After nearly 30 years in Naples, Aurelio’s last day at Coastland Center is Sept. 15.
What happened?
President and CEO Joe Aurelio, whose dad Joe was just 26 in 1959 when he opened the first Aurelio’s on Ridge Road in Homewood, Illinois, said that the landlord found a undisclosed steakhouse tenant who wanted more space and was also taking the adjoining 5,000-square-foot space.
Aurelio took over the company after his father died in 2001.
On July 31, this reporter received an email from Rodizio Grill, a Brazilian steakhouse chain, announcing its opening at Coastland Center ― a Brookfield Properties mall ― “going into a space in between Cheesecake Factory and CMX CinéBistro.”
When asked if it was a freestanding space like the new Bahama Breeze and Twin Peaks, I was told it was not a new build via email.
According to Aurelio, the landlord offered to move the restaurant ― one of the chain’s top performers ― to another location within the mall, but franchisees Ross Barnard, Linda Barnard, and Andrew Barnard would have to cover the moving costs.