Black Lion Purchases Iconic Hospitality Destination In Miami Beach's South of Fifth Neighborhood

Black Lion has acquired an iconic restaurant space in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood. The property is located at 200 South Pointe Drive, in front of the luxury Continuum Residences condo development. Black Lion is preparing to announce flagship restaurant concept which will be new to the Miami market. The property was formerly Cibo Wine Bar South Beach and is steps away from the beach and South Pointe Park. The 12,000-square-foot venue was purchased from Ian Bruce Eichner of The Continuum Company for $11.5 million, who developed the building, and brokered by Phil Gutman of PGutman, LLC and Pablo Camposano of Colliers International.

“We are excited to introduce something special to Miami Beach,” shares Robert Rivani, President of Black Lion. “Through relationships with high-caliber hospitality groups, we are able to create once in a lifetime opportunities that set the precedent for up and coming cities and curate unique lifestyle experiences at our properties. The soon-to-be-announced concept at 200 South Pointe Drive is no exception.”

The prime mixed-use retail/ restaurant space feature an open, multi-storied layout which allows for flexible design options and prominent branding opportunity with high visibility signage from two locations. Features include 19’ – 22’ ceilings, an outdoor courtyard and a rooftop lounge accessible by elevator.

This property is the latest addition to Black Lion’s growing South Florida portfolio of mixed-use, restaurant and hospitality commercial investments. Led b Robert Rivani, the company’s recently announced several Miami projects and acquisitions including Brickell Bay Boardwalk, Wynwood Jungle, Amara at Paraiso in Edgewater, new venues at Marea South Beach, and a yet-to-be-named restaurant concept on the ground level of the SLS LUX in Brickell.

Miami Worldcenter Completes Major Milestones Including 50K SF of Retail And 43-Story Bezel Tower

Miami Worldcenter has announced the completion of Block H, adding to the retail and parking components at the 27-acre project as active vertical development continues on the $4 billion mixed-use development in the heart of Downtown Miami. Block H is composed of 50,000 square feet of prime street-level and rooftop retail space, and a 922-space public parking garage fronting Northeast 7th Street, between Northeast 1st and 2nd Avenues. A portion of the structure’s rooftop is also home to a resort-style amenity deck serving Bezel Miami, a newly delivered 43-story luxury rental tower developed next door by ZOM Living.

As the largest private, urban development underway in Florida, Miami Worldcenter will feature a diverse mix of residential, commercial and hospitality uses complemented by a total of 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space. The project is being developed by master developers Miami Worldcenter Associates, led by Principal Art Falcone and Managing Partner Nitin Motwani, in partnership with CIM Group.

“When we envisioned Miami Worldcenter more than a decade ago, we pictured a Downtown Miami where people could walk, ride a bike, push a stroller, get on public transportation or drive a car, and as more of our developments continue to deliver, we’re seeing that vision come to life,” said Nitin Motwani, Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “Miami Worldcenter is at the confluence of arts, culture, entertainment, transportation and education, and I believe this is just the beginning of Downtown’s evolution into a fully integrated community.”

Approximately 176,000 square feet of retail space has now been completed at Miami Worldcenter, with another 124,000 square feet remaining under construction and slated to deliver by the end of the year. The development’s enticing lineup of recently announced tenants includes Chicago’s Maple & Ash and etta restaurants, Miami chef Michael Beltran’s Brasserie Laurel and El Vecino, Bowlero, Sephora, and Lucid Motors.

“Each development milestone is an important achievement for Miami Worldcenter and our development team. This is a dynamic, multifaceted project that benefits visually from a variety of architectural styles, interwoven streets, plazas and gathering spaces; creates a connected community and an engaging experience for all,” said Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder and Principal, CIM Group.

Bezel Miami becomes the latest residential development to be completed at Miami Worldcenter, joining other completed towers including the 60-story Paramount Miami Worldcenter, and the 43-story Caoba luxury apartment building. Coming up, a 351-room citizenM hotel is expected to open at Miami Worldcenter in the Spring. Additionally, construction is now underway at New York-based developer Lalezarian’s 52-story Miami World Tower, which will comprise 550 multifamily apartment units; at Royal Palm Companies’ Legacy Hotel & Residences, a 50-story mixed-use tower with 310 branded residences atop a hotel and 50,000 square feet of medical office space; and at the second phase of Caoba, which will encompass a 40-story tower with 420 multifamily apartments.

