Robert Rivani's Black Lion Set To Bring Mexican-Based Entertainment Restaurant RosaNegra's First U.S. Location To SLS Brickell

Real estate investor and President of Black Lion, Robert Rivani, is set to bring the U.S. debut of internationally-recognized entertainment restaurant RosaNegra to Miami’s Brickell Financial District. The Mexico-based Grupo RosaNegra signed a 10-year lease with Rivani to occupy the coveted ground floor space at SLS Brickell. Fabio Faerman and Sebastian Faerman with FA Commercial represented both sides of the transaction.

“Bringing this legendary restaurant group to South Florida is right on brand with Black Lion’s grand vision to transform the way Miami does hospitality,” said Robert Rivani, President of Black Lion. “RosaNegra will add an incredible energy to the area’s social scene and elevate the luxury restaurant experience in Brickell.”

The SLS Brickell location will be RosaNegra’s flagship outpost in the U.S. and its sixth location worldwide. A tribute to Latin American cuisine and culture, RosaNegra breaks traditional patterns of formality by fusing gourmet culinary experiences with high-level entertainment and personalized attention.

RosaNegra will occupy 13,634-square-feet at the SLS Brickell on South Miami Avenue, around the corner from Bad Bunny’s Japanese-inspired restaurant Gekko at the SLS LUX Brickell condo building, the space of which is also owned by Rivani. Expected to open in Spring 2024, the restaurant will also feature 4,634-square-feet of outdoor space.

Passionate about incorporating high-quality products and the freshest ingredients into the restaurant’s eclectic menu, RosaNegra explores gastronomic traditions from Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. Meticulously designed signature dishes are infused with authentic and daring flavors from around the globe, including Tasmanian smoked trout, Spanish carabineros, and Wagyu from Japan. Beautifully presented artisan cocktails are made using signature infusions and natural ingredients. The multi-sensory culinary experience is enhanced by a vibrant atmosphere with a mix of live music, a resident DJ and high-level entertainment, creating unforgettable moments.

The deal is the latest addition to Black Lion’s elite dining portfolio. Black Lion’s portfolio value exceeds over $200 million in acquisitions across South Florida with a noteworthy collection of high profile restaurant tenants, spread from Miami Beach to Wynwood, and from Brickell to Downtown. The collection includes Gekko in Brickell SLS LUX; Philippe by Philippe Chow anchoring One Ocean South Beach; Catch Miami Beach at the Continuum high-rise; Amara at Paraiso with chef Michael Schwartz; Wynwood Jungle with a newly opened Fable rooftop restaurant; GAIA on the ground floor of the Marea condo building; and Delilah at Brickell Bay boardwalk.

Images via Black Lion / RosaNegra

Robert Rivani's Black Lion Investment Group Acquires SLS Brickell Restaurant Space For $10 Million

Black Lion Investment Group, the Miami-based real estate and hospitality developer led by Robert Rivani, has added yet another trophy property with the acquisition of the trophy restaurant space at SLS Brickell for $10,000,000. The restaurant space is approximately 13,500 SF of indoor / outdoor space and was previously Bazaar Mar by Chef Jose Andres which closed in 2019. The sellers were members of the Qatar’s ruling royal Al Thanis family who acquired both the hotel and restaurant space for $43 million in 2014.

The deal was brokered by Fabio and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial, who represented Black Lion while Jordan Karp of Jordan Karp, LLC. and Andrew Dicky of JLL represented the seller in the transaction.

Black Lion intends on bringing yet another one of a kind concept to Brickell’s already spectacular restaurant scene with a proven track record of restaurants like Gekko at SLS LUX, Catch and Continuum, Philippe Chow, Amara at Paraiso, Delilah and Wynwood Jungle.

The 52-story SLS Brickell is an over-the-top, chic residence and hotel tower developed by Related Group located in the heart of Brickell, just a walking distance from Brickell City Centre. The tower hosts 453 contemporary residences and hotel suits with panoramic views of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay.

