ABOUT CRAIG ✦ NAPLES, FLORIDA

THE TIN MAN.

A story of old Naples, a hurricane, an almost unbelievable second disaster—and the people who brought a beloved waterfront landmark back.

THE MAN BEHIND THE HAT

THE TIN CITY CONNECTION.

With his signature Tin City hat, handlebar mustache and famously upbeat outlook, Craig Ekonomos became known around Naples as the “Tin Man.” The nickname fits a man whose work has been closely connected to one of the city's most recognizable places: Tin City.

For Craig, managing property has always been about more than keeping a building open. It's about the people who depend on it and the character that makes a place worth preserving. At Tin City, those ideas would be tested in ways nobody could have imagined.

A LANDMARK WITH A HISTORY

MORE THAN A COLLECTION OF SHOPS.

On the Gordon River near downtown Naples, Tin City's buildings reach back to the city's working waterfront. Long before visitors came for waterfront meals, shopping and boat excursions, the site was tied to the fishing, shellfish and maritime trades that helped shape Old Naples. Over time, the old waterfront buildings evolved into the eclectic marketplace known today as Tin City.

With around thirty independent tenants—including shopkeepers, restaurants and water-based businesses—it has always been a working community as well as a landmark. Taking responsibility for a century-old property meant caring for that community and its history at the same time.

THEN CAME HURRICANE IAN.

On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian pushed storm surge into Southwest Florida. Tin City took on roughly two-and-a-half to three feet of floodwater. And the problem wasn't only water: thick Gordon River mud spread through the buildings, soaking interiors, damaging inventory and leaving shops and restaurants unable to operate.

Tenants faced lost business, ruined merchandise and uncertain reopening dates. Restaurant operations stopped, excursions were disrupted and electricity and essential systems needed extensive attention. Cleaning an old building after that kind of flood was not a matter of simply washing down the floors. Damaged material had to come out, spaces needed professional remediation, and electrical and plumbing systems needed to be made safe.

ANOTHER DISASTER—A CAR THROUGH THE BUILDING.

Just as the recovery effort was progressing, Tin City faced an incident that sounded almost impossible. In the early hours of November 25, 2022—Black Friday—a speeding car left the roadway near Goodlette-Frank Road, crossed toward the property and crashed into the Naples Winery area. Four storefronts were damaged. A project already racing to recover from the hurricane had been dealt a second major blow.

The crash complicated repairs and forced an additional recovery effort for those businesses. It also strengthened the need for a clear plan, capable contractors and steady communication with people whose livelihoods depended on reopening.

“TRUST THE PROCESS.”

Craig's response was to keep moving forward. He helped bring together remediation specialists, electricians, plumbers, painters, contractors, property staff and tenants to tackle the damage piece by piece. The work included clearing contaminated mud, removing damaged drywall, addressing electrical issues, cleaning and disinfecting affected areas and coordinating repairs while business owners rebuilt and restocked their spaces.

There were obstacles every day. Yet the guiding philosophy was simple: trust the process. Make the work safe, bring the right people together, set a goal and keep going. The point was not just to open the doors again, but to preserve the charm and spirit of the place everyone was trying to save.

77 DAYS TO REOPEN.

On December 15, 2022—77 days after Hurricane Ian—Tin City celebrated reopening much of the property to the public. The milestone brought back shopping, dining and a sense of normal life to a landmark that had been through extraordinary hardship.

The four storefronts struck by the November car crash needed more time. They finally reopened in early March 2023, completing the property's return to full operation. The broader Tin City community of tenants had made it through, and visitors could once again experience the waterfront destination they knew.

THE STORY BEHIND THE TIN MAN.

The recovery drew attention in local coverage, but Craig's story is not only about a hurricane, a crash or a remarkable reopening. It is about knowing what a property means to its tenants, its visitors and its city—and showing up to do the hard work of protecting it.

That experience reflects the same practical, relationship-driven approach Craig brings to property management today. Whether the task is everyday maintenance, tenant communication, vendor coordination or overseeing a major repair, the work begins with caring about the property and the people behind it.

“Trust the process.”

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ✦ NAPLES

STILL HANDS-ON.
STILL LOCAL.

Today Craig's work centers on property management and local business ventures around Naples, including Tin City Slice. The Tin Man story is part of his history—and a lasting example of his approach to people, properties and unexpected challenges.

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