Miami’s Food Hall Roster Now Includes “Game Changing” St. Roch Market Open Now In MDD

2018 marked the rise of a new food trend in Miami: food halls. Everywhere you look, there’s a new one popping up. The latest one captures the entrepreneurial spirit that a young city like Miami inspires. 

The experimental St. Roch (pronounced Saint Rock) Market opened its doors on Saturday, February 24th, in Design District’s Palm Court. Unlike the other food halls, however, St. Roch is special because it gives chefs a small scale space to test out future restaurant concepts. 

Coming from the team that opened the sister venture in New Orleans, it aims on being a venue for up-and-coming restaurants. Founder, Will Donaldson, put it simply: “Our whole concept is, ‘This is the guy you should know about.’” 

The market is housed in a 10,000 SF minimalist space that features 12 curated food and beverage vendors offering a variety of cuisines. The space also has a modern art library of 3,000 vintage edition art and design books and will have a rotating art exhibition on display. First to be featured is New Orleans-based poet, Cubsthepoet (@cubsthepoet). 

Concepts include byCHLOE’s hit chef Chloe Coscarelli’s new concept Chef Chloe and the Vegan Cafe, Peruvian sushi restaurant Itamae, handmade pasta spot Dal Plin, Israeli-inspired Jaffa, fried chicken favorite CooP, sustainably-sourced Elysian Seafood, ceviche and taco focused Hot Lime, rose and champagne-centric cocktail bar The Mayhaw, classic Vietnamese shop Tran An, Asian-inspired, but locally sourced Yuzu, acai and smoothie cafe Sweetblendz, and a staple coffee shop, Sabal Coffee. 

St. Roch Market is open daily Sunday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday nights until 11 p.m.

Article by Katya Demina

Luxury Fashion House Bottega Veneta Joins Miami Design District’s Expanding Roster

The upscale Italian brand specializing in leather goods and ready-to-wear signed a lease for a 4,000-square-foot space between the Gucci and Rick Owens stores on Northeast 41st Street. Their other South Florida locations are at the Bal Harbour Shops and on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.

The announcement is unsurprising as Craig Robins has led the revival of Miami’s Design District into a premier venue for art, fashion, and design. He is the president and CEO of Dacra, the development company he founded that aims to build "commercial and residential communities of substance through creative collaboration.” Dacra and LVMH head the Miami Design District Associates, who own about 70 percent of the real estate in the neighborhood. They are constantly adding new stores, public art, and restaurants like in the recently completed Paradise Plaza. Robins’ project have reimagined and transformed the landscape of Miami. Bottega will be joining the ranks of other high-end retailers such as Hermès, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu. 

Bottega will be opening in MDD in the fall of 2018, along with other new tenants like Dolce & Gabbana and Balenciaga. 

Article by Katya Demina

Check-Out The New Gucci Flagship Boutique Now Open In Miami Design District

During Art Basel PROFILEmiami got an exclusive first look at Miami's newest Gucci store which opened last month in the fast growing, fashion hotspot Miami Design District. The MDD location will become Gucci's Miami flagship and will also feature the full Gucci Décor collection available for sale. The store is located at 139 NE 41st Street and serves as a gateway to MDD's new Paradise Plaza. The two-floor boutique covers 4,700 SF and reflects Gucci's new design concept by Creative Director Alessandro Michele including a marble encased exterior façade complete with pistachio-green-washed industrial metal rivet accents, paying homage to classic Gucci design. Adjacent is a custom Coco Capitán mural painted exclusively for Gucci's MDD location which also is featured on a two piece collaboration consisting of a drawstring backpack and belt bag that are exclusively available at the MDD boutique. Inside, a red velvet wrapped, lacquered wood staircase has already become an Instagram icon along with European White Oak floors, marble polychrome inlay carpets, varnished iron wall finishes, and Gucci Décor accents including velvet armchairs and couches. Upstairs features a custom VIP lounge complete with pink fabric walls and a marble mosaic floor which houses limited edition and exclusive pieces available for purchase. The Gucci boutique at MDD is currently showcasing the complete collection of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and accessories for Fall Winter 2017, Cruise 2018, as well as Gucci Décor.

The Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos-Designed Institute of Contemporary Art Miami Opens In Miami Design District

Miami's brand new Institute of Contemporary Art has officially opened its doors in the Miami Design District right in time for Art Basel. The metal-faced building was designed by Madrid-based architectural firm Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos, their first project in the United States. To create the facade the architects used geometric metal panels to create a "magnetic" appeal to attract visitors along with a cove lighting system to illuminate the metal-clad face at night. Each gallery features double-height ceilings and overlook the sculpture garden via floor-to-ceiling glass. The sculpture garden will also be used to host events and talks. The back of the museum features a sculpture garden. The museum has a free-admission policy. ICA Miami previously operated from the historic Moore Building, also located in Miami Design District which is being developed by Craig Robins as a neighborhood that fuses high-end luxury shopping with art, culture and eduction. ICA Miami sits on land donated by Robins adjacent to the De La Cruz Collection on NE 41st Street. Norman Braman, the iconic Miami car dealer, and his wife Irma, who chairs the board of trustees at ICA Miami, provided the funds to cover most of the cost of the museum. The museum will first feature over 100 works by more than 50 artists with a show called "The Everywhere Studio." The institute joins a group of privately-owned museums in Miami including the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, the Rubell Family Collection, the Cisneros Fontanels Art Foundation and the adjacent De La Cruz Collection. 

Photography is by Iwan Baan.

Renowned International Italian Fashion School, Istituto Marangoni, To Open First U.S. Campus In Miami Design District

Istituto Marangoni, the leading Italian fashion, art and design school, has announced their expansion into the Americas with the opening of their first school in the United States in Miami Design District. The campus will be their the 10th worldwide since Istituto Marangoni was founded in 1935 in Milan. Since then the school has more than 80 years of history and success in training the top professionals of Fashion and Design. The institution consistently plays a key role in shaping global fashion trends and holds the merit of creating some of the biggest names in the industry, including Domenico Dolce, Franco Moschino, Alessandro Sartori (Zegna Group Creative Director), Paula Cademartori, Julie de Libran (Artistic Director of Sonia Rykiel), Rocco Iannone (Creative Director of Pal Zileri), Maurizio Pecoraro brand owner and Istituto Marangoni’s International Fashion Chair), amongst others. Istituto Marangoni currently educates 4,000 students per year from 107 countries at its schools, located in Milano (the School of Fashion and the School of Design), Firenze (School of Fashion & Art), Paris, London, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Mumbai and Miami., the international capitals of fashion, design and luxury. The prestigious school will now deliver the brand’s proven and unparalleled education model to top students throughout the US and Latin America through their Miami Design District location. 

“Bringing Istituto Marangoni to the Americas satisfies a long-term vision to support and develop youth interested in fashion and design from all over the word,” said Roberto Riccio, Group Managing Director of Istituto Marangoni. “We are thrilled by the opportunity to give emerging talent in the Americas a platform to hone their skills and realize their true potential in the industry.” 

The school, which offers Associates, BA and Masters Programs, will be anchored by values that were ‘Made in Italy’ but will also blend with the city’s unique cultural elements, such as the local emphasis on sustainability and innovation. This includes integrating forward-thinking and sustainable practices into the course programming and looking at Miami’s commitment to resilience to shape the overall DNA of the campus. Istituto Marangoni will also uphold the brand’s own international imprint of ‘Italianness,’ which seeks to contextualize theoretical teachings in a way that promotes creative platforms and potential opportunities for students and alumni. The concept will be brand new for the US and will reinvent the fashion industry of Miami. Hakan Baykam, president of the new School, has identified the unique opportunity in Miami to pioneer a new fashion hub.

“We were looking to create a new global fashion destination and selected Miami for its existing international allure and for its need for a firmly established fashion school. The city’s rapid growth in the design and art categories coupled with its accessibility to Latin America made it the perfect choice for us,” said Baykam. “Miami already has the groundwork for success, and we feel that a brand of Istituto Marangoni’s caliber will take the city to the next level. This new campus is just the first step to developing a fashion hub that will be taken seriously around the world.”

Craig Robins Announces That Sales In The Miami Design District Are Up 40% In Past 6 Months As New Stores Open

Just before Art Basel, celebrity developer Craig Robins, founder and CEO of Dacra as well as Design Miami, has announced that Miami Design District has nearly doubled in size with the opening of several new buildings and stores including Rag & Bone. For the past 3 years, the district was only half-open, offering some of Miami's finest shopping with stunning designed buildings and beautiful walking streets. Miami Design District was on the way, but as Robins is building an entire new part of the city from a formerly desolate Little Haiti area, great things take time. Now, he explains, Miami Design District is starting to come into its own and for the first time shoppers and visitors can see "its full offering." Robins holds that retail sales in Dacra's Miami Design District properties have increase 40% in the past 6 months. The next stage will be the opening of 10 new restaurants including Ember and Kaido (restaurant by Chef Brad Kilgore), St. Roch Market (food hall), L’Atelier by Joël Robuchon (fine dining), Le Sushi by Joël Robuchon (Japanese), Le Bar by Joël Robuchon (lounge), Le Boutique by Joël Robuchon (bakery), Blue Bottle Coffee, and Roberta’s pizza. Also opening soon will be the Institute of Contemporary Art (museum), Gucci, Aesop, Creed, Empresa, Dolce & Gabbana, Celine, Joseph, Eres, Ralph & Russo, and Museum Garage which will bring 800 parking spaces. Some of the brands will be moving from their temporary locations to the final, permanent locations.  

