Chabad Jewish Center of Naples buys First Christian buildings

BUYER: Chabad Jewish Center of Naples Inc. (principals: Rabbi Fishel and Ettie Zaklos and Eric Stein), Naples

SELLER: First Christian Church of Naples (Disciples of Christ) Inc.

PROPERTY: 1789 Mandarin Road, Naples

PRICE: $1.82 million

LAW FIRM ON DEED: Coleman Yovanovich & Koester PA, Naples

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: The Chabad Jewish Center of Naples Inc. purchased the First Christian Church of Naples' church and day care buildings for $1.82 million.

The price equated to $83 per square foot

The buildings, which total 22,000 square feet, occupy a 1.62-acre parcel fronting U.S. 41.

Jonathan Kepple of Royal Palm Realty of Naples represented the seller.

Kepple says the First Christian Church of Naples wanted to move to a north Naples location and decided to sell its existing facility first.

The Jewish center currently leases a total of 6,000 square feet in three separate buildings.

“Along with our space not accommodating our current needs, we are planning to open a preschool in September,” says Rabbi Fishel Zaklos. “We are planning to have our first real program there for the Passover holiday on April 19.”

The Chabad Jewish Center of Naples is currently renovating the pre-school building, adding a new playground, installing a dais in the center of the sanctuary and upgrading the social hall. It also plans eventually to improve the property's landscaping. Zaklos' wife, Ettie Zaklos, will run the school, called the Preschool of the Arts.

The Chabad Jewish Center mortgaged the Mandarin Road property to the former owner First Christian Church of Naples for $730,000.