Avra Estiatorio Coming To The Estates At Acqualina In Sunny Isles Beach

Avra Estiatorio of New York and Beverly Hills has announced that it will be opening a new restaurant overlooking the beach at The Estates at Acqualina in Sunny Isles Beach, one of the most luxurious South Florida waterfront resort and residential complex’s South Florida has ever seen. The opening will mark the 4th Avra restaurant in the US, following Avra Madison and Midtown in New York City and Avra Beverly Hills.

Scheduled to open in late 2021, the 10,000 square-foot Greek estiatorio was designed by the award-winning STA Architectural Group. The airy space has a distinctly sophisticated, yet warm character and features floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings and a glamorous aesthetic. Diners will be able to hear the sounds of the waves crashing while they eat alfresco and savor oceanfront views, and a meal at the restaurant will offer a transportive experience.

The menu at Avra Estiatorio will offer a menu that focuses on Mediterranean-sourced seafood and traditional platter-style entrées made with imported ingredients. Greek specialties includ fresh fish, grilled or baked in salt and a selection of raw seafood over a dozen line-caught fish, beautifully displayed on an ice bar which is sourced directly from the nets of fisherman in Greece and will be flown into Miami daily. The menu will also feature a selection of Greek specialities salads, cheeses, tzatziki, spanakopita, octopus carpaccio, lamb chops and filet mignon. Every dish is finished with fruity, full-bodied olive oil, bottled exclusively for the restaurant from olives in Greece that are handpicked from ancient groves and pressed within three hours of harvest.

Avra will be located inside Villa Acqualina, a Mediterranean-inspired villa that’s the heart of The Estates with its many amenities including a spa, gym, movie theater, ice skating rink, a speakeasy style bar, a bowling alley and more.

The Estates at Acqualina will be home to 248 ultra-luxury residences delivering an exquisite living experience within a private gated community. Each estate in the sky with wide open views of the ocean will be equipped with the finest appliances, imported stone countertops, smart-home technology and 10-foot 6-inch ceilings and many will be delivered furniture ready. The development will feature lobbies created by the late fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld.

Those who purchase at The Estates will also have access to the neighboring Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Acqualina Resort & Residences. Residents will be able to take advantage of luxurious, personalized services from the resort, including children’s programming, nanny and child care services, pet care, dry cleaning and laundry services, limousine service, ESPA Spa access and additional dining options at three restaurants, Il Mulino New York, Costa Grill and the new Ke-uH Japanese fusion restaurant.

Residences at The Estates at Acqualina are priced from $4.6 to $14 million with penthouses priced up to $35 million. Construction began in early 2018 and will be completed in late 2021 to early 2022.

For more information about The Estates at Acqualina, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

First New Miami Building Breaks Ground in 2021

On Thursday, February 11th, Natiivo Miami - the first building purposefully designed, built and licensed for homesharing - officially broke ground in Downtown Miami. This event marked the first residential/hospitality groundbreaking post-pandemic and the first of 2021.  The building, in the heart of Downtown Miami, is slated to top off in August 2022 and completion is projected for Q3 of 2023.

Hospitality entrepreneurs Keith Menin and Marisa Galbut, developers of Natiivo Miami, spoke alongside Mayor Suarez to brokers, friends and family to mark this revolutionary development’s milestone of forging ahead with construction. Remarks were also made by Russell Galbut, Managing Principal of GFO Investments; and leaders from Natiivo’s exclusive sales team, Cervera Real Estate, including Alicia Cervera, Managing Partner;  Ali Paysse Cervera, Sales Director; and Jesse Ottley, President of Development.

Guests enjoyed live music by Brothers of Others, and coffee, pastries and light bites by Natiivo Miami’s culinary partners, Bodega and Dolce Italian. 

After coming to market in the summer of 2019, Natiivo™ Miami’s exclusive sales team, Cervera Real Estate, has successfully sold over 60 percent of the Natiivo™ Miami residences. The team has leveraged its knowledge of the Miami market and international experience, selling over 220 units in 2020, despite facing unprecedented circumstances.

