The Coconut Grove Restaurant Scene Is Buzzing Amid New Restaurant Openings Including A New Concept From David Grutman

Coconut Grove is alive and buzzing amid a variety of new restaurant opens that are bringing one of Miami’s most historic and beautiful neighborhoods back into its heyday. In December Major Food Group opened Sadelle’s, a breakfast-centric haven, power-lunch hotspot, and energetic dinner destination located in Park Grove at the former Tigertail + Mary space. Nearby, reclaiming its role as the epicenter of Miami’s Coconut Grove commercial district, the newly redeveloped CocoWalk is now 100% leased with the announcement of the new openings including The Key Club from David Grutman’s Groot Hospitality and a new concept from Ariete Hospitality.

The Key Club, which is set to open at CocoWalk in the upcoming weeks, is an energetic American grill. It’s menu will feature items such as seafood, steaks, salads and will offer a sushi component with an upbeat, party atmosphere. The restaurant is designed with nautical and nature vibes with indoor and outdoor seating. They are currently hiring for management, FOH and BOH positions. Groot Hospitality is the restaurant group behind Swan, Papi Steak, and Komodo, as well as nightlife destinations such as LIV.

Other recent openings include modern American restaurant Botánico Gin & Cookhouse, which opened in November, and Duck N’ Sum, a modern Asian restaurant serving classic flavors such as steamed bao buns and garlic noodles. Then, in December, Sushi Garage unveiled its unique culinary experience inspired by classic Japanese flavors created by Executive Chef Sunny Oh.

Ariete Hospitality Group, the culinary creators behind some of Coconut Grove’s most popular restaurants such as Ariete, Navé and Chug’s, will also open a new restaurant on property this year. Set to open in spring 2022 is Narbona Natural Foods & Farm Market, the 8,253-square-foot specialty market that will feature a butcher shop, fresh pastas, and a bakery along with a selection of gourmet cheeses, craft beers, wines, and coffees – all produced on its farms in South America. This will become Narbona’s second location to open in South Florida.

In addition to the new and exciting dining concepts, world-class cinema Cinépolis makes its highly anticipated debut with the opening of a brand-new movie theater this winter, marking the return of the neighborhood’s only movie theater.

“Our goal with the newly renovated CocoWalk is to reinvigorate the lifestyle destination and offer a more curated experience to those who live, work, and play in Coconut Grove,” said Michael Comras, CEO and President of The Comras Company. “The return of Cinepolis, the top shops already open and our upcoming restaurant debuts by several of Miami’s leading hospitality groups will further enhance the lifestyle, dining and shopping experience the new CocoWalk has to offer.”

The new restaurants join an already impressive and extensive line-up of curated national, regional and local concepts currently open at CocoWalk such as PLANTA Queen, Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza, Sweetgreen and ice cream outpost Salt & Straw.

Images via CocoWalk

Five New Wellness And Beauty Retailers Sign Leases At CocoWalk In Coconut Grove

Five new retailers focused on health, wellness, and beauty have signed leases at CocoWalk, the newly reopened lifestyle destination in Coconut Grove. Inspired by residents’ focus on health and wellness, the ownership hand-picked these new retailers to cater to all the lifestyle and beauty needs of area residents and the surrounding communities.

The latest brands to sign retail leases are GlossLab, a hygiene-first, membership based nail studio from New York that is opening its first Miami location and has hospitality entrepreneur David Grutman as one of its investors set to open in summer 2022; Antidote Wellness Labs, a boutique fitness studio that focuses on High Intensity Interval Training, nutrition, and holistic wellness;  chic jewelry brand hailing from Saint-Tropez, Gas Bijoux; Skin Lab by Barba Skin Clinic founded by Harvard-educated dermatologist Dr. Alicia Barba, who has partnered with Skinceuticals; and 3D Brow Studio, specializing in curating perfect eyebrows.

