Tin City crosses the line from riverside market to modern boutique

If rustic charm and a jumble of nautical displays are your cup of tea, a trip to Tin City in Naples could fill a satisfying afternoon. Based in two buildings (called three building on the store-finder), more than 32 eclectic shops are designed to touch the fun and fanciful humor in all of us.

Vendors offer a variety of unusual gift ideas, beach togs and T-shirts, but more impressive are the specialty stores that make it their mission to give shoppers a bit more.

A little like shops in Key West, the Perfume Palace takes a small space to offer a big selection. Over 600 different fragrances, including designer and hard-to-find perfumes, are sold at discounted prices. On Sunday, May 28, the Perfume Palace was doing a brisk business with plenty of bargain hunters calling out their favorite brands and comparing prices.

Close to Perfume Palace, The Naples Winery was less crowded but no less interesting. Here was a shop that offered unusual selections that were a product of the tropics. Visitors were invited to taste a variety of Mango Mamma wines made from citrus, berries and tropical fruits — a very different selection from the standard wine shop fare.

Although the Thirsty Mouse offered the usual Florida souvenirs, the store advertised smoked gator, a taste out of the ordinary. A shelf lined with exotic and locally prepared foods gave visitors a chance to take the taste of Florida back to other states.

Tin City was originally named the Old Marine Market Place — a themed shopping bazaar built on the site of a 1920s clam and oyster processing plant. The old rustic buildings were sturdy but a mix of space and shapes. By incorporating them into two larger buildings, the seven original waterfront structures were enclosed, modernized and air-conditioned. All buildings were housed under tin roofs that later defined the shopping area and, hence, its name.

The original theme was developed to capture the rustic nautical spirit of a riverside market. However, today's shops are more modern, carrying items that run the gambit in interest. For instance, the clothing store Jungle Fever offered some fineries in dresses and gowns, reminiscent of the movie Out of Africa, that would be suitable for wedding guests or prom wear. Directly beside them the shop featured sophisticated tops and accessories rather than the usual beach togs.

The smell of cookies wafted from the Serious Cookie Company where bakers pulled half-pound cookies out of the oven. But the most unusual treats came in canine form from the Just Dogs Gourmet. Here dog treats made from scratch were hand-cut and baked with no preservatives or animal byproducts and no added salt or sugar.

Serious shopping can easily lead to a need for serious people food. Two waterside restaurants were serving a variety of seafood and landlubbers luncheons. Pier 41 Restaurant in Building 1 sits directly on the Gordon River offering lunch and dinner from grouper sandwiches to surf and turf with a full bar and cocktail tables. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. The ambiance is seaside village.

The Riverwalk Fish & Ale House is located at the bend of buildings 2 and 3. Its rustic Key West look offers innovative, moderately priced, Florida-influenced food including fresh fish, salads, sandwiches and tropical drinks. It is also open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

Tin City offers an experience in nostalgic and one-of-a-kind shopping. Stores are open year-round Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. in the heart of Naples, where Goodlette Road meets U.S. 41 at the Gordon River bridge.