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Two years after Marriott International revealed StudioRes concept, this milestone marks the midscale extended stay brand’s official debut, with over 40 more anticipated to open by the end of 2027.

Marriott International, Inc. announced the landmark opening of StudioRes Fort Myers, the first-ever StudioRes hotel and the company’s debut in the midscale extended stay segment. The all-studios hotel is now accepting reservations for stays, almost two years to the day since Marriott unveiled the concept. A newly created brand within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, StudioRes was thoughtfully designed to cater to a wide variety of travelers, including those on long-term work trips and assignments, construction projects, relocations, and more.

StudioRes marks Marriott’s strategic entry into the dynamic midscale extended stay market, and Marriott anticipates strong growth for StudioRes in the coming years, with over 40 properties across the U.S. and Canada anticipated to open by the end of 2027. With a pioneering, fast-to-market construction prototype, StudioRes offers owners and developers a compelling turnkey opportunity with a bundled fee model, and is expected to become Marriott’s most affordable cost-per-key product to develop and build.

“Since unveiling StudioRes only two years ago, we have been thrilled by the reception among owners and franchisees, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with Concord Hospitality and Whitman Peterson,” said Marriott International Chief Financial Officer and EVP, Development Leeny Oberg. “We designed StudioRes to provide terrific value for customers with an innovative room design and highly efficient operating model for long-term stays. The fast adoption of the brand also demonstrates the power of the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem and the importance of our strong developer relationships, while underscoring our continued commitment to providing lodging options for every traveler, price point and trip purpose.”

Consistent with the brand’s approach to long-term stays with modern comfort, StudioRes Fort Myers offers a smart extended stay experience for independent travelers seeking comfort, routine, and flexibility. This 124-key property offers studio-style rooms complete with one or two beds, a lounging area, and a kitchen with a stovetop, microwave, and full-sized refrigerator. Guests can also enjoy communal spaces, outdoor patios, and fitness centers. Convenient food and beverage vending, fast Wi-Fi, streaming access, and casual workspaces also allow guests to stay connected throughout their stay.

A short drive to the Southwest Florida International Airport and the area’s top attractions, StudioRes Fort Myers invites hotel guests to enjoy Fort Myers and the historic surrounding areas, including Sanibel and Captiva Island, nature and wildlife at Manatee Park, Lakes Park and The Caloosahatchee River, as well as nearby dining, shopping and family activities. Available for booking, nightly rates at StudioRes Fort Myers are expected to be around $100 per night.

Marriott celebrates this opening with developer Concord Hospitality and their long-time partner Whitman Peterson. Concord currently operates nearly 80 properties within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio and expects to develop 40+ StudioRes properties, spanning several dozen submarkets in major U.S. cities.

“Concord Hospitality’s longstanding relationship with Marriott has been defined by strategic alignment, mutual trust and a shared commitment to quality,” said Mark Laport, CEO & President of Concord Hospitality. “Our role in supporting the shaping of Marriott’s next-generation hotel prototypes speaks to the strength of that relationship. The grand opening of the first-ever StudioRes property is a significant milestone—not only for Marriott, but for Concord as we continue to lead in developing high-performing, scalable hospitality assets that meet the evolving needs of today’s extended-stay traveler and deliver long-term value for our investment partners.”

“We are proud to have collaborated with Marriott in the development of its newest brand and in bringing the very first StudioRes to life,” said Paul Novak, Partner at Whitman Peterson. “The opening of StudioRes Fort Myers marks my fourth inaugural Marriott brand opening – following Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, and the first U.S. Aloft Hotel—and it’s a privilege to continue that legacy. Whitman Peterson is very confident in StudioRes’ high-growth potential, with several others in our pipeline.”

StudioRes properties will participate in Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program – allowing members to earn and redeem points for their stay across Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of brands.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called them “sexual festivals.” And, yes, sometimes fringe festivals can get R-rated.

But there’s so much more to fringe fests than that, says Neil Volz of Fort Myers’ Alliance for the Arts. And most fringe performances aren’t any more adult than what you’d see in a comedy club or hear on a podcast.

“This is the place where you’re going to see amazing performances, incredible creativity and interaction with the audience,” says Volz, the Alliance’s new executive director. “And people are going to walk out really inspired and really excited.”

