“I feel like I’m stepping out of my comfort zone in a lot of levels here because it’s such a culinary experience that’s like above what we were doing,” Oakes said. The new store will be sort of like a farm market meets a food court meets a supermarket meets an entertainment venue with its sheer size and synergy creating a destination that cannot be simply defined nor easily compared to any other here or elsewhere. The attention to detail and variety of finishes and store sections are remarkable – even surpassing Oakes’ imaginative expectations. Seed to Table market far surpasses what Oakes has developed at his other Naples locations – Oakes Farms Market, Food & Thought and Thoughtful Threads – but it borrows and builds upon elements of each. “We feel pretty firmly that it will be Dec. Oakes Farms Seed to Table market is opening soon on the northeast corner of Livington and Immokalee roads in North Naples. It’s also way past when Oakes wanted to open the store – years ago – but his highly anticipated creation is finally almost ready to be revealed. Oakes dodged a question about the final cost of his new store, saying only that it is “way over budget.” It’s been five years since Oakes purchased the former Albertsons supermarket and its 8-acre property at 4835 Immokalee Road for $5 million.
“The original design of this store, believe it or not, from the time I sketched it out on paper five years ago is almost identical to the actual flow,” Oakes said. He’s at home sharing meticulous details about the massive project he has spent many years planning, designing and building while tweaking it at every stage along the way. It is undoubtedly a reference point in Naples for its uniqueness and is definitely a place someone should go at least once if they live in the area.Alfie Oakes of Oakes Farms stands on the mezzanine overlooking his Seed to Table market under construction in late October in North Naples.Īs Oakes Farms founder Alfie Oakes gives a personal tour of his new Seed to Table market under construction in North Naples, he could be a mayor matter-of-factly pointing out his small town’s amenities, warmly greeting friendly employees along the way.
Politics aside, Seed to Table is a great place not only to buy healthy, fresh and natural food, but also to eat and hang out. “I don’t care about the political involvement the owner has I simply love that place,” Matthew Seward, a citizen of Naples and customer of the store, said. He has appeared multiple times in the press for his opinions about COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. He was elected to represent Collier County as a state committeeman for the Republican Party of Florida in 2020. The owner of the store, Alfie Oakes, is known for his strong opinions and being politically active. “It’s a lovely place, maybe not for you young people, but for us, more mature ones, it’s the place we want to hang out in, at least if you don’t mind politics,” Samantha Williams, a recurrent customer that l ikes the music performances, said. Alongside such a variety of food departments, customers can also enjoy live music while they shop. In the store, customers can find fresh organic products, a butcher shop, a fish market, a wine section, a bakery, restaurants, a cafe, a sushi bar, ready-made meals and a playground for kids. “They have almost everything I need and my family needs,” Corina Rodriguez, Naples resident, said. Seed to Table offers customers an experience apart from just buying groceries, and the place has earned a name in the city for it. Instead of a store, some may even see it as a whole mall itself. Located on 4835 Immokalee Rd, Seed to Table is a grocery store that many locals visit for its unique services that are not found anywhere else.