The Lutgert Companies today announced the grand opening of Pandora at The Mercato in Naples, Florida. The fashion jewelry store is among the latest of several new restaurants, national retailers and specialty stores to open in the premier lifestyle center located at the intersection of U.S. 41 North and Vanderbilt Beach Road.

Pandora is a locally owned franchise retailer offering a wide variety of jewelry, interchangeable designer charms, fashion accessories and more. Customers have the opportunity to create custom Pandora necklaces and bracelets with complimentary shipping. The Pandora store at The Mercato occupies approximately 1,000 square feet.

Pandora is located at 9123 Strada Place, Suite 7101. The store is open daily. The telephone number is 239-431-5520 or customers may visit www.pandoramercato.com.

“We are pleased to announce the grand opening of Pandora at The Mercato,” said Dougall McCorkle, Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate for The Lutgert Companies. “This fashion jewelry retailer fits well with our mission of bringing together the most exciting national and specialty retailers along with an exceptional collection of well-known restaurants, thereby creating a totally energized main street environment.”

Located on 53 acres at the intersection of U.S. 41 North and Vanderbilt Beach Road, The Mercato is a premier lifestyle community that will offer the finest in condominium living together with the best in shopping dining and entertainment all in one location. The project is a joint venture of The Lutgert Companies and the Barron Collier Companies.

When completed, The Mercato will provide nearly 330,000 square feet of main street-style retail and restaurants, 140,000 square feet of Class A office space and 175 luxury residential units. Convenient deck parking will interconnect to the various buildings.

The Strada, the first Mercato residential community, will be comprised of 92 luxury condominium residences located on the second through fifth floors of two architecturally distinct buildings that overlook the main boulevard. Ranging from just under 1,000 to 2,400 square feet and one to three bedrooms, a total of 10 floor plans are available. Home prices for The Strada at Mercato currently range from the $400s to more than $1 million.

Among the major tenants at The Mercato is Whole Foods Market, the world’s largest natural and organic grocery store, which anchors one end of Main Street. National and specialty retailers include Books-A-Million, Coldwater Creek, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Sur La Table, Signatures, Z Gallerie, Swim ‘n Sport and Gigi’s Children’s Boutique. Soon to open include Bobby Chan, Byte Shop Style, Mercato Jewelers and Spectacles.

Among the restaurants open at The Mercato are Piola, The Capital Grille, McCormick & Schmick’s, AZN and The Pub. Work is proceeding on sites for two additional restaurants – Bravo! Italiana Cucina and the Stage Deli – for their first locations in the Naples area.

Professional office tenants include the financial management and investment advisory firm of Merrill Lynch and the local law firms of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur; Salvatori, Wood, Buckel & Weidenmiller; and Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy & Ford.

Complementing this stylish urban lifestyle will be an 11-screen, 1,300-seat movie theater by Cines Unidos to open this summer. Seats in each auditorium will be numbered so customers can purchase their seat of choice in advance through the box office or online. The theater also will offer fresh food and beverage service through an interior restaurant.

The Mercato also will offer the latest in nightlife entertainment with high energy tenants such as Blue Martini, Florida’s premier martini lounge, which will occupy a ground floor space adjacent to McCormick & Schmick’s. Construction is currently proceeding on the Blue Martini location with an anticipated grand opening of late summer or fall of 2009.

For leasing information, contact Dougall McCorkle, Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate for Mercato, at 239-261-6100 or e-mail Dougall@Lutgert.com.