Robert Rivani's Black Lion To Bring Philippe by Philippe Chow To One Ocean In Miami Beach's South of Fifth

New York-based restaurant Philippe by Philippe Chow has signed a 15 year lease to occupy the coveted restaurant space at One Ocean South Beach which was acquired by Robert Rivani’s Black Lion Investment Group in November 2022. With plans to open the flagship outpost in Q2 2024, Abraham Merchant and Richard Cohn are bringing the brand's legacy of sophisticated Beijing-inspired dining to Black Lion’s entire ground floor space at One Ocean in the heart of the South of Fifth neighborhood.

“Landing a legendary restaurant brand with an incredible following is in step with Black Lion’s vision to curate an epicenter for elevated dining and nightlife experiences,” said Robert Rivani. “Philippe by Philippe Chow will deliver a culinary cornerstone unique to the neighborhood and is the perfect fit for its future.”

Philippe by Philippe Chow will occupy 13,500+ square-feet on the corner of South Pointe and Ocean Drive. Attached to multi-million dollar residential condos, the space interiors span 10,000-square-feet with 3,500-square-feet of exteriors. An iconic restaurant for almost two decades, Philippe Chow’s first, and now flagship, location opened in Uptown Manhattan in 2005. Since then, the restaurant remained an undisputed favorite among New York City’s power crowd—including athletes, musicians and film stars—who crave Chef Chow’s interpretation on traditional Chinese cuisine.

Known for his modern, flavorful, and theatrical style, Chef Philippe Chow—the brand’s visionary and namesake—is world-renowned for his lavish, Beijing-style dishes and pioneered the way for fine-dining Chinese cuisine in the U.S.

“The expansion of Philippe Chow to such an iconic location in this taste-making gateway city is a key milestone for the brand both here in the United States and overseas,” says Abraham Merchant, president and CEO of Philippe Chow.

This will be Philippe by Philippe Chow’s southern flagship in the United States, following its Washington DC Wharf outpost opening in April of 2023, along with a downtown Nashville location targeted for a 2024 Q1 opening. In addition to the US expansion, the Middle East expansion continues, in addition to a multi-unit agreement in KSA, a new agreement in Kuwait City has been signed, and discussions are proceeding in Egypt and Dubai.

With nearly two decades of storied history, the Chinese eatery is a carefully crafted offering where substance drives notoriety. Meticulously designed signature dishes are infused with the flavor of Chow’s upbringing and made with the freshest ingredients, including the legendary Peking Duck, carved tableside for an unparalleled experience.

Black Lion was represented by Fabio Faerman and Sebastian Faerman with FA Commercial, while Philippe Chow was represented by Jeremy Modest and Ryan Tucker of RIPCO Real Estate.

“We were thrilled to work with Phillipe Chow to support the company’s expansion to South Florida. The Miami market continues to showcase strength and remains an attractive location for world class operators,” said Jeremy Modest, Executive Managing Director at RIPCO Real Estate. Our goal at RIPCO Florida is to help guide the best tenants New York City has to offer down to Florida by focusing on finding excellent locations and the right Landlord’s to partner with which was demonstrated in our work with Philippe Chow.

Specializing in ownership of flagship restaurant properties, Rivani’s vision for Black Lion’s transformative “Restaurant Row” along South Pointe Drive is now complete, with Philippe by Philippe Chow anchoring One Ocean South Beach, Catch Miami Beach opening at the Continuum high-rise this fall, and Marea Condominium’s multi-restaurant space reaching 100% occupancy with Kosushi Miami, a Brazilian-based Michelin Star restaurant; RED, a locals-favorite steakhouse; and a soon-to-be-announced, world-renowned tenant.

Since 2022, Black Lion has secured over $100 million in acquisitions across South Florida with a rapidly expanding portfolio of restaurant/hospitality properties from Miami Beach to Wynwood, Brickell and Downtown – including the space for Gekko by David Grutman x Bad Bunny; Amara at Paraiso with chef Michael Schwartz; Wynwood Jungle with a newly opened Fable rooftop restaurant; the ground floor of Zaha Hadid’s iconic One Thousand Museum; and Delilah at Brickell Bay boardwalk.

