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New dining concept replacing Original Pancake House in North Naples




This Sunday will be the last day of service for the Original Pancake House in North Naples. TIM ATEN / FLORIDA WEEKLY

This Sunday will be the last day of service for the Original Pancake House in North Naples. TIM ATEN / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The Original Pancake House will turn off its griddle for good this Sunday in North Naples, the only regional location for the restaurant chain.

A new dining concept is coming to that freestanding space, which previously was the original Calistoga Bakery Cafe. Pancake House is closing and the adjacent Road & Mountain Bikes is relocating next week to 12065 U.S. 41 N., north of Immokalee Road in North Naples, to make way for synergistic businesses that will share the 5,000-square-foot courtyard patio space front and center in Fountain Park retail center on Airport- Pulling Road.

“We had an opportunity that we couldn’t let down. The tenants agreed to it to accompany us,” said Grant Pohlmann, Fountain Park’s property manager. “Both parcels will provide a great anchor for the whole center. It’s going to be unique to all of Naples.”

The names of the anchor businesses coming to the two 6,000-squre-foot outparcels in Fountain Park are not being revealed yet, but Mr. Pohlmann said the increased activity and traffic to the highly visible properties would be a major benefit for other tenants.

Pops Spot Grill recently popped up at the longtime little red food cart on the corner of Estey Avenue and Airport-Pulling Road in East Naples TIM ATEN / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Pops Spot Grill recently popped up at the longtime little red food cart on the corner of Estey Avenue and Airport-Pulling Road in East Naples TIM ATEN / FLORIDA WEEKLY

“We really aren’t authorized to say much of anything yet,” Mr. Pohlmann said. “It’s really good for the whole shopping center, the whole plaza.”

The change near that southwest corner of Airport and Vanderbilt Beach roads is especially newsworthy because the Original Pancake House chain packed in patrons for breakfast and brunch during its more than 3½-year run here. Staff of the local independently owned and operated franchise announced the news in an email to customers last week, thanking them for being part of the “OPH family.”

“Regretfully, after almost 4 wonderful years, The Original Pancake House will be closing its doors on Sunday, July 28th. We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us and hope to see you in the coming days before we close the doors one last time,” reads the note in part.

Email questions and news tips to TimAtenKnows@floridaweekly.com. Follow @TimAtenKnows on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Email questions and news tips to TimAtenKnows@floridaweekly.com. Follow @TimAtenKnows on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The breakfast-lunch venue opened its first and only Southwest Florida location in December 2015 in the former longtime home of Calistoga. When the Naples restaurant closes, the nearest location for the pancakes chain will be on Florida’s east coast. Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1953, the Original Pancake House has more than 100 franchises nationwide.

Another pancake option

A new First Watch restaurant launched July 15 in the former retail space of Ooh La La Jewels Du Jour at Neapolitan Way on U.S. 41 in Naples.

The daytime café chain is calling this freestanding location First Watch Park Shore. The 3,600-square-foot space offers both indoor and outdoor dining.

After operating nearly decade, Ooh La La closed its brick-and-mortar store at the end of January and moved its business to an e-commerce platform at oohlapalooza.com. Its ubiquitous commercial jingle also will undoubtedly live on as an earworm.

First Watch Park Shore, 900 Neapolitan Way, is open daily for breakfast, brunch and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 239-203-2597 or go to firstwatch.com.

Not jerking around

An up-and-coming grilled cheese chain will replace the locally owned Island Vybz Caribbean Cuisine, which closed earlier this month in the Coastland Center mall food court in Naples.

Island Vybz’s critically acclaimed Jamaican jerk and curry dishes attracted a strong following since it opened more than a year ago, but mall management opted for a permanent change in a space that also formerly has been Burrito Fresco, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Istanbul Kebab House and Frank & Stein Dogs & Drafts. The goal is to eventually relocate Island Vybz to another space in the Naples area, said co-owner Shishana Forbes.

Planet Grilled Cheese was started in 2016 as a food truck in the Tampa Bay area by a young French couple, Laury Labussière and Arsène Torres. The business branched out to restaurant units at malls in Lakeland and Tampa and four more are planned to launch in the final quarter of this year. The Naples location is targeted to open Nov. 1 next to Chickfil A at Coastland Center, co-founder Ms. Labussière said.

