An Iconic Lincoln Road Book Store and Cafe Is Closing After 30 Years

Lincoln Road has been hit by yet another closure as Books & Books has shut its doors after more than 30 years. Located at 927 Lincoln Road in The Sterling Building, the asking rents were too high for the independent bookstore which also has several other locations including Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Downtown and Bal Harbour. Owner Mitchell Kaplan reportedly said that in addition tot he rising rents, the impact of COVID-19 contributed to his decision to permanently close the store. Over the past 10 years Books & Books had already moved to a smaller space within The Sterling Building and stopped operating the outdoor cafe. Books & Books will reportedly look for a new Miami Beach location.

Other retailers to vacate their Lincoln Road locations include Steve Madden from Thor Equities’ 663 Lincoln Road, Kiehl’s at 540 Lincoln Road. This month Books & Books’s landlord Sam Herzberg sued to evict both Diesel USA and Perry Ellis/ Original Penguin from The Sterling Building for failing to pay April and May rent. Herzberg is also planning a 144-key hotel addition to the building after the City of Miami Beach recently changed zoning to allow hotels on parts of Lincoln Road.

Check Out The Hotel Addition Proposed Atop The Sterling Building On Lincoln Road

Sam Herzberg has proposed a 144 room hotel addition atop The Sterling Building located at 927-929 Lincoln Road, home to the popular Books and Books Cafe. The Miami Beach Planning Board will review the proposal at their December 17th meeting, which came following the city approving an increase in building height from 50’ to 75’ on the north side of Lincoln Road as well as to allow smaller units down to 200 SF and waiving parking requirements. The city also changed zoning to allow hotels in the area. Developers who take advantage of the zoning changes must make a .5% contribution to the Art in Public Places program. The addition is being designed by Kobi Karp and will not effect the historical parts of the building on Lincoln Road which contribute to the historical district. The new addition will bring the building to rise 7-stories with 120 new hotel rooms and 24 converted from an older part of the existing building.

The Behar Font & Partners-Designed Okan Tower Planning To Break Ground This Year in Downtown Miami

Okan Tower, located at 555 North Miami Ave., will break ground in 2018 and is currently finalizing their partnership with a general contractor. The self-financed tower from Turkish developer Okan Group has pre-sold about 12% of of units since the project was first proposed in October 2017. Okan Tower will rise 70-stories, 890', and was designed by Behar Font & Partners. The project will feature 300 hotel rooms, 80,000 SF of office space, 10,000 SF of restaurant space, 362 condominium units, and a selection of amenities including a rooftop swimming pool. The project is expected to be completed Q4 2022.

Okan Group's Behar Font-Designed Okan Tower Approved In Downtown Miami

Turkish developer Okan Group's 73-story, skyline evolving Behar Font & Partners-designed Okan Tower proposal has been approved by Miami's Planning & Zoning Department in Downtown Miami including waivers from the Miami 21 zoning code. Located at 555 North Miami Avenue, the multi-use project has also been called The Sterling, although the press release and renderings point to the tower being called Okan Tower. The Behar Font & Partners design is inspired by a tulip, the national flower of Turkey, and will feature a rooftop swimming pool at the crown of the 956' rise. Okan Tower will feature 300 hotel rooms, 80,000 SF of office space, 10,000 SF of restaurant space and 362 condominium units. The location will give easy access to retail, entertainment and transit via MiamiCentral and the Brightline as well as the Miami Worldcenter mega-project. Okan Group acquired the land for $18 million in March 2017 before proposing the Behar Font design in October 2017.

Okan Group Proposes The Sterling, A Mixed-Use, Behar Font-Designed Downtown Hotel Tower

Turkish developer Okan Group has proposed a 73-story hotel project inspired by a tulip in Downtown Miami. The project is being dubbed The Sterling (although renderings show Okan Tower) and is located at 555 N. Miami Avenue. The Sterling will feature 300 hotel rooms, 80,000 SF of office space, 10,000 SF of restaurant space and 362 condominium units. The tower is expected to rise 956' and is designed by Behar Font & Partners. Miami’s Urban Development Review Board is expected to review the plans this month (October 2017). Okan Group acquired the land for $18 million in March 2017.