Closed for good: Collier County restaurants that shuttered their doors in 2023

Diana Biederman, Naples Daily News
·2 min read
The much beloved Regina Tenaglia closed her eponymous ice cream parlor in August.
The much beloved Regina Tenaglia closed her eponymous ice cream parlor in August.

Is restaurant ownership like a reality show elimination challenge?

When Heidi Klum helmed "Project Runway," one of her signature lines was “One day you’re in, the next day you’re out.”

Or take Padma Lakshmi’s famous line from her "Top Chef" tenure: Please pack your knives and go.

Collier County residents bid adieu to nearly 20 restaurants that closed their doors in 2023 and we haven’t even hit Dec. 31.

This is one list no restaurant owner wants to make, but here it is in alphabetical order.

  • Afsona’s Uzbek cuisine in a cute setting couldn’t cut it along Ninth Street South.

  • Bamz's new owner sunk some dinero into brightening up the Bayshore area spot. Sales were still down from a year earlier.

BAMZ closed sign on Oct. 26.
BAMZ closed sign on Oct. 26.

  • Bonefish Grill at Naples Bay Resort never reopened after Hurricane Ian.

  • Café Dell’Amore along Gulfshore Boulevard North never reopened after Hurricane Ian.

  • Café Nutrients on Ninth Street North was Chef Ming Yee’s vegan passion. Bar Nat, his new restaurant, isn’t vegan and boasts one of the town's best wine lists.

  • Cirella’s closed its Bonita space. The Naples location preceded it a year earlier.

Legal notices are posted on the entrance to the European Bakery and Cafe in Naples on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Legal notices are posted on the entrance to the European Bakery and Cafe in Naples on Friday, March 24, 2023.

  • European Bakery & Café on Ninth Street South had post-Hurricane Ian and landlord issues. The restaurant was among TripAdvisor's top 10 in town for a good chunk of its longevity.

Fish 41's last day was April 30, 2023. Stix Sushi & Seafood replaced it.
Fish 41's last day was April 30, 2023. Stix Sushi & Seafood replaced it.

  • Fish 41 in East Naples.

  • Industry Beer & BBQ’s owner Chris Jones discovered barbecue in Naples isn’t a thing and converted the Bayfront space to PizzaJones.

La bella Apulia Gourmet Italian Market & Apericena photographed July 28, 2022, at 1100 6th Ave. S. in Naples, Fla.
La bella Apulia Gourmet Italian Market & Apericena photographed July 28, 2022, at 1100 6th Ave. S. in Naples, Fla.

  • La Bella Apulia’s landlord and post-Hurricane Ian issues were difficult to overcome in its space on Sixth Avenue South.

  • Mila’s Bistro on Vanderbilt Beach Road never gained traction despite offering some of the best empanadas in town.

A “White Pizza” from The Mother Trucker Café, East Naples.
A “White Pizza” from The Mother Trucker Café, East Naples.

  • Mothertrucker Café in East Naples opened and shut in months despite being jammed since day one. A Facebook posting Oct. 20 hinted at a reopening; as of Nov. 14, all signage has been removed from the spot.

  • While technically not a restaurant, Regina's Ice Cream, one of Fifth Avenue South's sweetest spots, scooped its last cone this summer.

  • The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant on Airport-Pulling Road served its last supper to a packed house Sept. 16.

The Pearl served its last suppers Sept. 16.
The Pearl served its last suppers Sept. 16.

  • The Rs Diner on Collier Boulevard closed in late October. A popular sister eatery on East Tamiami Trail's Hitching Post Plaza remains busy as ever.

New in downtown Naples: Iconic SWFL brand buys 3 popular Fifth Avenue South restaurants

Yabba Island Grill on Fifth Avenue South in Naples.
Yabba Island Grill on Fifth Avenue South in Naples.

  • Yabba Island Grill shut following the purchase of Skip Quillen’s restaurants by Phelan Family Brands. Chops and Pazzo remain; Yabba will become Keeywaydin’s, a new concept.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What Collier County restaurants closed in 2023 and why: Here's a list