BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. - Authorities ordered an evacuation of a K-Mart store and the other stores in the Bonita Springs shopping center late Thursday morning, following the discovery of a suspicious package.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation at the shopping center, located at Bonita Beach Road Southeast; it was determined that the suspicious suitcase was empty.

Workers and shoppers were allowed to return to the K-Mart store and other businesses in the shopping center shortly before noon Thursday.