Miami Worldcenter revealed some local venues, as well as two Chicago concepts, among the first restaurants to sign leases at the massive mixed-use development.
The 10-block, $4 billion project in downtown Miami announced that local restaurateur Michael Beltran will debut two new restaurants at Miami Worldcenter, while Chicago-based restaurateur Danny Grant will bring two established concepts to South Florida. The four eateries will occupy a combined 30,400 square feet at the 27-acre development.
Beltran, best known for his restaurant Ariete in Miami’s Coconut Grove, is set to debut two new concepts at Miami Worldcenter: Laurel and El Vecino.
Laurel will bring a blend of French and Cuban fare to the development. The eatery will include a limited selection of Cuban cuisine from Chug’s, a diner in Coconut Grove. Laurel will occupy 2,800 square feet of indoor and outdoor space on the ground floor of Caoba, Miami Worldcenter’s apartment tower, at the corner of the Seventh Street promenade and First Avenue.
Beltran’s hospitality group, Ariete Hospitality Group, will also debut El Vecino at Miami Worldcenter. This will be a cigar bar with a full liquor bar and light Cuban cuisine, including pastries from Gio “Pastelito Papi” Fesser. The bar will occupy approximately 1,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, also on the ground floor of the Caoba apartment tower.
Beltran was a 2020 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist, recognized as one of the best chefs in the southern U.S.
Meanwhile, Chicago chef Grant will bring existing concepts to Miami Worldcenter.
First is his signature concept Maple & Ash. This steakhouse with an extensive wine list will occupy 15,000 square feet at the corner of Miami Worldcenter’s Seventh Street promenade and First Avenue, and will include ground and second floor seating.
There is currently one Maple & Ash restaurant in Chicago, as well as one in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Grant’s concept Etta is also coming to Miami. The restaurant specializes in wood-fired dishes and will feature an open kitchen with a wood-burning brick oven and a wood-fired hearth. Etta will have about 11,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space across two levels along the eastern side of the Seventh Street promenade.
There are currently to Etta restaurants in Chicago.
Grant is a two-time Michelin-starred chef.
Miami Beach-based Comras Co. is handling retail leasing at Miami Worldcenter. The leasing team includes Michael Comras, Jeff Evans and Michael Silverman.
Miami Worldcenter is South Florida’s largest development currently underway. It will feature a mix of residential, commercial and hospitality uses, as well as approximately 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space. This includes two completed residential buildings: the 60-story Paramount Miami Worldcenter condominium and the 43-story Caoba apartment tower. Approximately 150,000 square feet of retail has been completed and another 130,000 square feet is currently under construction.
Construction is nearing completion at the 43-story Bezel Miami Worldcenter residential tower and at the 351-room CitizenM hotel, both of which are expected to open later this year.
Nitin Motwani is the managing partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates.
Matthew Arrojas, South Florida Business Journal
Read more here: bizjournals.com/
