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About SUNSHINE®

The Bigger Stores that a Small Town Needed -

Just after the Second World War, the year-round population of Naples was far less than 1,000 residents, and even "during season", the local phone book listed fewer than 200 numbers. These limited demographics challenged the local merchants, such as Don Wynn, to generate enough business so that they could provide Neapolitans and their winter visitors with the quality of goods and variety of choices they needed and wanted.

There were two small grocery stores in town; Wynn's Bayview at Crayton Cove and the "Seminole Market" in the historic Mercantile Building that still stands on 3rd Street South. However, shopping for anything beyond bare necessities generally involved an all day trip to Fort Myers.

Subsequently, in 1948, Don Wynn opened Naples' first modern grocery store on the corner of 7th Street and 5th Avenue South (exactly where Yabba's Restaurant is located today). When Don Wynn opened that market, there were no other retail stores on 5th Avenue between Wynn's and the Gulf beach. Five years later, in 1953, Don Wynn built a second market that was double in size, just 50 feet east of the original on 5th Avenue. By 1958, he brought more urban convenience to the small, growing town by converting the original building into a full line hardware store. - That was the birth of our Sunshine Hardware, just as Don Wynn named it in 1958. Right from the outset, Sunshine Hardware was carefully developed to reflect the very best attributes of its mercantile sibling, "The Wynn Markets". Don Wynn was adamant that his new store afforded "Small Town Naples" with the "Big City" advantages, including the widest variety of top quality goods, coupled with a friendly and service-oriented staff. This continues to be the principle feature and greatest strength of all Wynn businesses today.

Soon after, Sunshine delivered its promise to meet all of the hardware needs for homeowners, contractors, and handymen - Then, in 1964, Don opened a much larger store on Tamiami Trail. Since then, Sunshine® Ace Hardware and Wynn's Market have shared the entire block that lies between 1st and 2nd Avenue North. During that move to Tamiami Trail, over 40 years ago, Sunshine joined the ACE Hardware cooperative, which meant that for the first time Naples' shoppers could enjoy the important advantages of national corporate buying power, and high-tech distribution and delivery systems. This venture provided Sunshine and its customers with every hardware product that anyone would expect to find in a New York or Chicago store; yet, Naples continued to be a "secret" small resort town. Even our most sophisticated winter visitors knew that they could find every item and all the help they needed at Sunshine® Ace Hardware.

For the past two decades, Sunshine® Ace Hardware's operations and new store development has been led by Jerry Wynn, Don's son. Recently, Michael Wynn, Don's grandson and Jerry's nephew, became the president of the company. Currently there are six hardware stores delivering friendly, helpful service and "Big City" quality, selection, and convenience to Estero, Bonita Springs, Golden Gate, Marco Island, and Naples (downtown and East Tamiami Trail).

Come see for yourself - experience the difference...