Cape Harbour stands out

By JL Watson • jlwatson@news-press.com
May 17, 2010

Many shopping centers throughout Cape Coral lie at least partially dormant, waiting for tenants.

But Cape Harbour remains an anomaly. The shops have a 100 percent occupancy rate, and the only vacant spots are two small office spaces upstairs from the main shopping area.

"We've had no turnover since last year," said Laura Straus, the managing broker for Realmark Realty Group.

Straus said that success is because merchants have gone out of their way to adjust their business models by focusing on daily events and making Cape Harbour a fun place to be.

"Our merchants really get behind the events here," she said. "And a lot of merchants have their own events."

When the shops first opened, some merchants didn't open their doors during the first part of the week, when customer traffic tends to be slower. Now, most are open seven days. They stay open later for special events, including the annual Fourth of July celebration and the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in the harbor.

There are also daily events such as art openings, boat tours, live music and theme nights.

Realmark and its owner, Will Stout, developed Cape Harbour as a mixed-use development that features condominiums, single-family homes, restaurants, retail businesses and public access to area waterways.

The shops at Cape Harbour opened in November 2006, before the development was complete. Since its first phase was completed the area has expanded to include a covered event area, a boathouse and a storage facility for the Cape Coral Rowing Club. The 34 retail spaces range from about 100 square feet to spaces larger than 500 square feet.

Shirley Hales, one of a cooperative of artist/owners of Harbourview Gallery, said Realmark works with tenants to increase the chances for success.
"Realmark is probably the best landlord I could think of having," Hales said. "They're not just out to make a buck."

Hales said she doesn't worry about a similar area opening in the future."I wish we had a dozen places like Cape Harbour," she said. "Because the more successful areas we have, the more we can attract new business to Cape Coral."

Captain JR Trepper, owner of Banana Bay Tour Co., takes people on daily tours of local waterways. He's been a fixture at Cape Harbour for the past three seasons. He opened his tour company in August 2007.

"For what I do, it's fantastic," Trepper said of the location. "We jump in the boat and within 10 minutes we're out to where we see manatees and birds."

Trepper said that he has been able to capitalize on customers who come to Cape Harbour looking for good restaurants. "I benefit from them because they all have good food and they give people good service," Trepper said.

Unlike many businesses in other parts of the city, Trepper said he doesn't notice a drastic reduction in customers when tourist season ends in April.

"This is a phenomenal fit for me," he said.