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Treasure hunters and antique vendors will still be able to comb through items at Shirley Street Antique Mall on Shirley Street in North Naples, at least for a few more years.

Owners Richard Gazzerro and Thomas Ramsey were cited for a code violation for operating a retail business with a wholesale occupational license. The issue went before the Board of County Commissioners today.

The board gave Gazzerro and Ramsey three years to fix the situation, by relocating, complying with the code or amending the code.

Immediately after the meeting, Gazzerro and Ramsey were uncertain about how they would proceed.

Currently, they pay a little more than $3 per square foot to rent the large, metal warehouse at 5510 Shirley St., Gazzerro said.

Commercial space in the county going for $25 to 30 per square foot, according to Joe Schmitt, the county community development and environmental services administrator. There is an excess of 200,000 square feet of commercial space available.

“Antique malls run on a very narrow budget,” Gazzerro said. “They’re basically an extension of mom and pop businesses ... and they can’t really afford Fifth Avenue prices.”

Amending the code would cost at least $3,000 and would require two public hearings and two appearances before the board.

Any other licensed business in that industrial area that are in situations similar to the antique mall will also be granted three years to resolve the issue. Code enforcement will notify the businesses of the ruling and report back to the board in three years about the result.

This decision will affect a handful of businesses in the area, said Michelle Arnold, county code enforcement director.

The businesses must also comply with other regulations, including fire code and disability access requirements. The antique mall complies with fire code, and has handicap parking spaces and a ramp, Gazzerro and Ramsey said.