That’s why — a year after DeSantis blamed Florida fringe festivals for his decision to slash $32 million in state arts-and-culture grants — the Alliance decided to bring back Fringe Fort Myers for its third year.

There was some debate over whether the Alliance should bring it back or not, Volz says. But ultimately, they decided Fringe Fort Myers was too important — and too cool — to end.

“We understand the consequences of politics and decisions by elected officials,” Volz says. “And we respect that. But also, at the exact same time, you can also push back and say, ‘Hey, there’s some values here that we think most of us agree with and we should uphold here in Southwest Florida. Because it creates a better, more vibrant community and a more prosperous community for everybody.”

The festival returns May 29-June 1 with nine performers and theatrical acts taking the stage at the Alliance and nearby Off Broadway Palm Theatre.

Naples actor Frank Blocker says he looks forward to his third year at Fringe Fort Myers. He’ll co-star in a collection of five 10-minute comedic plays collected in a show called “5x10: Power Plays.”

Blocker performs at fringe festivals across the country. And while performers occasionally push the boundaries with in-your-face sexuality, he says, most don’t do that.

“When I was in Fringe (Fort Myers) the year before, I didn’t see anything like that,” Blocker says. “The burlesque show was as saucy as it gets, and they were wonderful. They were burlesque, so they always go to the edge. But they were great.”

What are fringe festivals?

Fringe festivals are a worldwide phenomenon inspired by the long-running Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland (also known simply as The Fringe).

That sprawling, three-week performing-arts festival draws theater troupes, comedians, dancers and other performers from all over the word for more than 59,000 performances of original work in more than 300 venues.

Fringe festivals are best-known for their experimental, underground and cutting-edge performers. But just about anything goes, including theater, dance, puppetry, music and storytelling.

That’s why they’re so much fun, Blocker says. There really aren’t any rules.

“This is America, and here’s the stage and you’re free to do what you want to do,” Blocker says. “Anything or everything can be in there.”

Still, it’s rare to see anything as sexual as what DeSantis described, he says. “The artists tend to self-regulate. So if something isn’t working or pushes too far, they don’t want to do it.”

It’s all about variety. As per fringe tradition, Fringe Fort Myers allowed anyone to apply to perform — no matter how unusual or unorthodox. All nine acts were randomly chosen by pulling their names out of three one-gallon paint cans (one paint can for each category of local, state and national acts).

That means the quality can vary greatly, Blocker says. But it also means you might see something wonderful or something you’ve never seen before.

And that’s why Blocker offers this advice to first-time fringe attendees: Don’t see one show. See at least three.

“One of them is going to disappoint you, just ‘causes it’s not your thing…” he says. “There’s gonna be a mix of quality, of course. But it’s just your taste. You get such a broad spectrum, there’s going to be something you like and something you don’t. …

“You will see new things. You will see emerging talent. … It’s a good time.”

DeSantis blamed fringe festivals for 2024's Florida arts cuts

This will be the first Fringe Fort Myers since DeSantis unexpectedly slashed all $32 million in state arts-and-culture grants last year. In all, 577 arts programs and 33 facilities across Florida lost their anticipated grants. That included more than two dozen in Southwest Florida.

Later, after a state-wide backlash from arts organizations and supporters, the governor blamed the move on fringe festivals.

“We didn’t have control over how it was being given,” DeSantis said at a July 2024 news conference. “So you’re having your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the fringe festival, which is a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff. How many of you think your tax dollars should go to fund that? Not many people would do that.”

There were only three fringe festivals in the state last year. And only one — Fringe Fort Myers — in Southwest Florida.

Volz says it wasn’t fair of DeSantis to characterize fringe festivals as “sexual festivals.” Sure, some performers might push the edge, he says, but DeSantis didn’t seem to understand the full breadth of what happens at fringe festivals: Comedians, actors, magicians and more bringing a huge variety of entertainment options to each festival.

“There’s an overreach here,” Volz says. “And I think you could see it in the response. … This is like shutting down JetBlue and Hammond Stadium because you’re upset with something someone said on the bench.”

Volz says he respects the political process, though, and that’s why no tax dollars are used for the annual event. The money comes straight from the Alliance’s budget.