Paradise Plaza, the open-air northern anchor of Miami Design District which is located 2 blocks north of Palm Court, will open in late November with many of the restaurants still finishing buildouts which are expected to open in December and January. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop GIFT is already open in Paradise Plaza, which will offer more dining options than Palm Court. Connecting Paradise Plaza to Palm Court will be Paseo Ponti, an art-lined walkway which also features the already open OTL (cafe), Cartier and Hermès, amongst others. Also opening in early 2018 will be the Museum Garage which will have spots for 800 cars and will feature eccentric art installations by 5 different artists as the facade. Robins is expected to announce the Sweetbird North Hotel in the next few months. Stay tuned to PROFILEmiami for the most up-to-date coverage of Miami Design District. 

Construction Update: Alta Developers Goes Vertical on Quadro at Miami Design District

After completing foundation work, Alta Developers has begun vertical construction on Quadro. Located at 3900 Biscayne Boulevard, Quadro is located adjacent to the Miami Design District and is the second residential building to open with direct access to the district following Eve at the District; which opened earlier this year, and connects Midtown Miami to Miami Design District. Quadro will feature 198 residential rental units, 27,000 SF of retail and 387 parking spots. The development was designed by Revuelta as the design architect and Behar Font & Partners as the architect of record. Banco de Crédito e Inversiones of Chile financed the project. Alta Developers acquired the site, which was previously home of WPLG-Channel 10, in 2015 for $18.36 million.

Leasing Underway at DD41, A Modern Retail Design by Royal Byckovas Coming to Miami Design District

Leasing is underway at the proposed DD41 modern retail project designed by Royal Byckovas in Miami Design District. The building is a 3 story structure with over 8,400 SF of retail being developed by TSG Group, a boutique, diversified real estate development and investment company based in South Florida. Leasing is being handled by CBRE. The site was purchased by TSG Group in 2015 and is one of the last commercial development sites in Design District, which has emerged as one of the world's leading luxury retail destinations. The district has also been certified as the 1st LEED ND Gold Certified Project in Miami-Dade County. 

New Interior Images of Stantec's Eve at the District Residential Development in Midtown Miami

Stantec has released new images of their new mixed-use residential development known as Eve at the District. The tower was completed in late 2016 and was named after artist Anna Sweet’s piece of art, “Eve," which is displayed in the building's lobby. Stantec provided the architectural and design services for Mack Real Estate Group, who is the developer of the project. Eve is a 19-story building located at 3635 N.E. 1st Avenue which features 195 luxury residences and 61,500 SF of retail and restaurant space. It serves to connect the Miami neighborhoods of Midtown and the Design District.

“I met Anna Sweet at the popular Spectrum Miami art show in 2014 and immediately knew that Eve was perfect for the District. Our design team was seeking a “wow factor” that would immediately engage and intrigue the guest and set the sensual tone of the space. Eve did that so wonderfully that naming the project after her was obligatory,” says Susan LaFleur, director of hospitality and residential interiors for Stantec’s Miami Office. 

Stantec, a recognized national leader in architecture, design and engineering, is working on other prominent projects throughout Florida, including Luma at Miami Worldcenter; Solitair in Brickell; Pearl at Midtown 29 and Midtown 8 in Midtown Miami; AER in Tampa; Jade Signature in collaboration with Pritzker Prize-winner Herzog & de Meuron; The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach in collaboration with Italian designer Piero Lissoni; and Eighty Seven Park in collaboration with Pritzker Prize-winner Renzo Piano.

Design District's Former Location of Philipp Plein's Billionaire Flagship Sells for $8.125 Million

The iconic, historic Design District building that at 4000 NE 2nd Avenue that has served as the former Buena Vista Post Office as well as the former home of designer Philipp Plein's Billionaire brand's flagship location, has sold for $8.125 million. Sale closes at $3,552 per square foot for the 2,287 SF building that was originally built in 1921. The buyer, according to The Real Deal, was the same New York-based investment group which purchased Power Studios, also in the Design District, in June 2015. Chariff Realty Group President Lyle Chariff and Steve Budin purchased the building for $479,000 in 2003. When Plein purchased Billionaire, which was already in the space, a new agreement for the space could not be met and the building was put for sale. The sale is just one of an increasing number of high-priced deals on Design District real estate which as seen Redsky Capital and JZ Capital Partners invested over $233 million in Design District, Harbor Group International purchased a retail building for $21.5 million located at 111 Northeast 40th Street at $2,445 SF, and David Edelstein and partners purchased 140 NE 40th Street for $10 million at $3,704 SF.