Images via @fordofilmz and Philippe by Philippe Chow

Office Building On Ponce de Leon Boulevard In Coral Gables Trades For $14 Million

An office building located on Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables has traded for $14,050,000 in a value add, off-market deal. The 7-story, 87,134 SF office building was mostly vacant at the time of sale and is located at 2000 Ponce De Leon Blvd. The property features 7,500 SF of ground-floor retail space and 100 parking spaces. 2000 Ponce de Leon Blvd. was acquired Westside Capital who plans to renovate the building including common areas and elevators before leasing out the property and occupying the 7th floor penthouse. The seller was the Kronfle family who acquired the land in 1996 for $840,000 and developed the building in 2000. Fabio Faerman and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial oversaw both sides of the transaction.

Coral Gables has seen high demand and a good deal of development activity for commercial real estate recently. In February Constellation Group paid $10 million for two single-story office buildings that they plan to redevelop into a 75,000 SF office building. In December Fortress Investment Group acquired Bancorp’s headquarters building for $135 million in a sale-leaseback and Terranova acquired an office building at 93 Miracle Mile for $6.8 million. Agave Holdings is also developing The Plaza Coral Gables, a mixed-use mega-project. To start off the year

One of The Last Vacant Development Parcels In Brickell Sells For $7 Million

One of the last development parcels in Brickell has sold for $7 million with plans for an approved and permitted 60 unit condo or apartment project. Oak Capital, led by Ricardo Dunin, acquired the 19,850 SF, .46 acre lot which is located at 1621 SW 2nd Ave. in West Brickell, just a few blocks away from Brickell City Centre, SLS Hotel, Echo Brickell, Mary Brickell Village, and Brickell Bay Boardwalk. The shovel-ready 60 unit project would rise 9-stories and the location of site and T6-8-0 zoning allows for short-term rentals. The transaction closed on February 1, 2022 and was overseen by FA Commercial’s Fabio and Sebastian Faerman who represented both the buyer and seller. FA Commercial represented the current seller, Carlos Pineda, in the original purchase of this site for $2.7 million to disposition selling the site for $7 million with approved potential for development.

Images via FA Commercial

Cantina La Veinte Space In Icon Brickell Trades For $18.8 Million In Off Market NNN Deal

The waterfront retail condo in Icon Brickell that is home to hotspot Mexican restaurant Cantina La Veinte, or Cantina La 20, has sold for $18.8 million. The tenant will remain in place with a brand-new 15-year lease, with 2 and 5-year renewal options. The two story retail condo spans 11,176 SF and is located on the Brickell Baywalk. Fabio and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial represented both the buyer and the seller in the off market NNN transaction.

The transaction brings the property full circle for FA Commercial as they initially represented the current seller when they first acquired the property pre-construction. FA Commercial later leased the property to Cantina La Veinte, then sold the retail condo with the tenant in place and now has sold retail property once again.

Icon Brickell is a waterfront 3-tower complex situated in the financial district of Miami which is also home to the W Miami Hotel and Cipriani Downtown Miami. Icon Brickell is located on the Brickell Baywalk and is a few blocks from Mary Brickell Village. Cantina La Veinte is located in Tower 2 at 495 Brickell Ave.

Images via FA Commercial

Black Lion Investment Group Acquires Commercial Units In South of Fifth's Marea Featuring RED Steakhouse And KoSushi Spaces

Black Lion Investment Group (“Black Lion”) has acquired an entire block of commercial condo units at the base of the iconic Marea building in the heart of Miami Beach’s South of Fifth (“SoFi”) neighborhood. The six-story building at 801 South Pointe Drive was originally developed by the famed Related Group and features 30 luxury residential condos atop the commercial units. Black Lion purchased the 19,100 square feet of premium commercial real estate space for $19,000,000 on December 17, 2021. President and Chief Executive Officer, Fabio Faerman, and Executive Director, Sebastian Faerman, of FA Commercial facilitated the transaction.