Natiivo™ Miami is a vertically-integrated community that incorporates 448 condominium residences, 140 condominium hotel residences, a 100 unit hotel, a private social club called Natiivo™ Social, with 70,000 plus square feet of amenities, with a culinary experience curated by LDV Hospitality, and Creative HQ that includes 127 for-sale office condos, all under one roof. The development recently announced the addition of three coveted Miami brands, Dolce Mercato, also from LDV Hospitality, offering authentic Italian cuisine with the feel of a sophisticated food hall and the charm and service of a sit-down restaurant; Bodega Taqueria, South Florida’s iconic spot known for its authentic Mexican street food; and Gale Miami Hotel and Residences, the third Gale Hotel property in South Florida.

“With the migration to South Florida and the recent announcements of high-profile tech and finance companies relocating to and expressing interest in Miami, the continued growth of Downtown is imminent,” said Keith Menin. “We are confident that Natiivo™ Miami will play an integral role in this growth and are excited to forge ahead in construction. We’re optimistic for 2021 and hope to set the tone for the Downtown Miami market with the first groundbreaking of the year.”

Michelin-Starred Korean Barbecue Restaurant COTE Opens In Miami Design District

COTE, the Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated Korean Steakhouse™ by Simon Kim, has opened at 3900 NE 2nd Ave in Miami Design District. The opening is COTE’s first location outside of New York City since opening in 2017. COTE in Miami Design District spans a 5,892 square foot location offering 100+ seats in the dining room.

The interior was designed based on the New York City location by MNDPC and includes a lavish oval-shaped bar, red light dry-aging room, blue chip modern art and two private dining rooms. COTE offers an interactive dining experience with table-side smokeless grills with an exhaust system which ventilates air at 6.6X more frequently than standard restaurants. COTE has also installed a state-of-the-art Paragon Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS), which continuously replaces indoor air with fresh air from the outdoors.

COTE’s menu includes 45-day, dry-aged beef which is prepared at the table on the smokeless grills. The menu also includes the highest grade of prime cuts and American wagyu that is dry-aged in the restaurant’s on-site red light dry-aging room. Meats are seasoned with COTE’s Signature Gastronome’s Salt, a proprietary salt blend composed of British Maldon salt, Himalayan pink salt, and Korean thousand-day sea salt. COTE also offers two tasting menus, The Butcher’s Feast® and a 10-course Steak Omakase™. COTE also offers an award winning beverage program curated by James Beard Award-nominated beverage director Victoria James and master sommelier Mia van de Water.

COTE is part of the influx of New York-based restaurants to recently open in Miami including Carbone and Osteria Morini.

Osteria Morini Miami Beach Opens In Finvarb Group's Recently Opened Kimpton Palomar South Beach

Award-winning New York-based Altamarea Group, the global hospitality company behind Michelin star-rated Marea and Ai Fiori, as well as Osteria Morini and Nicoletta brands, has officially opened Osteria Morini Miami Beach. The restaurant is located within the Kimpton Palomar South Beach, with a separate, waterside entrance along the Collins Canal on Alton Road. Conveniently nestled between the Sunset Harbour and West Avenue neighborhoods, Morini aims to appeal to locals in the Miami Beach community. Morini Miami Beach joins locations in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

“After a long search, we found the right balance of neighborhood, community and Miami vibe in this location, and we’re thrilled to finally open the doors of Osteria Morini Miami Beach,” said Ahmass Fakahany, Altamarea Group founder and CEO. “Morini is your year-round neighborhood restaurant, and we were very selective about choosing a location that appeals to residents while still catering to visitors and hotel guests. Our clientele spans the globe, and recently, many have moved south or visit often. They know they can count on Morini, and we look forward to introducing our quality and vibrant style of dining to those we haven't met yet.”

Altamarea Group partnered with Finvarb Group, the owner and developer of the Kimpton Palomar South Beach, to bring Osteria Morini Miami Beach to fruition.

“We're confident that through Kimpton's collaboration with Altamarea Group, along with our collective expertise in the South Florida market, we'll be able to create an amazing experience for hotel guests and Miami locals alike,” said Ronny Finvarb, principal of Finvarb Group.