Antidote Wellness Labs will occupy about 2,577 SF on the second floor, accompanied by Barba Skin Clinic with about 2,181 SF and 3D Brow Studio with 1,062 SF. Gas Bijoux will be located on the first floor with 562 SF facing the open-air plaza.

CocoWalk has several more restaurants nearing opening including the highly anticipated Botanico Gin & Cookhouse, which is slated for opening later this summer. Marking the first establishment in Miami to embrace gin’s international resurgence, Botanico will incorporate modern American cuisine with a bar focused on gin cocktails and Mediterranean cuisine led by Mexican Executive Chef and Co-Owner Gerardo B. De Negri.

Sunset Harbour sushi outpost Sushi Garage is also expected open at CocoWalk this fall. Sushi Garage is owned and operated by The Juvia Group and will honor Japanese traditional cuisine utilizing the freshest ingredients in the setting of a contemporary designed space that will make for a unique dining experience.

Following CocoWalk’s multi-million-dollar renovation, the open-air lifestyle center features 150,000 SF of prime retail space in the heart of Coconut Grove, one of Miami’s premier neighborhoods. The property’s ownership group is comprised of Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), The Comras Company and Grass River Property.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome these four new retailers and to increase CocoWalk’s health, wellness, and beauty offerings to the community,” said Michael Comras, CEO and President of The Comras Company. “Our goal with the newly renovated CocoWalk is to reinvigorate the lifestyle destination and offer a more curated experience to those who live, work, and play in Coconut Grove. These brands and our upcoming restaurant openings will further enhance the lifestyle, dining and shopping experience the new CocoWalk has to offer.”

The new retailers join an already impressive line-up of curated national, regional, and local concepts already open on property. Restaurants currently serving up delicious eats at CocoWalk include PLANTA Queen, Mister 01Extraordinary Pizza, Sweetgreen, and Salt & Straw. Businesses currently providing unique retail offerings and other services include Bluemercury, FP Movement, Edward Beiner, Europann, Edite Mode, Late Night Gypsy, The Spot Barbershop, and School of Rock. 

The First Restaurants Opening In Downtown Miami's $4 Billion Miami WorldCenter Megaproject Are Announced

The first four restaurants coming to Miami Worldcenter, the $4 billion, 27-acre mixed-use development transforming the heart of Downtown Miami, have been announced. The development’s ownership has completed leases with Chicago-based steakhouse Maple & Ash, set to open its first location in Florida; etta, a neighborhood restaurant centered around a wood-fired hearth; Laurel Brasserie and El Vecino, both concepts by Miami chef Michael Beltran. The leases combine to over 30,400 SF of indoor and outdoor space along Miami Worldcenter’s open-air entertainment promenades and mark the first tenants to lease space in Miami Worldcenter. All four concepts are expected to open in 2022.

“Our team is thrilled to unveil a stellar lineup of restaurants opening at Miami Worldcenter, with Maple & Ash, etta, Laurel Brasserie and El Vecino setting the tone for what’s to come. These restaurants exemplify the quality of the tenants and the experience we are curating for Miami Worldcenter’s residents and visitors,” said Nitin Motwani, Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “Bringing to life the retail components of Miami Worldcenter’s master plan is critical to transforming our 27-acre site into a thriving open-air destination, and we look forward to announcing additional retail concepts in the coming weeks and months.

The lavish Maple & Ash offers a modern take on a traditional steakhouse. Two-time Michelin-star Chef Danny Grant presents classic wood-fired dishes while offering diners an elegantly seductive experience. At Maple & Ash’s original Chicago location, the restaurant’s wine list has been named “one of the most outstanding in the world” by Wine Spectator. Maple & Ash will be located along World Square at the corner of Miami Worldcenter’s 7th Street promenade and NE 1st Avenue, and will occupy 15,000 SF of indoor and outdoor space, with ground floor and second floor seating.

