When she first founded G&R Construction Group with her husband, Ricardo, in 2015, Gisele Latsis began to grasp the concept of what she wanted to accomplish.
Now, following the launch of her new store in Fort Myers, Latsis is realizing her biggest expectations.
“What we have today has always been my dream,” she said. “This has always been my end goal from the beginning.”
Design your dream space
The company offers commercial and residential construction and renovation services. Its expertise spans remodeling, custom furniture design, home decor, and property management.
The showroom is a place where you can see all the design possibilities together. They are going to help customers imagine what their future home or office space will look like and actually choose the details that they like.
G&R Design and Construction Group's new showroom, at 4110 Center Pointe Drive, Unit 111, just south of Winkler Avenue, had its grand opening on June 13. Following several days of downpours, Latsis didn't expect a large turnout.
“All the roads were flooded,” Latsis said. “We didn't expect so many people to come.”
But friends, family and many in the Southwest Florida community rallied together to prove her doubters wrong.
“The place was packed!” Latsis said. “Everyone was amazed at how everything was decorated and put together.”
An unwanted new start
While this isn't the company's first showroom, Centerpoint's new location is different from any space the company has previously owned: Before Hurricane Ian, G&R was based on Metro Parkway.
“We had a flooring and countertop showroom near the metro,” Latsis said, “and we lost that place because we had problems with the roof. We lost our house at the same time, so we had to start all over again.”
The family-owned business found a new location in April 2023, and more than a year later, it will be where the family's dream comes true.
“We wanted to create a showroom that wasn't just a showroom,” Latsis said, explaining why he wanted to set himself apart from showrooms filled with tile and other flooring materials. “We wanted to create an atmosphere where people could come in and feel like they were at home.”
For Gisele and Riccardo, the showroom truly feels like an extension of their home.
Bring a piece of their home into yours
The couple are from Brazil, and many of the products in the showroom come from the country, including Brazilian-made cabinets, custom closets, countertops and silverware.
And Gisele immediately understood the significance of this homage to her hometown.
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“Going back to my roots, going back to my country, blending what's here with what's there, building a bridge,” she said. “You can't forget your roots, you can't forget where you come from. This is my way of saying thank you to Brazil.”
The G&R Construction Group showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm and by appointment on Saturdays.