Led by Corporate Executive Chef Bill Dorrler, who has launched all Morini restaurants, and Altamarea veteran Chef de Cuisine Julio Cesar Ramos, the menu highlights the soulful cuisine and convivial spirit of Northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region with authentic, high-quality dishes in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

"We’re bringing many of Morini’s trusted favorites to Miami, and we’re excited to adapt part of our menu to align with the local vibe and Miami lifestyle with some new, lighter options as well," said Altamarea Group Corporate Executive Chef Bill Dorrler. "This is my fifth Morini opening, and Chef Ramos and I are particularly looking forward to incorporating Miami flavors and products – think locally caught seafood and the freshest Florida produce – creating the perfect balance of cuisine and cocktails."

Designed by New York City-based nusla design, the 3,700 square-foot space has an intrinsically ‘Miami-meets-New York’ feel that combines the rustic design of an Italian farmhouse with clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the yacht-shaped building. The buildout features modern elements with red brick and wood to clad the walls and ceiling, and Morini’s trademark floating Italian Murano glass-domed lights that dot the dining room, creating a soft amber glow. The dining room has seating for 100, bar seating for 15 and al fresco dining on the canal-front patio space for 45. Private dining with seating for up to 20 is also available.

Mondrian South Beach Celebrates Reopening Revealing $20 Million Renovation And Baia Beach Club

The Mondrian South Beach has reopened, revealing its $20 million renovation and Baia Beach Club. The 220-room hotel, which is located at 1100 West Ave. in Miami Beach, recently completed a complete renovation including lobby, pool area, gym, spa, restaurant, event space, common areas and guest rooms. The renovation was designed by Peter Oleck and Danny Cubes of OS Design Group. The Mondrian South Beach also revealed the Baia Beach Club, a members-only club located within the hotel which is overseen by LDV Hospitality. Baia Beach Club offers a new dining concept, multiple areas for dining and entertainment throughout, seaside cabanas and pavilions, boat dockage, access to a full-service wellness facility, a fitness center, curated programming, and exclusive member-only events.

“Since partnering with Russell Galbut, I knew this property deserved a complete makeover. As the audience of the hotel grows up, so should the property. Whether visiting as a Baia Beach Club member, dining at our bayfront restaurant or staying in one of our new guest rooms, Mondrian South Beach will be a new and exciting experience for all,” said Mondrian South Beach co-owner Michael Liebowitz, CEO and founder of Harbor Group Consulting.

The Mondrian South Beach was originally designed by Marcel Wanders and first opened in 2008. In December 2019 Michael Liebowitz acquired 50% of co-owner Russell Galbut’s stake in the hotel for an undisclosed amount.

Mondrian South Beach is one of five hotels worldwide carrying the Mondrian name, which as launched in 1996 by SBE. Other Mondrian hotels currently include Los Angeles, New York, Doha and Seoul, with future locations opening in Bordeaux and Cannes in 2021. In November 2020 Sam Nazarian’s sold the remainder of his 50% stake in SBE Entertainment Group to the Paris-based Accor, who had previously acquired an initial 50% stake in the company in 2018. The acquisition included a $300 million investment from Accor who will take ownership of all hotel operations including Mondrian, SLS and Delano hotel brands. Nazarian will focus on food and beverage operations through SBE’s Disruptive Restaurant Group.

Miami Worldcenter Gears Up To Break Ground On Two-Story Mixed-Use Building

Miami Worldcenter Associates are gearing up to break ground on a two story mixed-use building around a pedestrian promenade in Miami Worldcenter after city records show that the developers filed for a construction permit on December 1st. Miami Worldcenter plans to have one level of retail on the ground floor and one level of office space on the second floor, totaling 41,164 sq.ft. between the two stories. Construction costs of the new building are estimated to be $8.5 million. Other new construction includes the 7th Street Promenade which is now complete. The 7th Street Promenade is an open-air shopping walkway inspired by European-style and themes of Santa Monica and Lincoln Road. The new building will line the 7th Street Promenade with a large public plaza nearby for outdoor event space.

