ restaurant world.

Full disclosure: I used to live in Lake Park, so I remember when a multi-bar concept started emerging in that neighborhood — and a lot of people (including me) were asking:
Wait, are they really putting four separate bars there?
And how is that even going to work?

So we met last Thursday at Mini Bar — his first/original concept out of the four — with a converted van, fake grass, cornhole, and a seriously laid-back vibe and tried to understand the concepts first hand.

While I was at the Mini Bar, I tried a non-alcoholic version of their best seller, The Watermelon Refresher. The rest of the menu had a great mix of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages.

Here’s the story:

I asked him directly (and I’m reprinting this):

"Is this a logistical nightmare from a supply perspective?"
He laughed and said,
"Yes — we spend a lot of time on that."

While Staff Only connects internally through a back hallway to The District, the overall experience still feels fragmented.
If you want to move between Mini Bar, The Alley, and Staff Only, you’re mostly walking around separate entrances.

And honestly?
That might be the key to long-term success here.
Right now, having four completely different bars without a truly unified flow can be confusing for people — especially visitors.
But if you reframe The District as one full experience — where you can drift through different styles, menus, and moods without leaving the party — it could really take off. They’re working on it and I’m excited to see how it might change the feel. 

A few quick impressions:

Bottom line:
Whether you're feeling divey, polished, retro, or relaxed, there's a bar for you here.
It’s a great spot for an after-work drink no matter your mood — and with the upcoming changes (Yacht Club Subs moving, possible better internal flow), this is definitely a concept worth watching.

I wish I had time to stay and eat, so I can’t speak to the food yet — but I’m rooting for them.
This kind of locally owned, creative development is exactly what Naples needs more of.

🥯 Hole in 1 Bagels (Bonita Springs): A New York-Style Miracle with Runny Eggs to Go

This one requires a little jaunt north to Bonita Springs, but I promise it’s worth it.
If you haven’t been to Hole in 1 Bagels & Deli, and you’re from New York or just bagel-picky by nature, go.

My first job out of college was on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange — I was one of those people waving my hands and arguing in the background on CNBC.
And in that wild, chaotic environment, bagel orders mattered. A lot.
I had two favorites:

So last week, in a moment of nostalgic recklessness (and no longer operating in full post-college mode), I decided to try Hole in 1 and see if they could pull off the untouchable — my NYSE #2 order, to-go.

Here’s the thing: I didn’t make it easy on them.
I ordered over-easy eggs, inside a bagel sandwich, to-go, and then drove it all the way back to Naples.

Basically, I set them up for failure.
Because no one — I mean no one — gets that right.
The yolks always overcook. Or explode. Or end up scrambled in foil carnage.

But this place?
Pulled. It. Off.
The eggs were still runny. The yolks still intact.
It was like the owner somehow accounted for my drive home in the cook time.

The space itself is simple and stripped down — an ordering counter against one wall, a few casual tables filling the rest — nothing fancy, but exactly what it needs to be.
And when I walked in, it smelled like a real New York bagel shop. Was it the steaming? The Taylor ham? I don’t know, but it was right.

So here’s my verdict:
This is the best bagel sandwich I’ve had in the area, hands down.
Not fancy. Not trying to be.
But if you’re looking for real-deal New York execution, take the drive.

Cinco parties, live music, musicals, and a little wine along the way — here's what’s happening around town:

🏗️ Last week's poll asked:
The Four Seasons is changing the look of Gulf Shore. Rosewood’s moving in next to Lowdermilk like it owns the place.
Some say Naples is turning into Fort Lauderdale. Others say it turned the corner years ago.
A few are already dreaming of rooftop lounges with “coastal luxe” mocktails.

Here’s where you landed:

Here’s what a few readers had to say:

Clearly, this one hit a nerve.
Now, shifting from skyline battles to after-dark dreams...

If you could wave a magic margarita and add something new to the scene, what would it be?

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Why It Matters

Naples isn’t just growing — it’s shaping the way we connect with each other, how we eat, how we spend our nights, and even how we remember our history. Every new bar concept, every bagel joint, every local poll is a glimpse into what our community values and how it’s changing.

By staying in the know (and weighing in when we can), we get to help create the kind of Naples we want to see.

Thanks for reading, and here’s to continuing the conversation!

Carolyn Cervoni
Editor-in-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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