Planned residential developments include Kenect, a hospitality-oriented apartment tower with 450 multifamily units by Chicago-based Akara Partners; and The Crosby, a 450-unit turn-key condominium by Related Group and Merrimac Ventures. The Witkoff Group is also planning a three-tower mixed-use project at Miami Worldcenter, which will include up to 2,000 residential units, 550,000 square feet of office space and 50,000 square feet of retail.

Complementing Miami Worldcenter’s open-air retail will be World Square, a 20,000-square-foot public plaza and park. Designed as a central gathering place and outdoor event space, World Square will serve as the heartbeat of the city-within-a-city featuring an abundance of shade trees, works of art by local and international artists, and oversized, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks lined with dining, entertainment, and retail concepts.

Miami Worldcenter occupies ten city blocks within walking distance of Museum Park, home to Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science; FTX Arena; the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; and Miami Dade College’s Wolfson 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 Tri-Rail, the Metromover, and the Metrorail, making Miami Worldcenter the largest and most connected transit-oriented development in Florida.

FENDI Caffe Is Back For Spring 2022 At OTL In Miami Design District

The iconic FENDI Caffe is back at OTL in the vibrant Miami Design District for Spring 2022 from March 17th through May 1st, 2022. The FENDI Caffe at OTL is located across from the FENDI Boutique in Miami Design District, following the great success of the FF Vertigo-inspired iteration in the Summer 2021. The new creative concept for the FENDI CAFFE draws creative cues from the FENDI Women’s Spring/Summer 2022 Collection, and its inspiration from the figurative drawings of visionary fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez.

The FENDI CAFFE menu includes a fusion of local and Italian favorite breakfast and lunch items, as well as beverages including a signature FF logo cappuccino served in porcelain cups decorated with FENDI’s signature Pequin striped motif. An evening Aperitivo menu will also be offered. Sweet and savory bites will include special FF logo toast and paninis, as well as a variety of pastries and baked goods in special FENDI packaging.

In collaboration with The Estate and Archive of Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos, the artist’s work has been freshly revived for the FENDI Women’s Spring/Summer 2022 Collection, bringing a modern perspective on disco-age glamour, and a spotlight on the diverse and powerful femininity that underscores the FENDI name. With a bold sunset graphic in hues of red, orange, and yellow, the FENDI CAFFE takes over the outdoor corridors of the restaurant and FENDI Boutique. The concept comes to life with illustrations of ‘Lopez Girls’ – focusing on Lopez’s innovative vision on femininity, diversity, inclusivity, and unconventional beauty, emblazoned across the outside of the space.

Upon entering the cafe, guests will immediately discover the space transformed into a world of FENDI and Antonio Lopez. The space will be adorned with rainbow graphics, and the sketches of ‘Lopez Girls’ come to life in 3D billboard sculptures. The FENDI CAFFE tables embrace the 70’s aesthetic, with the colorful sunset graphics topping each surface. The theme is continued throughout with custom FENDI table settings and takeaway elements, as well as decorative details for the menu’s food and beverage. The hand-sketched version of the FENDI logo inspired by Lopez’s original work for the brand appears throughout elements of the café.

FENDI Caffe is located at 160 NE 40th St. in Miami Design District.

Images via World Red Eye

The Cheesecake Factory Signs Lease At Terranova Corporation's 600 Lincoln Road In Miami Beach

The Cheesecake Factory® (NASDAQ: CAKE) has signed a lease for a prominent corner space at Terranova Corporation’s 600 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. The popular national brand, which will invest in a custom buildout of the approximately 7,000 SF space in the iconic district, plans to open its doors Fall 2022 at the space previously occupied by Sushi Samba. Plans call for hiring more than 200 staff members from the local community. Terranova Corporation is led by Chairman Stephen Bittel.

