Big John’s Plaza in Cape Coral, located on Southeast 47th Terrace and Cape Coral Parkway, is up for sale for nearly $12.5 million, leaving tenants and shoppers wondering about its future. Janelle Franklin, of Vogue Hair Studio, said the plaza has been a great location for her business. “I was like, what a perfect place to put a salon. It’s visual,” Franklin said. Franklin said the sale came as a surprise.”It was a little scary. I heard it from a client,” Franklin said. Jack Martin, the listing agent with Century 21 Selling Paradise, said the property owner, Elmer Tabor, is retiring after years of owning the plaza. “I think it’s been in his family since it was built,” Martin said. Martin added that many of the plaza’s tenants have been there for more than a decade.”They have no intention of leaving. We don’t want them to leave. An ideal situation, the new buyer would ideally keep it the way it is,” Martin said. Shoppers also hope the plaza remains unchanged. “I just say keep it the same because it’s been, obviously, a good place,” said John Scatchell. As for the plaza’s iconic statue, Big John, the team restoring him says they’re still working on the structure to eventually make a grand return. “You take all the history out of everything, then there’s nothing left,” Franklin said. Martin said there are already interested buyers looking to purchase the property.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Big John’s Plaza in Cape Coral, located on Southeast 47th Terrace and Cape Coral Parkway, is up for sale for nearly $12.5 million, leaving tenants and shoppers wondering about its future.

Janelle Franklin, of Vogue Hair Studio, said the plaza has been a great location for her business.

“I was like, what a perfect place to put a salon. It’s visual,” Franklin said.

Franklin said the sale came as a surprise.

“It was a little scary. I heard it from a client,” Franklin said.

Jack Martin, the listing agent with Century 21 Selling Paradise, said the property owner, Elmer Tabor, is retiring after years of owning the plaza.

“I think it’s been in his family since it was built,” Martin said.

Martin added that many of the plaza’s tenants have been there for more than a decade.

“They have no intention of leaving. We don’t want them to leave. An ideal situation, the new buyer would ideally keep it the way it is,” Martin said.

Shoppers also hope the plaza remains unchanged.

“I just say keep it the same because it’s been, obviously, a good place,” said John Scatchell.

As for the plaza’s iconic statue, Big John, the team restoring him says they’re still working on the structure to eventually make a grand return.

“You take all the history out of everything, then there’s nothing left,” Franklin said.

Martin said there are already interested buyers looking to purchase the property.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.