Historic Cash Cow to Hit Auction Block

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 29, 2006 ) Naples, FL – Del’s 24-Hour Food Store, a Naples landmark, will go under the gavel on December 13 at 10a.m., according to Pat Vitilio of Anthony Auctioneers, the firm charged with selling the historic property.Featured in The Guinness Book of World Records as the “retail business to keep its doors open continuously without ever closing for the longest period of time,” Del’s has been open over 40 years. The store is family-owned business named for it’s owner, Del Ackerman. Even through Hurricane Charley in 2004, Del and wife, Nancy, kept the store open using generators and flood lamps.Vitilio said the Ackermans are ready to move on after operating the business for so many years. They want to retire and plan to move back to Ohio, where they lived before coming to Southwest Florida."The reason for the auction is it's a final step in their journey, so to speak," Vitilio said. "They want to sell. They want to sell it quickly. They know that auctions work."Located in East Naples and sitting on a total of 1.84 acres of prime real estate that includes land with C-5 commercial zoning, the possibilities are limitless with the regrowth and new developments in the area. The sale includes the 3,600-square-foot retail grocery store with everything in it, as well as an adjacent 4,000-square-foot warehouse and a boat storage area at the rear of the property. There's also a vacant piece of land zoned for multifamily development.The Ackermans hope their 24-hour store will live on, Vitilio said, but whether the buyer will receive the rights to the Del name has yet to be decided. "He's got a very good reputation and your reputation is everything in business," Vitilio explained. "He would hate to sell it and see the new owner create a bad reputation using his name."Situated at the intersection of Bayshore and Thomasson Drive, this corner property is an important piece in the future redevelopment project which will upgrade and upscale this centrally located community. The redevelopment will include Naples Botanical Gardens, one of the largest and the best botanical gardens in the state of Florida, new condo dwellings and shopping areas which will improve infrastructure and increase property values and service potential.The property joins with major transportation corridors, with the shopping district of upscale Fifth Avenue, with Airport Road and the Government Complex, and the Shadowlawn/Davis Gateway triangle that feed easterly to Routes 451, 75 and Alligator Alley. The property also bounds on Route 41, known as the Tamiami Trail East, heading toward Miami.The sale is expected to bring millions of dollars. The 24-hour store alone generates $2.5 million in sales annually, Vitilio said. "It's going to go," he said. "How much it's going to bring is anyone's guess." With all the pre-auction marketing, he said the business may even sell before the auction. For more information on the auction, including photos, visit anthonyauctioneers.com or call (239) 649-7653.About NaplesNaples is the crown jewel of Southwest Florida -- nestled on the sun drenched beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Naples is known for world class shopping, dining and abundant, challenging golf courses. It is also, only steps away from island seclusion or the untamed tropical wilderness of The Everglades. Boasting one of the nation's best sandboxes and calmest seas, Naples makes a splash with water lovers and recreationists. Friendly parks beckon sports enthusiasts and picnickers with lovely green spaces and recreational facilities.Published by ASMarketingCenter.com a division of http://www.auctionservices.com and the http://www.nationalauctionlist.com.Contact Information:Pat VitilioAnthony Auctioneers2375 9th Street N., Suite 200Naples, FL 34103Phone: 239-649-7653Fax: 239-649-7749Email: anthonyauctioneers@comcast.netWeb: www.AnthonyAuctioneers.com###

Anthony Auctioneers
Pat Vitilio

anthonyauctioneers@comcast.net