“We are proud to welcome The Cheesecake Factory to Lincoln Road as part of our history of selecting tenants that bring value to Miami Beach and anyone who lives, works and plays in the city,” Bittel said. “Looking ahead at 2022, the local economy is strong and positioned for continued growth. Terranova will continue to support these trends by bringing a dynamic array of tenants and innovative projects that maximize value for stakeholders, create jobs and economic opportunities, and build a better community for all.”

Terranova, which has a leading position as the largest single property owner on Lincoln Road, has consistently secured a vibrant assortment of local and national tenants, including eateries, coffee shops, restaurants, and consumer-driven shops. The Cheesecake Factory location is surrounded by flagship stores from top worldwide retailers including H&M, which is across the street, and steps away from Zara, Sephora, the New World Symphony, Soundscape Park and Miami Beach Convention Center.

“The Cheesecake Factory is so pleased to be opening a restaurant on Lincoln Road, allowing us to serve Miami Beach residents, tourists and visitors alike,” said David Overton, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated. “Since opening our first restaurant in Beverly Hills more than 40 years ago, The Cheesecake Factory has become known for creating delicious, memorable experiences for millions of guests around the country, and we look forward to serving guests in Miami Beach.”

Bittel, who co-founded the Lincoln Road Property Owners Association, which later became the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District, spearheaded the planting of 1,000 orchids within the trees along Lincoln Road. The orchids serve to beautify the area and engage the community in celebration of a key asset: native Florida plants. The orchids, which more than a century ago blanketed oak and mahogany trees throughout South Florida, were attached to existing trees along Lincoln Road as part of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s “The Million Orchid Project.”

Design 41 In Miami Design District Now Fully Leased After Swiss Watch Company Breitling Opens New Boutique

Design 41 in Miami Design District is now fully leased after Breitling signed a lease and opened a 1,832-square-foot boutique on the district’s prime Northeast 41st Street corridor. The 112 NE 41st St. store will showcase the latest watches modeled by Breitling’s “Spotlight Squad,” which includes Charlize Theron and Misty Copeland. Other tenants that have opened in Design 41 include bespoke perfumery Bond No. 9 New York, Rosenfeld Gallery – which only has one other location in New York City, and the first U.S. flagship store for Argentine leather goods brand Gaucho.

The lease was overseen by DWNTWN Realty Advisors Co-Founder and Managing Partner Tony Arellano and Executive Joe Fernandez, who represented the landlord to lease the entire 40,000-square-foot building. Design 41 was developed by Design District Development Partners.

“It is fitting that Breitling moves into the final available space on this important block and joins some of the world’s most luxurious retailers, such as Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Tiffany & Co. and Burberry, in the Design District,” Arellano said. “We are proud of our role in leasing up Design 41 and helping the entire neighborhood reach its full potential.”

“We drew upon our unique knowledge of the neighborhood and strong relationships to accomplish a successful lease-up of Design 41,” Fernandez said. “Breitling’s new store there will undoubtedly rival its top-performing boutiques in major U.S. markets.”

Arellano and DWNTWN Co-Founder Marinoff have also played a pivotal role in Miami Design District’s evolution. Over the last seven years, the brokers have completed 22 transactions totaling more than $205 million in the neighborhood’s four-block pedestrian core. These sales represent most of the district transactions not involving Dacra’s assemblage, filling the gaps around the district’s core and making DWNTWN the neighborhood’s market leaders.

AMIRI Opens Flagship Store In Miami Design District

AMIRI has opened its Miami flagship store marking the brand’s fourth retail location in the United States. Situated in the heart of Miami Design District, this environment of contemporary art and craft reflects AMIRI’s own and is imbued in the store’s design language, articulated by an all-white minimalist façade that sits in harmony with its neighborhood. Designed by CEO and Creative director Mike Amiri in collaboration with Paris Design Studio NOCOD and architectural design firm TwoOneTwo, the new boutique brings the spirit of AMIRI to Miami, expanding the house’s codes in harmony with the city’s stylistic roots.