“There’s shared values that are at play here that we want to continue to celebrate with this community — things like freedom of expression, things like creativity, having a place where can be themselves,” he says. “Those are shared values that we want to continue.”

In response to DeSantis, however, the Alliance has made one big change this year: They’ve instituted a movie-like rating system for this year’s performers. Each show is clearly marked by appropriate age group: All Ages, 18 and older, 16 and older or 13 and older.

They likely won’t be checking IDs, though, he says. They’ll leave that decision up to parents.

Volz says he hopes people come out to see all that Fringe Fort Myers has to offer. It’s a fun, invigorating event, he says.

“This is experimental theater,” he says. “This is real, free expression. There’s something really cool that goes on in these creative spaces.”

This will also be the first Fringe Fort Myers since founder Bill Taylor left the Alliance in January. Taylor put together this year's slate of performers before his departure.

“We’re building on his impressive legacy,” Volz says, “and grateful for all the passion and love and effort that he poured in to get us to this place.”

Tickets for Fringe Fort Myers

Tickets for Fringe Fort Myers are $15 per show (or $12 for Alliance members). You can also buy an all-access festival pass for $120, including any show on any day.

In keeping with fringe-festival tradition, most of the ticket sales will go directly to the artists, Volz says.

There’s also a 5 p.m. “Flamingle with the Artists” reception on Thursday, May 29, followed by a 6:30 p.m. preview show. At the preview show, all nine acts get three minutes to “sell” their shows to the audience. Tickets are $5.

Blocker offers this advice to first timers: “Do NOT miss the preview show.” That preview show gives you a good idea about which shows you’ll want to see.

Performers at 2025's Fringe Fort Myers

Many of this year's performers are fringe veterans. Each act will perform three times over the course of the four-day festival.

Here’s a look at all nine shows you’ll see this year at Fringe Fort Myers and their official descriptions:

FOULDS THEATRE AT THE ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS

OFF BROADWAY PALM THEATER

More information about Fringe Fort Myers and the venues

The Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. The Off Broadway Palm is just east of the Alliance inside the dinner theater Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd.

To get tickets or learn more about Fringe Fort Myers, call 939-2787 or visit artinlee.org/fringe.

Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells).

With long days of golden sunshine, pristine beaches, and outdoor activities for every nature lover, Florida’s Gulf Coast gem Fort Myers is a destination to relax, recharge and reconnect on a family holiday this summer. Here are just five reasons we love this jewel of the sunshine state for summer fun:

It’s home to six Florida state parks

Fort Myers is a haven for nature lovers thanks to its six state parks, from the secluded secret beaches of Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach to the hiking trails of Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Estero. Head to Cayo Costa State Park, Cayo Costa, a former fishing ground of the Native American Calusa population only accessible by boat or kayak, to discover miles of undeveloped, pristine shoreline for swimming, snorkelling, shelling, fishing and birdwatching.

It serves up unrivalled Gulf Coast seafood

It’s impossible to visit Fort Myers and not indulge in the catch of the day. Don’t miss local favourite grouper, blackened or in a crisp fish taco, the sweet and succulent gulf shrimp, a whole roasted red snapper, the tropical delicacy conch or the unmissable Florida spiny lobster. Pinchers Crab Shack is the number one spot for fresh seafood on the waterfront, and of course their iconic Key Lime Pie for dessert.

It’s the seashell capital of the USA

Sanibel Island’s beaches are strewn with seashells, thanks to the warm Gulf waters depositing them daily. Pick up a shell bag from your hotel and while away the hours shelling on the beach, the most mindful of holiday activities. The island’s Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is the only one of its kind in the USA, featuring interactive exhibits on molluscs and their importance to the local ecosystem. Don’t forget to say hello to the newest member of the museum team, a giant Pacific octopus.

You can get up close to manatees

Spotting these gentle giants in the wild is nothing short of magical. At Fort Myers’ Manatee Park visitors can view the endangered Florida Manatee in a non-captive, natural environment. Or hire a kayak from Port Sanibel Marina and head to Punta Rassa Cove for smooth paddling trails through lagoons, bays and mangrove forests.

It still has a taste of ‘Old Florida’

From the quaint historic resort Gasparilla Inn to the secluded island getaway of Cabbage Key, home to an open air dining room with views of the marina and an inn that’s been serving up drinks to boaters for over 60 years, Florida’s history and charm shine through. The main room is nestled among live cuban laurels dripping with moss, while visitors over the years have taped thousands of one-dollar bills to every surface.