Developed by the creative team behind Maple & Ash, etta is a neighborhood restaurant that serves delicious wood-fired dishes, from gourmet pizzas and warm focaccia to crisp seasonal salads and family-style shared pig and lobster picnics. Just as the kitchen is the focal point of interaction within a home, etta’s open kitchen design gives guests the same intimate experience. With two existing locations in Chicago, each etta location features a wood-burning brick oven and a giant wood-fired hearth for spit roasting and grilling. Located along the eastern side of the 7th Street Promenade, etta will feature approximately 11,000 SF of indoor and outdoor space across two levels.

Local Miami Chef Michael Beltran, a 2020 James Beard Foundation Awards “Best Chef: South” semifinalist, will bring his new dining concept, Laurel, to Miami Worldcenter. Laurel will offer diners a novel take on a French brasserie with hints of Chef Beltran’s Cuban influence, which is evident across his multiple concepts, including his revered Ariete. In addition to Beltran’s inventive French-Cuban fare, guests will be able to enjoy a limited selection of Cuban treats from popular Coconut Grove diner Chug’s. The casually chic restaurant will occupy 2,800 SF of indoor and outdoor space on the ground floor of Caoba, Miami Worldcenter’s apartment tower, at the corner of the 7th Street promenade and NE 1st Avenue.

Also developed by the Ariete Hospitality Group, El Vecino will be a high-end first-class cigar bar serving a full liquor bar and light fare such as head cheese croquetas, an assortment of meat and cheese, and pastelitos by Pastelito Papi. The venue will occupy approximately 1,600 SF of indoor and outdoor space joining Laurel on the ground floor of Miami Worldcenter’s Caoba apartment tower.

Retail leasing at Miami Worldcenter is led by The Comras Company, a leading, boutique real estate firm providing retail leasing, asset sales, consulting and development advisory services throughout South Florida. The leasing team is comprised of Michael Comras, Jeff Evans and Michael Silverman.

“Projects of this size, scale and caliber don’t happen often, not in Miami and not anywhere else in the country,” said Michael Comras, president of The Comras Company. “Miami Worldcenter sits just off the intersection of the two busiest highways, surrounded by various modes of public transit, steps from the most prominent cultural institutions in the city, and the FTX arena. That, coupled with downtown Miami’s exponential growth and the influx of domestic and international residents moving in the last year, makes Miami Worldcenter the most appealing location for businesses to invest in.”

As the largest private development underway in Florida, Miami Worldcenter will feature a diverse mix of residential, commercial and hospitality uses complemented by approximately 300,000 SF of retail, restaurant and entertainment space. These include two completed residential buildings: the 60-story Paramount Miami Worldcenter condominium and the 43-story Caoba luxury apartment tower. Approximately 150,000 SF of retail has been completed with tenant build-out work set to commence in 2021, and another 130,000 SF is currently under construction and nearing delivery. Construction is nearing completion at ZOM’s 43-story Bezel Miami Worldcenter residential tower and at the 351-room citizenM hotel, both of which are expected to open later this year.

Miami Worldcenter occupies 10 city blocks within walking distance of Museum Park, home to Perez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science; FTX Arena; the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center; and Miami-Dade College’s Downtown Miami campus. It is also adjacent to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which will soon offer direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, together with access to TriRail, the Metromover and the Metrorail, making Miami Worldcenter one of the largest and most-connected transit-oriented development in Florida.

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The Shops At Sunset Place In South Miami Sells For $65.5 Million To Alex Vadia's Midtown Equities

Midtown Equities, led by Alex Vadia, has acquired The Shops At Sunset Place for $65.5 million from FRIT Shops at Sunset Place, a joint venture between Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), Grass River Property and The Comras Company. The 9.7-acre, 524,180 square foot shopping center, which is located at 5701 SW 72nd St., Sunset Drive in South Miami, last traded for $111.5 million in 2015, representing a significant loss for the selling joint venture. The shopping center’s current occupancy is reportedly just below 60%, a significant gap from the reported 83% in March 2020.