Existing tenants include RED Steakhouse, a Miami Beach mainstay for over a decade, and KoSushi, the establishment that debuted the Michelin-starred restaurant in the United States after being awarded the distinction in Brazil upon its opening in 2015. Black Lion has the intent of introducing additional flagship restaurants to the property.

“The entire Miami market has rapidly evolved into the epicenter for fine dining and high-end nightlife experiences over the last several years,” said Robert Rivani, president of Black Lion. “Our objective for the investment in Marea is to invite more fine dining restaurants to this culinary and cultural mecca to further elevate Miami’s reputation on a global scale. We have multiple world-renowned food and beverage concepts in the works and anticipate that even more international and domestic visitors will be attracted not only to our restaurants but to the vibrancy of this burgeoning market overall.”

Other notable restaurants in the SoFi neighborhood include Joe's Stone Crab, Smith & Wollensky, Carbone, Papi Steak, and Estiatorio Milos. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey recently announced that he'll be opening his first-ever Miami restaurant, Lucky Cat, just steps from the Marea building.

Major Food Group To Open Sadelle's In Coconut Grove At Former Tigertail + Mary Retail Condo Which Just Sold For For $5.5 Million

The Related Group and Terra Group joint venture that developed Park Grove in Coconut Grove has sold two retail condos in Park Grove including the former Tigertail + Mary restaurant space. Major Food Group, the restauranteurs behind Carbone and ZZ Sushi Club, will open their Sadelle’s concept at the former Tigertail + Mary space. The retail condo spans 5,731 SF with 1,000 SF of additional outdoor space/ seating and sold for $5,500,000. Fabio and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial at Fortune International Realty represented the sellers.

This marks the second transaction in 1 week for FA Commercial in the same building, selling out the commercial units in the park grove residences. The Related-Terra joint venture also sold the retail condo on the ground floor of Park Grove Residences, a three-tower luxury condo development, to a Mexican investment group for $6 million. That space spans just under 10,000 SF. FA Commercial represented the buyer and seller in that deal.

The h.wood Group's Celebrity Hotspot Delilah Coming To Black Lion Investment Group's Brickell Bay Boardwalk

The LA-based h.wood Group will be bringing their swanky upscale celebrity hotspot concept Delilah to Miami after signing a long term lease with Black Lion Investment Group for their Brickell Bay Boardwalk restaurant space. The h.wood Group restaurant will occupy 10,716 SF of space on the mezzanine level at 801 Brickell Bay Drive and will offer guests a lavishly decorated dining room, a speakeasy-inspired lounge, private elevators and dedicated valet parking to enhance their modern-day supper club experience. The restaurant being designed by Kobi Karp as the architect is scheduled to open in April 2022.

“Delilah is exactly the kind of tenant we had in mind when we imagined the potential of the Brickell Bay Boardwalk development. The h.wood Group has been remarkably successful in attracting the most stylish and tasteful people, including world-famous celebrities, to its lively, social Roaring 20s atmosphere at its restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It takes the right concept to stand out in Miami’s thriving culinary and nightlife scene, and I’m thrilled to welcome what will be a sure favorite among Miami’s discerning residents and visitors to Brickell’s newest waterfront dining and entertainment hub,” said Robert Rivani, President of Black Lion.

Fabio Faerman and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial, arranged the leasing of the 10,716 SF mezzanine space. They represented the landlord, Black Lion and Newmark along with Reid Heidenry of ONE Sotheby's International Realty represented the tenant, h.wood Group, in the transaction. FA Commercial also represented Black Lion in leasing the corner space of the Brickell Bay Boardwalk and are currently leasing the final space in the newly redeveloped boardwalk.