Getting There

Fort Myers is a convenient fly-drive destination. British Airways offers an average of five weekly flights from London Gatwick to Tampa, while Virgin Atlantic operates four weekly flights from London Heathrow. Return fares start from £390, depending on the season.

From Tampa Airport, Fort Myers is just a two-hour drive. Travellers can pre-book car hire from providers like Alamo (starting at £44 per day) or Avis Budget Group (from £36 per day). Alternatively, taxi and shuttle services are readily available for a seamless journey to Fort Myers.

Where to Stay

Fort Myers offers various accommodations, from rental properties to hotels, catering to solo travellers, couples, and families.

Ideal for large groups for a long stay – Florida First Class Villas Prices start at £63 per night for a two-bedroom property or £821 for a 4-bedroom villa that sleeps up to 8)

Perfect for solo travellers and couples in Downtown Fort Myers – Luminary Hotel Prices start at £199 per night for a King Room)

Something for families with young children located on Fort Myers Beach – Pink Shell Resorts Prices start at £554 for a Two-bedroom villa for 2 adults and 2 children)

After months of bankruptcy and store closings, Big Lots is surging back with 78 more locations set to open their doors again on June 5. Seven of them will be in Florida.

Big Lots filed for bankruptcy and closed hundreds of stores in 2024 and was acquired by Gordon Brothers Retail Partners. Variety Wholesalers, Inc. acquired 219 Big Lots stores, as well as two distribution centers, as part of the deal.

However, the success of the reopenings has Variety Wholesalers thinking about acquiring more, the company said in a release.

Most of the 219 locations were opened back up in multiple waves in April and May. With the fourth and final phase on June 5, all of them will be open again, the company said.

“The connection with the communities we serve, and the positive customer feedback has been more than we could have imagined,” said Lisa Seigies, President and CEO of Variety Wholesalers. “This enthusiastic response reinforces our belief that taking Big Lots! back to the roots of what made it a huge success resonates with our customers. Providing great value will always be our core mission.”

A grand opening celebration across all 219 locations is planned for the fall "to welcome local communities back and to thank them for their unwavering support," Variety Wholesalers said in a release.

Here's where the Big Lots are reopening in Florida.

What Florida Big Lots locations are opening June 5?

These locations are schedule to reopen Thursday, June 6 as part of the fourth and final phase of reopenings.

More locations are set to open in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Here's the full list:

What Big Lots stores are open in Florida now?

In May, Variety Wholesalers brought these Florida locations back:

What company bought out Big Lots? Did Ollie's buy any Florida Big Lots?

Variety Wholesalers wasn't the only company to snap up some Big Lots stores. In March, the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based bargain outlet store Ollie's announced it was acquiring 40 Big Lots locations across the country.

Bill Read, executive vice president of the commercial real estate firm Retail Specialists, posted the list to LinkedIn. It includes three locations in Florida:

Why did Big Lots declare bankruptcy?

At the start of 2024, there were 1,392 stores, down slightly from 1,425 in the first quarter of 2023, with 106 in Florida. But according to the financial disclosure, sales dropped 10.2% between the first quarters of 2023 and 2024, equating to a loss of about $114.5 million.

“In 2024, the U.S. economy has continued to face macroeconomic challenges including elevated inflation, which has adversely impacted the buying power of our customers,” the filing from Big Lots said.

The company also said it had "substantial doubt" about its ability to continue operations, leading to speculation of a potential bankruptcy filing.

This came during a year when Walgreens closed locations, Walmart closed all 51 of its health centers, restaurant chains like Red Lobster, Tijuana Flats, TGI Fridays and Hooters announced closings and retail outlets such as rue21. Express, Best Buy, Macy's, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar all announced bankruptcies or location reductions.

IKEA, the Swedish furniture store chain with five retail locations in Florida, has no plans to announce a new store in the Fort Myers area, according to its media relations team.

John Talmage, economic development director for Lee County, said he has not had any discussions with IKEA, and Lee County Director of Communications Betsy Clayton said there were no permit applications or any email communications between the county and the furniture store.

