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SORRY, WE'RE CLOSED: Local eateries closing in 2011

Pizzaiolis, a Neapolitan wood-fired pizzeria, operated in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt, previously the Collection at Vanderbilt, from December 2009 to December 2011.

Photo by TIM ATEN

Pizzaiolis, a Neapolitan wood-fired pizzeria, operated in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt, previously the Collection at Vanderbilt, from December 2009 to December 2011.

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  • Blue Agave Tequila Bar & Grill opened in December 2010 on U.S. 41 East in Naples Towne Centre and closed a year later.
  • Pizzaiolis, a Neapolitan wood-fired pizzeria, operated in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt, previously the Collection at Vanderbilt, from December 2009 to December 2011.
  • Ron’s Italian Pizzeria & Café on Fifth Avenue South had to close in 2011 when hotelier Phil McCabe made plans to raze the one-story building and replace it with a three-story building to expand his Inn on Fifth across the street in downtown Naples.
  • Saffron Indian Restaurant, 2059 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, closed at the end of March 2011.
  • The Keys Bar & Grille, 8939 U.S. 41 N., closed last summer after operating since March 2010 in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples.
  • Alice Sweetwater’s Too closed in April 2011 after operating for about 15 months in the Crossroads Market shopping center on Pine Ridge Road in North Naples.
  • Wildside Cafe recently closed in the Carillon Place shopping center on the southeast corner of Airport-Pulling and Pine Ridge roads.
  • ViVi Ristorante, which opened in 2009 at Coastland Center mall in Naples, permanently closed in July 2011.
  • Pure Urban Oasis restaurant and bar closed in early December after operating for nearly two years at Mercato in North Naples.
  • After about 10 years of business inside the Naples Municipal Airport terminal, The Landings Cafe's lease was terminated July 26, 2011, because the restaurant failed to carry liability insurance for four months, or come into compliance, according to a July 15 airport authority letter.
  • Johnny’s Diner permanently closed in late March at 3584 Mercantile Ave. in East Naples.
  • China Tokyo quietly closed March 31, 2011, in the Pine Ridge Crossing shopping center after operating for 13 years.
  • Remy's Bistro, 2300 Pine Ridge Road, closed suddenly at the end of February 2011. The Naples restaurant opened in Pine Ridge Crossing in 1997.
  • After serving gourmet sandwiches and wine for 25 years in the Village at Venetian Bay in Naples, Artichoke and Company closed May 31, 2011. Chef Brian Gorman moved his Artichoke and Company full-service catering business to 1410 Railhead Blvd. in North Naples.
  • Bert’s Seafood & Chowder House, 862 Fifth Ave. S., opened in January 2010 and closed in January 2011 in downtown Naples.
  • Paciugo Gelato & Caffè closed Oct. 7 in Coconut Point, but plans to open elsewhere in the area in 2012.
  • Luna Rossa, formerly located at the Collection at Vanderbilt, now Shoppes at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road #156, closed in 2011.
  • In late March 2011, Anton’s Pizza Pasta & More, 22088 S. U.S. 41 in Estero, closed after operating since December 2009.
  • Little Caesar’s Pizza closed its North Naples location in Bed, Bath & Beyond Plaza, 5337 Airport-Pulling Road N., on Sept. 12 after operating for 24 years.
  • In late August, Gatsby’s Pizza closed in North Naples in order to merge with Island House Café, opening in its larger venue at 3801 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs.
  • Gatsby’s Pizza of North Naples temporarily relocated this fall to Island House Café, 3801 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. Gatsby's soon closed, but the Island House remains open. Gatsby's plans to reopen elsewhere on Bonita Beach Road in 2012.
  • Eric Pate’s Backstreet Bar & Grill, 849 Seventh Ave S., closed in early July after operating for about a year and a half in that downtown Naples location. In December, Flava Restaurant, Bar & Lounge opened there and Eric Pate became the general manager of Stoney's Steakhouse in Bayfront.
  • Anthony Chinaglia closed Mister Five Restaurant, 1716 Airport-Pulling Road S., in May 2011 to open Osetra Champagne Caviar Bar on Fifth Avenue South in Naples. Capt. Marcos Seafood & More opened in the East Naples location, which was the White House Restaurant for many years.
  • Istanbul Kebab House in the Coastland Center mall closed Oct. 2, 2011, after operating for nearly two years. Moe’s Southwest Grill opened in that food court spot in December.
  • Jona Cafe closed in Tanglewood Market Place on U.S. 41 North in North Naples to make way this summer for Chrissy's, the latest offering from longtime Naples restaurateur Chrissy Bianchi-Rabil.
  • Cgrape Coffee and Wine Bar closed in the spring of 2011 in Liberty Bank Plaza, 4450 Bonita Beach Road, in Bonita Springs.
  • Buddy's Burgers, located next to Waffle House off Collier Boulevard, permanently closed after a fire on Sept. 30, 2011.
  • The local Long John Silver’s, 3015 U.S. 41 E., East Naples, closed Oct. 4 after operating for more than 30 years.
  • Taco Bell closed its longtime East Trail location at 2224 U.S. 41 E., next to El Rincon Mexican restaurant, on July 10, 2011, and opened its colorful new East Naples location July 11 about two miles away at 4201 U.S. 41 E., on the corner of Lakewood Boulevard.
  • Mother Cluckerz Chicken Kitchen (& Other Eclectic Edibles) opened and closed this year in the former home of Cilantro Tamales, 10823 U.S. 41 N., just south of Immokalee Road.
  • Fabulous Pita opened June 6, 2011, in the former location of Quiznos Subs, 6434 Naples Blvd., in the Promenade at Naples Centre in North Naples and closed five months later.
  • Add Kountry Spot to the list of eateries that both opened and closed in 2011. The Spot, which opened in March on the east side of Wilson Plaza, 50 Wilson Blvd. S. #12, in Golden Gate Estates, closed in December.
  • The former Naples location of Joey’s Pizza & Pasta House, which closed last year after operating for more than five years, was razed in 2011 to make way for a JPMorgan Chase bank branch on that outparcel off Airport-Pulling Road in Pine Ridge Crossing.
  • Nate Schaffer, a machine operator with Honch Deconstruction, uses heavy machinery to demolish Pippin's, a landmark restaurant in Naples for nearly 30 years, in July to make way for a dental offices. The restaurant closed in August 2007 and the property was purchased by Dr. Bradley J. Engle, who operates area offices specializing in periodontal and implant dentistry. Construction on Engle's new office, Engle Implant Associates, is scheduled to begin the beginning of 2012.
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A lot more Naples-area restaurants opened than closed in 2011, but here are the dining spots that didn't make it out alive.

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