The Miami Worldcenter master plan, delivering in phases, features an array of residential, commercial and hospitality uses. These include approximately 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space; the 60-story Paramount Miami Worldcenter condominium tower; Caoba, a 444-unit apartment tower that opened in 2019; a 348-room CitizenM hotel which is now under construction; and Bezel, a 434-unit rental tower by ZOM Living which is also underway. In addition, Hines is preparing to build a new tower that will comprise up to 500,000 square feet of Class A office space and MDM Group is planning a 1,700-room Marriott Marquis hotel and adjacent 600,000 square foot expo center.

Miami Worldcenter occupies 10 city blocks within walking distance of Museum Park, home to Perez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science; AmericanAirlines Arena; the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center; and Miami-Dade College’s Downtown Miami campus. It is also adjacent to Virgin Trains’ 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 the largest and most-connected transit-oriented development in Florida.

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.

CocoWalk Announces New Fashion-Focused Retailers Ahead of Fall Reopening In Coconut Grove

CocoWalk, one of the most highly anticipated mixed-use projects in Miami, has announced new clothing concepts to join their lineup. The open-air lifestyle center is bringing new tenants and energy to the Coconut Grove neighborhood. It is slated to begin its phased reopening later in the Fall along with new fashion-focused tenants. CocoWalk features 150,000 sq.ft. of prime retail and dining space that is currently 80% leased. New brands include Free People Movement, Europann and Late Night Gypsy.

“Our aim is to return CocoWalk to its former vitality by bringing in carefully curated tenants attuned to the wants and needs of the local community and surrounding neighborhoods,” said Stuart Biel, senior vice president of regional leasing at Federal Realty Investment Trust. “FP Movement, Europann, and Late Night Gypsy are cool and original apparel concepts that will not only enhance the center Grove’s retail offerings but will bring the community together for unique experiences.”

CocoWalk offers new tenants the opportunity to launch new concepts and test the market in prime retail space. Free People Movement is by the Philadephia based boho fashion house Free People. Their new line will offer customers fashionable athletic wear from a brand they already know and love. Europann is a men’s clothing line from Saint-Tropez, introducing the French Riviera style of prints and bold colors to Miami. Late Night Gypsy will offer trend-setting vintage clothing concepts from Los Angeles. Their brands include For Love and Lemons, Lavish Alice, Jen’s Pirate Booty and Band of Gypsies. 

“I’m excited to bring the trendy, street chic style of Los Angeles to the colorful spirit of Miami,” said Allegra Wynne-Kaplan, founder and owner of Late Night Gypsy. “Growing up in Miami, I always loved Coconut Grove’s enchanting vibe and unique energy – and after 15 years in Los Angeles, I’m ready to return to my roots, by opening my first storefront location at CocoWalk in the Grove. The artsy and free-spirited nature of the neighborhood perfectly aligns with Late Night Gypsy’s brand, mission, and image, and I look forward to being part of the Grove community once again.”

The three new retailers will join CocoWalk’s existing list of chic, diverse and international shops and restaurants. The list includes Planta Queen, Sushi Garage, Mister 01 Extraordinary, Botanico Gin & Cookhouse, Salt & Straw, Sweetgreen, Narbona Natural Foods & Farm Market, Bluemercury, Edward Beiner, Edite Mode, Palma de Leon, The Spot Barbershop and The School of Rock. The bespoke lineup of CocoWalk brings a new age of fashion, beauty and lifestyle to Coconut Grove. 

Miami, Palm Beach County and Fort Lauderdale recover about 28,000 jobs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

Almost 28,000 jobs have been recovered since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Miami, Palm Beach County and Fort Lauderdale.  Majority of these jobs fall into the government, hospitality and retail sectors.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing the Miami market has gained  over 16,000 jobs in August, Palm Beach has gained about 7,000 and Fort Lauderdale has gained over 5,000.  The largest growth in the job market over the last few months is coming from the government sector.  The majority of these jobs are temporary positions tied to the 2020 Census, but has helped the unemployment rate fall to single digits for the first time since COVID-19 hit.  

