OK, while I was excited to see the new furniture store which just opened up in Naples on the northeast corner of Pine Ridge and Airport Road, I must admit I was not ready for the rush of nostalgia I felt as I walked from my car to the store.

You see, the El Dorado furniture store has moved into the old Sports Authority building which I had previously visited many, many times.  I cannot even begin to tell how man times I was rushing into and through that store in search of soccer and lacrosse cleats in the correct size because my little athlete forgot to mention that their current cleats no longer fit them, and they literally could not squeeze their feet into them.  They did fit 4 days ago, but today not even close.  Strangely, they had only been worn for about a month while my kid's feet seemed to double in size overnight.

The new 43,000-square-foot El Dorado Furniture Naples Showroom allows customers to browse the furniture and mattress selection through its innovative Boulevard concept, with themed galleries and boutiques, as seen on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Established in South Florida in 1967, El Dorado Furniture has grown to become the largest Hispanic-owned furniture retail enterprise in the United States, with 12 El Dorado Furniture showrooms and three outlet centers in Florida. (Photo: Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News)

Every visit to this building has been frantic, so it sure was nice to enter the new El Dorado store this time.  I have to admit that, as tense as I felt, there was an immediate calm as I entered the store.  I immediately smelled the relaxing aroma of good coffee, while my Husband headed straight for the 1962 mint green Chevrolet Impala station wagon (his first car was a 1966 Impala wagon....but not mint green). If you are looking to Buy a Naples Home, keep the El Dorado furniture store in mind.

The store is laid out beautifully. in little areas they call specialized boutiques, each showcasing themes to fit every type of lifestyle.  Their boutiques include "gallery", which is "new traditional", “Park Place,” which showcases traditional dark wood furniture; “Liv,” with modern pieces; and “Coastal,” is a Key West-inspired theme.

(Photo: Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News)

This new Naples store is gorgeous! I highly recommend if you you recently purchased a Naples Home, or are looking to remodel. They have many different options, quality seems very high, and the presentation is phenomenal. Check it out and let me now what you think.  Being in Naples Florida Real Estate for many years, I have seen alot of furniture stores come and go, and this store is one of the nicest I have seen. 

(Photo: Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News)

As cool as the new El Dorado store is, the story about how it cam it be is even cooler, which I will post below.

As always, if I can help you, or the ones you care about, with real estate in Naples and Southwest Florida.  You can call or text me at 239-450-1892 at any time. I am one of those rare folks that actually answers the phone if i am not with a client.

Janet Berry is a professional Realtor and Team Leader of the Berry Luxury Home Team at Premiere Plus Realty in Southwest Florida.

Read The El Dorado Furniture Story Below:

(Photo: Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News)

The El Dorado Furniture Story:

In the 1920s, Simon Capó, founded a chain of furniture stores called Casa Capó, in the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio.

Casa Capó became one of the largest furniture manufacturing and retail enterprises in Cuba by the 1950s.  

When the Castro regime rose to power, confiscating all private enterprises, including Casa Capó in 1959, Manuel Capó decided to flee to the U.S.

In 1966 Manuel Capó with two of his sons, Luis and Carlos, escaped the island on a small sailboat called "El Dorado, leaving behind his wife and other sons.

“My dad said once I get there, I will do everything I can to get the rest of the family over,” youngest son Roberto Capó said.

Within 48 hours of embarking on his voyage to the U.S., Manuel Capó reached Mexico, but he left for Miami one month later, where he then began working at a local furniture store.

Seven months later, on June 27, 1967, Manuel Capó opened the first El Dorado Furniture store in the heart of Miami. The same day, Capó’s wife and kids reunited in Miami.

On June 27, 1967, El Dorado Furniture opened its very first store in the heart of Miami. (Photo: El Dorado Furniture)

“If I would have been in the same shoes as my dad 50 years ago, I don’t know if I would have been able to do what he did or have the guts to do it,” Capó said.

Manuel Capó died in 2009, and his wife, Aida, died earlier this year.

Manuel Capó's legacy lives on through his six sons, who run the growing furniture store — each playing a different role in the business.

“I think part of the success of the business is that my dad always trusted us. He always said, 'This is your business’ even though he was the main guy. He always said, ‘This is for you, not for me,’ ” Roberto Capó said. “He was always there to guide us and make sure we didn’t do anything stupid.”