New restaurants ready to open in Gulf Coast Center
BY JEFF CULL jcull@florida-weekly.com

Blu Sushi, a critically acclaimed favorite in Southwest Florida, is set to open this month at the Gulf Coast Town Center in Estero.

The new Gulf Coast Town Center near Florida Gulf Coast University is still adding shops, restaurants and amenities.

But the restaurants seem to be the biggest hit with shoppers.

"Our restaurants continue to do very well," said Ashleigh Henry, the mall's marketing director. "We continue to attract the locals."

Even in this pre-tourist season, many of the restaurants are filling up early with hungry clients. Waiting lists are becoming the norm at favorites such as P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Miller's Ale House. Both opened just this summer.

Joining other eateries such as the Islamorada Fish Co. in Bass Pro Shops and Hurricane Grill and Wings will be a variety of new and old faces:

•Blu Sushi, a critically acclaimed favorite in Southwest Florida, is set to open this month. Its American version of sushi fuses the refined art of fresh seafood creation with outrageous cocktails

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Bar Louie, a hip neighborhood restaurant and bar specializing in oversized sandwiches and jumbo martinis, will open Dec. 1 in the Gulf Coast Town Center.

in a hip, fun and sophisticated atmosphere, creating an incomparable experience.

•Bar Louie, a hip neighborhood restaurant and bar, will open Dec. 1. It specializing in oversized sandwiches and jumbo martinis as well as appetizers, pastas and entrees and a wide assortment of interesting beers, microbrews and wines by the glass or bottle.

•Calistoga Bakery Café, just opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the upscale restaurant has a quick, casual feel. Calistoga showcases a visible, working bakery, with artisan baker's handcrafting every loaf of bread and pastry in each store every day.

•Moe's Southwest Grill, just opening its newest. It's the second Moe's to open in Fort Myers (The first one's at Daniels Parkway and US 41). With over 360 locations across the country, Moe's serves fresh ingredients prepared right before the customer.

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Red Robin, opened recently at the Gulf Coast Town Center. Gourmet burgers are the feature of this chain restaurant with more than 250 locations in the U.S.

•The Cigar Bar, opened last month. A downtown Fort Myers' fixture, this is The Cigar Bar's second location featuring classic smokes and an extensive martini menu.

•Red Robin, opened recently. Gourmet burgers are the feature of this chain restaurant with more than 250 locations in the U.S.

Future openings include the Courtyard by Marriot (Nov. 15). the Fire Pit restaurant, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse are expected in January.

When the first phase of the project is completed this winter it will house about 1.2 million square feet of retail space - or just a bit bigger than the Edison Mall. It jumps to 1.6 million square feet when completed in 2008.