Real estate experts across Southwest Florida said they were excited but also perplexed by recent reports from other news outlets and social media proclaiming IKEA was coming to Fort Myers, because none of them had heard anything about it.

If IKEA is working behind the scenes to plan a new store, no one would disclose it.

“I really have no idea,” said Justin Thibaut, CEO of LSI Companies. “I’m not working with them.”

“No,” said Chase Mayhugh, a broker with Mayhugh Commercial Advisors, when asked if he was working with IKEA on acquiring land.

“We can’t support a 300,000-square-foot store, but we certainly can support a small-to-midsized location,” said Jerry Messonnier, a broker with Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers.

IKEA stores typically comprise 300,000 square feet and require about 12 acres of land on which to build. They look like industrial real estate on the outside, but they’re more like Disney World for furniture and home goods shoppers on the inside: experiential retail on a grand scale.

Jim Shiebler, a senior vice president with CBRE, could not speak specifically about IKEA, but he said major retailers such as IKEA only plant their flag for multiple millions of customers.

“Generally speaking, every retailer has their sweet spot for metrics,” Shiebler said. “You don’t want to have a lower-end business or offering or service in a very wealthy trade area. And the opposite is true. You don’t want to have a wealthy business in a low-income area. You’re talking huge density levels and solid income levels followed by solid migration patterns. You need an ample population stream.”

A large chain seeks 15,000 residents within a mile, 50,000 residents within 3 miles and 150,000 within 5 miles, Shiebler said. Southwest Florida’s sprawling population does not have such a density.

“Traffic count is another,” Shiebler said. “You’re going to want numerous access points. In addition to having at least 50,000 traffic count at the minimum.”

Southwest Florida has a population of about 1.2 million, a fraction of the five cities in which IKEA has locations:

Tampa’s area eclipses 3 million people.

Sunrise in Broward County with a population of almost 2 million.

Miami-Dade County with about 3 million people.

Orlando has about 2.1 million people, and Jacksonville has about 1.3 million people.

“I would be shocked to see IKEA in Southwest Florida with a store format inside at least the next five to 10 years, probably longer,” said Matt Simmons, a property appraiser with Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons. “But that’s not to say they couldn’t appear in Southwest Florida in some other type of format.”

This year, IKEA has opened a Plan and Order point in Scottsdale, Arizona, and three others in California, plus a separate pick-up location in Santa Monica — but nothing in Florida.

IKEA Plan and Order points are located near large population bases for customers to plan big projects, such as kitchen, bathroom and closet remodeling with expert help and without the distraction of endless aisles of furniture.

IKEA does have a Southwest Florida pickup facility in cooperation with RXO at 7916 Drew Circle, off Alico Road in south Fort Myers, but this is not a retail location.

The full statement received this week by Gulfshore Business from IKEA US Press said: “At IKEA, we are always looking at new opportunities for expansion and growth. As we continue to transform our business, we are considering new ways to meet our customers’ needs across the U.S. However, IKEA has not announced any plans for a new location in Fort Myers.”

Gary Tasman, CEO of Cushman & Wakefield in Southwest Florida, said he thinks the region could support an IKEA store.

“And I’ll tell you why,” Tasman said. “If you think of the number of rooftops we have today, it’s lower than what they would like to see. But there’s two redeeming factors that would offset that. It’s the number of seasonal residents we have, and the No. 2, the rate of growth that we’re experiencing.

“Our demographics are generally getting younger. If you’re making a 20-year commitment to something, all the 60 year olds are going to be 80, and all the 14 year olds are going to be 34. If you look at the population growth, I don’t think it’s so far out.”

Simmons, however, noted the big differences between the big-box stores Southwest Florida has — Costco, Sam’s Club, B.J.’s Wholesale Club, etc. — and the one it does not have in IKEA.

All the other stores devote considerable space to selling food, which creates a constant churn of customers.

IKEA sells its share of Swedish meatballs, but it’s forte is furniture, which isn’t a product most people buy on a weekly or even monthly basis.

“That’s why they need really dense population centers,” Simmons said. “The experience of IKEA, it’s in like an industrial format with the building, but it’s a retail experience. They need a ton of shoppers available to fill that space as they go through, and purchasing furniture is an infrequent enough of an activity for most people, there’s just not enough consumers to meet the demand.”

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