“Planet Grilled Cheese gives a twist to the classic American grilled cheese by offering a large variety of gourmet grilled cheese made with artisan bread and high-quality ingredients,” she said. “From the classic Triple Cheese to the most unique recipes such as the Hawaiian Melt, Chicken Club, Healthy Delight or Fried Chicken Melt, we have something for everybody. All our grilled cheese are made and cooked to order.”

Mac Daddy has cheddar and American cheeses with macaroni and cheese. Chicken Buffalo features mozzarella, provolone, grilled or crispy chicken and spicy Buffalo sauce. For the Triple Cheese sandwich, choose three cheeses from American, cheddar, mozzarella, provolone and Swiss.

The fresh concept also serves organic tomato soup and fried foods such as fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. Beverages include freshly squeezed lemonade, freshly brewed iced tea and handcrafted smoothies made with real fruits.

Pops goes the food cart

A new concept recently popped up at the longtime little red food cart on the southeast corner of Estey Avenue and Airport Pulling Road in East Naples.

Bryan Ullom, who operated Big Dawgs on that corner for more than four years, closed the hot dog stand a couple of months ago with plans to reinstate his nuclear medicine and X-ray licenses to return to the medical field. The new business owner wants to offer more than hot dogs and sandwiches.

While grilled chicken Philly cheese and meatball sandwiches will still be available, the new Pops Spot Grill has a more extensive menu with a Mediterranean influence. Options will include gyro tzatziki wraps and grilled chicken souvlaki wraps ($5.95), two crispy fish tacos ($5.95), sandwiches ($6.50 to $8.50), build-your-own salads ($3.95 to $7.94), seafood baskets ($6.99 to $8.95), pasta dishes ($6.95 to $9.95) and kebobs served with rice and vegetables ($8.95).

The red cart, planned to reopen this week on that corner of Promenade Plaza, has been around for more than a decade. Before Big Dawgs, it was Augustina’s A Taste of Chicago, Jersey Jim’s Hot Dogs, the Big Red Food Cart and Little Red Foodcart Ministry.

Pops Spot Grill, 1195 Airport-Pulling Road S., will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

New organic lunch spot

Harvest & Wisdom organic restaurant opened for lunch July 3 at Shangri-La Springs historic hotel in Bonita Springs.

The restaurant’s ever-changing seasonal menu features farm-to-table entrees such as bone-in ribeye and lamb sausage from Circle C Farm in Bonita. Executive Chef Allen Fisher and his culinary team also serve fresh salads and other ingredients from the property’s on-site no-till garden.

Harvest & Wisdom at Shangri-La Springs, 27750 Old 41 Road, is open for lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call 239- 949-0749 or go to ShangriLaSprings.com/ HarvestandWisdom. ¦

24 responses to “New dining concept replacing Original Pancake House in North Naples”

  1. Gayla Pitts says:

    I will miss great Original House of Pancakes, especially their bacon. I wish they would relocate! Can’t wait to try Pop’s.

  2. Betty Alves says:

    We will miss the Pancake House and it’s staff a lot. We went there every week. My husband loves the waffle. Thanks Tim for the update.

  3. Jane says:

    Oh no. I guess I’ll have to make my own Dutch Baby pancakes.

  4. George says:

    What is oing on with Popeyes in Golden Gate. Still no COO from county?

  5. Anne Wenger-Hornbach says:

    Thanks Tim,so glad you are back! Have you heard anything about Café Martinque where the old Shady Pal and Café Artiste is? Has a new sign but no info yet!

  6. GP says:

    OPH had great food and never seemed to lack for business. It was one of our favorites. It’s a shame that they’re closing. Is there any indication that they may reopen in the Naples area? Thanks Tim!

    • Tim Aten says:

      No plans now for OPH franchisee to reopen elsewhere in Naples. Might be a good franchise opportunity for somebody, though.

  7. John Thacker says:

    Tim Aten, Good to see you in print again. I just found your column and now I can save money on a useless daily newspaper and read you in one that really serves the community. Keep up the good work! You are such a pro at this writing thing!

  8. Tim says:

    Very disappointed about this news! Just another case of “follow the money” — someone will profit more!

  9. Gary says:

    Tim – thank you for your continued efforts about the ups and downs of businesses around our community. We love to know what is coming and the unfortunate goings of certain stores and restaurants.

  10. Joyce says:

    Very disappointed to see Original House of pancakes closing. It has been a favorite of ours for several years. We drive from a East Naples to go there and it is always busy! Think it had a great following and wish they would relocate. Not likely to follow the new place.

  11. Barb Wuebker says:

    We certainly miss them a lot as well. What a shame when money talks so much.

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