Hospitality and retail are industries that have suffered considerably from the COVID-19 pandemic across the Country.  Miami has lost about 70,000 jobs in hospitality and about 22,000 jobs in retail since March and April.  As stores and restaurants continue to open up operating at limited capacity, both industries combined have recovered an average of 55% of the jobs lost.  This has significantly boosted Miami’s total COVID-19 job recovery rate to about 45%. 

Palm Beach County’s hospitality and retail industries are slowly making a comeback but not at the same rapid pace as Miami.   At the beginning of the pandemic hospitality in Palm Beach County lost about 48,000 jobs and retail lost almost 10,000.  Since April, hospitality has recovered about 30% of jobs lost and retail has recovered about 45%.  Palm Beach County has regained about 35% of the 100,000 total jobs lost from the pandemic. 

Fort Lauderdale’s hospitality industry lost over 3,000 jobs and retail lost about 14,000 since March and April.  Hospitality has recovered about 44% of the jobs lost and retail has recovered about 60%.  Fort Lauderdale has a total recovery rate of about 36% of the 130,000 jobs lost from the pandemic.  Overall even though job loss from COVID-19 remains down, it is hopeful to see industries slowly coming back as customers begin to leave their houses and support local communities.   

Tricera Capital And Merrimac Ventures Close On Society Las Olas Retail Acquisition

Tricera Capital and Merrimac Ventures have acquired the ground-floor retail space within the newly developed Society Las Olas mixed-use project in downtown Fort Lauderdale developed by PMG. The purchase of the prime 301 SW First Ave. space closed on Aug. 27. The venture purchased the retail for $3.8 million, while also acquiring 40 parking spots as part of the transaction.

Society Las Olas is the premier mixed-use project along the revitalized Riverwalk in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Tricera’s partner, Dev Motwani-led Merrimac Ventures, has been a driving force in the neighborhood’s reemergence. Merrimac acquired the former Las Olas Riverfront complex and brought in PMG to develop Society on a portion of the property before partnering with Tricera to acquire and curate the retail component.

Merrimac also owns the adjacent property and operates the Wharf Fort Lauderdale and Rivertail with Breakwater Hospitality Group. Tricera and Merrimac own a total of ~16,500 square feet of retail at Society, with ~8,500 square feet of prime space still available. Nearly half of the space is already home to numerous first-to-market tenants of national prominence. 

Thompson Hospitality, one of the largest retail food and facilities management companies in the country, is leasing over 6,000 square feet of space that will house the company’s popular Matchbox Restaurant and Big Buns Damn Good Burger Co. After an initial $14 million investment earlier this year, Thompson Hospitality has fully acquired the Matchbox Brand and strategically expanded the concept into emerging markets. Since 2003, the Washington, D.C.-based chain has provided a quintessential neighborhood gathering place for communities.

With 11 locations across the U.S. and more on the way, Matchbox’s menu is centered around fresh, premium ingredients, offering something for everyone, from wood-fired pizzas and mini burgers to simple, yet refined main courses, and a full bar featuring specialty cocktails, local beer and wines from around the globe.

Thompson is also bringing its latest venture, Big Buns Damn Good Burger, to Society. Big Buns is a fun-casual restaurant specializing in burgers, burger bowls, shakes, craft beer and cocktails. The restaurant is inspired by a true love for burgers and beer, and the belief that eating out should feel like a fun backyard party with delicious food, ice-cold drinks and good friends.

Pura Vida Miami, the popular Miami casual health food restaurant, is leasing an ~1,600-square-foot space. Society Las Olas marks the first ever Fort Lauderdale location for Pura Vida, which strives to bring healthy food and a sense of community to each of its South Florida locations.

“Fort Lauderdale continues to offer great opportunities for us to expand our presence in the market,” Tricera Capital Co-Founder and Managing Principal Ben Mandell said. “We are thankful to be able to close this deal mid-pandemic with confidence and plan to continue our efforts in the area.” 

“Bringing these exciting concepts to downtown Fort Lauderdale continues our company – and my family’s – long history of enhancing the city we are fortunate to call home,” Merrimac Ventures President and CEO Dev Motwani said. “The tenants we are securing at Society nicely complement Wharf and Rivertail and will help make this area the focal point of the Riverwalk.”