The Miami Design District location spans 1,972 square feet spread over two floors. The interior plays with materials that highlight the house’s codes of dualism and craftsmanship, pairing industrial suspended brushed stainless-steel rails with natural solid wood details. A monolithic spiral staircase crafted in white concrete acts as an ambitious architectural centerpiece. Custom plastered and hand-finished by New York-based Kamp Studios, the design draws smooth curves that nod towards Miami’s modernist character.

The flagship features furnishings curated by Mike Amiri in partnership with interior designer Katherine Waronker, and plants from AMIRI’s native California. Continuing AMIRI’s strong relationship with Los Angeles artist Wes Lang, whose work proudly hangs in AMIRI’s Rodeo Drive, SoHo and Las Vegas stores, two site-specific works by Lang greet visitors on the ground level: ‘Yes, The River Knows’, 2019, and ‘One Winter,’ 2018. Upstairs, ‘We Got Drunk Here / We Danced Here’, 2020, by Columbian-born, Spanish-based artist Armando Mesías, who is represented by LA’s Galerie Ground, frames the space.

The ground floor is devoted to menswear, housing the ready-to-wear collection alongside footwear and accessories, while the second level carries AMIRI womenswear, acting as an exclusive preview before the line’s global launch on 27th January.

Alongside AMIRI’s core collections, the flagship hosts an exclusive Miami capsule distinguished by crisp, summer colorways that echo the heritage Art Deco hues synonymous with Miami’s Design District and the city’s tropical personality. Soft jersey staples are offered alongside bone appliqué jeans, Crochet Bandana knits and silk Cabana Sets drawn in clay, alabaster and Miami blue tones, while paint-splatter swim trunks speak of Miami's famous South Beach and a new logo is introduced, written in neon pastel with incorporated palm tree imagery.

AMIRI Miami is located at 106 NE 39th Street, Miami and is open Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM and Sunday 12 PM - 6 PM.

Photography: Kris Tamburello

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

Wharton Realty Group Acquires Homestead Pavillion Shopping Center For $82 Million

The New Jersey-based Wharton Realty Group has acquired Homestead Pavillion Shopping Center for $82 million from a joint venture including CREC Capital, Highline Real Estate Capital, MMG Equity Partners, and Lubert-Adler Real Estate funds. CREC Capital’s co-founders Alan Esquenazi and Warren Weiser facilitated the sale of a 298,000 SF retail center located at 2400 NE 10th Ct in Homestead. Danny Finkle and Eric Williams from JLL represented the buyer in the transaction.

“The transaction represents a strategic acquisition for the New Jersey-based real estate company to position themselves in an expanding bustling market,” said Alan Esquenazi, Co-Founder & Partner of CREC Capital. “The purchase further validates the strength of the South Florida retail market and the robust recovery in retail space post-pandemic.”

During the pandemic, the JV ownership group fully leased the property by securing tenants including Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Dr. Limon, and Body Details. This dominant retail center in southern Miami-Dade County serves Homestead, Cutler Ridge, and the Florida Keys. The joint venture retained ownership of Target, Raising Canes, and Murphy Oil.

“Despite the pandemic’s challenging effects on the marketplace, we were able to line up anchor and in-line tenants which elevated the existing tenant base and supported a favorable execution for both sides of the transaction,” said Warren Weiser, Co-Founder & Partner of CREC Capital.

Wharton Realty Group is a premier real estate company based in New Jersey focused on managing and leasing diversified properties across the country with over one thousand tenants.

The resilience of the South Florida retail market throughout the pandemic has made it a hot spot for retail investors. Investment sales volume for retail assets in Miami-Dade County surged by 164.3% in 2021 reaching a total deal volume of $577 million, compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019 where the total trade volume of retail assets was $218 million.

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 Set To Open NYC-Hotspot Sadelle's In Miami's Coconut Grove This Week

This weekend, Major Food Group (MFG), the creative force behind some of America’s most celebrated restaurants, continues its South Florida expansion with the opening of acclaimed all-day dining institution Sadelle’s in Coconut Grove. The concept, which first opened in downtown Manhattan in 2016, is a lifestyle as much as a restaurant: a breakfast-centric haven, power-lunch hotspot, and energetic dinner destination all in one. Named after MFG Co-Founder Jeff Zalaznick’s great grandmother, the New York-inspired restaurant attracts a worldly clientele in search of leisurely sophistication and some of the best bagels in America, among many other signature dishes.

