Day Editor Jeff Kleinman was born and raised in South Florida and oversees breaking news, public service and trending news coverage.
Tin City before the damage of Hurricane Ian.
jkleinman@miamiherald.com
Tin City is one of the most forgotten tourist attractions.
Sure, the 100-year-old landmark of Naples, Florida, with its deep history, stunning waterfront views, and plenty of beer and fish sandwiches, will make you happy. But with the tranquil Gulf of Mexico and classy His Fifth Avenue nearby, Tin City can be an afterthought.
Yet the parking lot of Tin City’s collection of shops and restaurants, which once served as the waterfront, always seemed to be filled with shoppers and diners.
But not now.
Tin City was hit first by Hurricane Ian, and a muddy flood washed into the business, ruining inventory.
Just as storm cleanups were taking place, an out-of-control vehicle crashed through the winery and emerged from the other side, according to NBC2 in Naples, smashing the complex again with a violent crash into the building.
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Crashes aside, the Bay of Naples complex remains closed as renovations continue after the hurricane made landfall north on September 28.
In the early 1920s, the tin-roofed building housed water trade, including shelling clams, building ships, and processing oysters. In the 1970s, the complex was converted to tourist commerce, filling the space with gift shops, galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and boat tours from the dock.
Despite this year’s setbacks, the place is optimistic about returning.
“Tin City Napoli is on the road to recovery,” the attraction posted on its website on November 18, before the blazing car crash on November 25.
“Business owners are renovating stores, new floors, walls, merchandise, and more. We still have a long way to go, so stay tuned for opening day. Rest assured, we will make Tin City great again!”
This story was originally published December 2, 2022 at 2:10 PM.