Brickell Bay Boardwalk is one of several of Black Lion’s recent developments in the Miami market. In recent months, the company has invested a total of roughly $40 million dollars in projects located in Miami’s most coveted neighborhoods. The company’s South Florida portfolio includes the newly redeveloped Wynwood Jungle, the Amara at Paraiso waterfront restaurant in Edgewater and the restaurant space on the ground level of the SLS LUX Brickell, the last two of three were arranged by FA Commercial.

“With the right investments, Miami is poised to evolve into the Manhattan of the South over the coming years. I’m betting big on the Miami market not just because I see the value in its limitless potential, but because it’s the kind of place I enjoy doing business and visiting. Brickell’s dining and nightlife scene is on a particularly exciting trajectory, so I’m stoked to be part of introducing another sensational concept to the market,” added Rivani.

Delilah’s Miami venue will be the third Delilah location and The h.wood Group’s first restaurant on the east coast. The restaurant group also operates Delilah Las Vegas, in the Wynn Las Vegas, which opened in early July 2021, in addition to the original restaurant in Los Angeles.

The h.wood Group is a Los Angeles based hospitality and lifestyle company with a diversified portfolio of upscale nightlife & restaurant venues. The h.wood Group was established in 2008 and today their portfolio includes 13 venues in Los Angeles including Delilah, The Nice Guy, Harriet’s and Bootsy Bellows; as well as Delilah Las Vegas. In addition to Miami the h.wood Group is expanding to Aspen, Nashville, Toronto and Brooklyn.

Images via Black Lion Investment Group and FA Commercial | Renderings by The h.wood Group

Black Lion Investment Group Acquires Former Katsuya Space In SLS LUX Hotel & Residences Brickell For $13.5 Million

Black Lion Investment Group has acquired the former Katsuya space in the SLS LUX Hotel & Residences in Brickell from The Allen Morris Company and Related Group for $13.5 million. The 11,412 SF restaurant suite is located at 8 SE 8th St. and includes the S Bar component as well. The space can accommodate up to 180 diners and also features an outdoor patio and an exclusive private dining area. Black Lion Investment Group plans to bring in a world-class flagship restaurant to the space which they expect to open in late 2021 or 2022. The off-market transaction was overseen by Fabio Faerman and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial with Fortune International Group.

Black Lion Investment Group is led by Robert Rivani and has spent $38 million in Miami over the past sixty days, including the Wynwood Arcade and Amara at Paraiso. They also own the Brickell Bay Boardwalk where another restaurant concept is planned.

“Miami, and Brickell in particular, is on a trajectory to evolve into the Manhattan of the Southern United States. Black Lion is thrilled to be part of Miami’s growth story by bringing even more world-class food and beverage offerings to Miami’s already thriving dining and nightlife scene,” said the firm’s president, Robert Rivani. “We’re exuberant about redeveloping this prized restaurant space in one of the hottest markets in the country.” Mr. Rivani continued, “When you examine what people are most willing to get out of the house and spend time and money on post-pandemic, it’s largely the hospitality experiences that simply cannot be recreated at home. We’re betting on Miami’s year-round residents and visitors continuing that trend indefinitely, enjoying the unique atmosphere of this cosmopolitan city throughout the year. We’re working to identify the restaurant concept that best complements Brickell’s vibrant, electrifying spirit, whether that’s a flagship location of an existing high-end brand or an entirely new chef-driven vision.”

SLS LUX Hotel & Residences is a luxury hotel-condo tower which was completed in 2018 and co-developed by The Allen Morris Company with Related Group. The developers announced the complete sell-out of the 450-unit luxury tower in February 2018. SLS LUX Hotel & Residences is located just steps from Brickell City Centre in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood at 801 S Miami Ave. The building was designed by Arquitectonica offers a mix of 450 residences and 78 hotel suites that blend exquisite décor by Yabu Pushelberg. SLS LUX Hotel & Residences also features world-class art throughout the building and exclusive lifestyle amenities and services including a spa, gym, lower pool deck, rooftop pool, outdoor theatre, rock climbing wall and tennis court.

Images via The Allen Morris Company

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