Bonita Springs downtown thrives with Sugar Shack owner's new venture

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.—Old 41 in Bonita Springs continues to transform, with new restaurants, construction projects, and more development shaping the area’s downtown corridor. One of the most popular spots, SugarShack, is expanding with a brand-new concept called HoneyHole Downtown, signaling that growth along Old 41 isn’t slowing down.

City leaders say the resurgence along Old 41 has been intentional. Years ago, the city invested in road improvements and infrastructure to attract redevelopment after the corridor had been bypassed, according to Mayor Mike Gibson.

“It’s finally filling in. Years ago, we put a lot of money into redoing the street for exactly this purpose — to get redevelopment to come in,” Gibson said.

“We’re always looking to keep everything balanced, something for the adults and something for the kids.”

For Kyle Moran, owner of SugarShack, HoneyHole Downtown is about creating a new hub for culture, community, and family-friendly entertainment.

“We want to build great experiences — great music, great food, great community, all woven into one,” Moran said.

“We’re in the middle of Southwest Florida, and we think the core of Southwest Florida deserves to be a really great destination for culture and community.”

HoneyHole Downtown will be a live-music-driven restaurant, offering a dynamic atmosphere for locals and visitors alike. Moran is also building Telephone North and South, full-scale restaurants with beautiful indoor and outdoor dining, and he says HoneyHole will build on that same high-quality experience.

Longtime residents say the transformation is noticeable. Theresa, who has lived in Bonita her whole life, says the area now offers spaces for fun and gathering that didn’t exist before.

“There was no place to hang out, have fun. Now there are all kinds of places, Chartreuse, SugarShack, it’s awesome. I love it,” she said.

Some neighbors acknowledge that more development brings more cars, but many say it’s manageable. John, a nearby resident, sees both sides of the change:

“(traffic) may add to it, but I don’t think it can get any worse than it is.”

He adds that the new restaurants are giving downtown Bonita a lively feel without ruining the neighborhood vibe.

HoneyHole Downtown is expected to open in early 2027, adding to the growing dining and entertainment options along Old 41 and reinforcing the city’s goal of balanced growth that brings jobs, entertainment, and community to downtown Bonita Springs.