Sadelle’s Coconut Grove is located at coveted intersection of Tigertail and Mary Streets at 3321 Mary St. With ample outdoor space surrounded by lush greenery, the Coconut Grove outpost will bring the show-stopping bagel towers, meticulously chopped salads, sliced-to-order salmon, triple-decker sandwiches, and lively, refined style of all-day dining the brand is famous for—as well as a made-for-Miami dinner program that’s poised to become a Coconut Grove essential. Menu highlights include caviar service, a selection of pristine raw seafood, The Sadelle’s Burger, a spicy chicken sandwich, a glazed Asian ribeye, and the restaurant’s first pizzas ever.

“We couldn’t have found a more perfect home for Sadelle’s than this corner of Coconut Grove. Our mission now is to create the sophisticated and ridiculously delicious all-day anchor that one of Miami’s most elegant neighborhoods deserves—and to show everyone a very good time, from morning through night.” Said Jeff Zalaznick, MFG Co-Founder.

Sadelle’s Coconut Grove marks the first MFG project in the historic Grove neighborhood, since the company established roots in the Miami region all throughout 2021 with CARBONE in the South of Fifth neighborhood, the private membership venue ZZ’s Club in the Design District, and HaSalon on 5th and Washington. Led by Co-Founders Mario Carbone, Jeff Zalaznick, and Rich Torrisi, MFG now operates a global portfolio of over 30 restaurants, private clubs, and hotels. The luxury brand will launch several additional Miami projects in the coming months and recently announced MAJOR., a forthcoming residential tower in Brickell built in collaboration with JDS Development, which will be the tallest high-rise in the city upon completion.

The location’s design follows the signature Sadelle’s style created by the renowned Ken Fulk, Inc, longtime MFG collaborators who have also conceived such celebrated, grand spaces as Carbone Miami and ZZ’s Club. Coconut Grove will be the fifth Sadelle’s in operation, following the original in New York City’s Soho, an outpost in the Bellagio Las Vegas, the recently opened location at Kith’s flagship store in Paris, France, and a soon-to-debut version at the luxury shopping destination Highland Park Village in Dallas, Texas.

In 2022, that number will grow as Sadelle’s joins several markets and launches at 1212 Lincoln Road, an innovative new retail project at the crossroads of Alton and Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.

Sadelle’s is a modern ode to New York’s classic tradition of all-day dining. Since opening its first location in the heart of SoHo in 2016, the brand has reached iconic status thanks to its urbane, celebratory atmosphere and a menu of hits, including some of the best bagels served anywhere. Among its many accolades, Sadelle’s was named an essential brunch destination by Harper’s BAZAAR and Cosmopolitan, and its sticky buns were ranked one of the Best Dishes of 2015 by The New York Times. Sadelle’s currently has outposts in New York, Las Vegas, Miami, and Paris, with Dallas and Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road location to follow.

In the span of a decade, MFG has grown into one of the most acclaimed hospitality groups in the world. They have pioneered a celebratory style of dining at such iconic restaurants as CARBONE and The Grill, forged groundbreaking partnerships with leading designers and luxury brands, and opened The Ludlow Hotel in Manhattan and The Newbury Boston. Since 2020, the company has expanded into several markets, from South Florida to Paris, while exploring new ventures like the private membership venue ZZ’s Club in Miami and The Crown Club at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. In addition to building renowned restaurants, MFG is proud of its support of various social causes and its lasting partnership with the Robin Hood Foundation, one of New York City’s most important forces in the fight against poverty. To date, MFG has been awarded a total of 18 stars from The New York Times and three from the Michelin Guide. MFG’s businesses are located in New York City, Miami, Boston, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Paris, and Tel Aviv. The concepts include CARBONE, Sadelle’s, The Grill, ZZ’s Club, Dirty French, Parm, Contessa, and The Lobster Club.

Images via Major Food Group