The Shops at Sunset Place was initially developed in 1999 and plans have been approved for a major renovation which would include the addition of 414 rental apartments, 182 hotel rooms, reducing the retail component to 440,148 square feet and adding 32,840 square feet of office space. The impact of COVID-19 stalled the development plans when Federal Realty Investment Trust was hit with a $50.7 million net impairment charge in Q3 2020 when its $60.6 million non-recourse CMBS loan matured and was declared in default by the lender.

CocoWalk Launches Phased Reopening Just In Time For The Holiday Shopping Season

The highly anticipated phased reopening of CocoWalk in Coconut Grove has officially commenced with the 2020 Holiday shopping season in full swing. Federal Realty Investment Trust, the majority ownership group behind the development, with partners The Comras Company and Grass River Property are excited to announce the lifestyle center has slated new innovative dining experiences and boutiques ready to open for the Holiday season. New openings include: Planta Queen, Free People Movement, Edite Mode, Europann, Mr. 01 Extraordinary Pizza, Sportive, Edward Beiner Eyewear and The School of Rock.  

“Five years ago, we set out to re-energize CocoWalk by attracting a tenant mix better aligned with the community’s needs and interests while creating an authentic destination that would position CocoWalk at the forefront of Miami’s retail evolution,” said Stuart Biel, of Federal Realty Investment Trust. “We look forward to bringing the community together through exceptional experiences and refreshed concepts that are unique to CocoWalk and enjoyed by Miami locals and visitors alike.”

Michael Comras, CEO and President of The Comras Company and board member of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (BID) said: “By reintroducing CocoWalk with the types of brands and concepts that the neighborhood identifies with while giving visitors new reasons to rediscover Coconut Grove, we’ve created a destination that suits the daily desires of the area’s residents, office tenants, and locals and ensures CocoWalk reclaims its spot as the number one shopping, dining, and entertainment location in Miami.”  

CocoWalk is four-stories tall and 150,000 sq.ft. of prime retail, dining and entertainment space. The property’s east end also includes Class A office space. Retail lease is managed by Federal Realty Investment Trust and The Comras Company, office lease is managed by Blanca Commercial Real Estate. The phased reopening of CocoWalk is just in time for the Holiday shopping season rush and festivities.

The Comras Company Tabbed To Lease 300K+ Square Feet Of Retail At Miami Worldcenter

The Forbes Company and Taubman Centers, Inc. have tabbed The Comras Company to help lead retail leasing at Miami Worldcenter. The Miami-based commercial brokerage will represent over 300,000 SF of retail leasing including restaurant and entertainment space at the 27-acre, $2 billion mixed use mega-project which is currently under construction. Miami Worldcenter is located between NW 1st Avenue and NE 2nd Avenue as well as NE 6th Street and NW 11th Street. Retail spaces range from 400 SF to over 50,000 SF. With PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter, the mega-development’s luxury condo tower, targeting closings beginning this summer, the retail component is expected to open by the end of 2020.

While Taubman Centers and The Forbes Company have a global focus, The Comras Company will help bring a local expertise to the leasing effort which will target entertainment concepts, theaters, sports bars, breweries, fitness center operators, food hall operators, restaurants, lounges, coffee shops, salons, speciality fitness operators and spas. Comras Company will also pursue fashion, athleisure, cosmetics and beauty retailers. Miami Worldcenter will be represented by Michael Comras, President and CEO of Comras Company, as well as Jeff Evans and Michael Silverman.

Miami Worldcenter is being developed by Miami Worldcenter Associates, Taubman Centers, The Forbes Company, and MDM Group with the master plan designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects. The project includes the PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter condo tower being developed by Paramount Ventures led by Dan Kodsi, in addition to a 1,700-key Marriott Marquis Miami Worldcenter Hotel & Expo, the completed CAOBA rental tower, a 348-room CitizenM hotel, the soon-to-break-ground Luma rental tower, a 45-story office tower being developed by Hines and 365,000 SF of high-street retail.

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