The h.wood Group, based in Los Angeles, will open a 2,000-square-foot Tokyo-inspired speakeasy on the third floor of The Rivani building in South Beach next summer. This announcement was made through a news release from Rivani. The speakeasy does not yet have an official name.
Robert Rivani is overseeing a $40 million renovation of the seven-story mixed-use property at 1691 Michigan Avenue in Miami Beach. Once completed, the building will be marketed as “Class X,” which indicates its high-end status.
According to the release, the concept for the new venue draws inspiration from Tokyo. In a previous interview with The Real Deal, Rivani said that Japan is his “favorite place in the world.”
Earlier this year, it was announced that PLBY Group, owner of Playboy magazine and related trademarks, will relocate its headquarters to The Rivani. Monarch Athletic Club has also leased 8,000 square feet at the property and plans to open next year.
In Palm Beach, Hill House Home has signed a lease at The Royal Poinciana Plaza located at 340 Royal Poinciana Way. According to a news release from The Royal Poinciana Plaza, Hill House Home will operate out of The Current retail center within Hibel House at the plaza. Recent tenants include ScandyCandy and La Coqueta.
Royal Poinciana Plaza covers 192,000 square feet and was originally developed in the 1950s; it includes retail space, gardens and two courtyards. WS Development holds the leasehold for the plaza while ownership records list Sidney Spiegel’s trust as property owner.
Hill House Home’s exact leased square footage was not disclosed by Royal Poinciana Plaza.
Le Specialità has opened its first U.S. restaurant in Miami Design District at 40 Northeast 41st Street. Spicy Hospitality Group founder Andre Sakhai confirmed this in a news release. The restaurant occupies 3,100 square feet and adds to Spicy Hospitality’s portfolio that includes The Joyce in Miami Beach.
Ownership records show that an affiliate of Miami Design District Associates owns the building housing Le Specialità—a partnership between Dacra (Miami), L Catterton Real Estate (Connecticut), and Brookfield Properties (New York).
In Boynton Beach, Lily’s Handmade Ice Cream—run by Ronen, Ori and Tal Gilinsky—has opened a new location after leasing 700 square feet at Village Square at Golf shopping center (3837 West Woolbright Road). This follows their summer opening of another store at Biscayne Commons shopping plaza in North Miami Beach.
Village Square at Golf is owned by DRA Advisors, who acquired it last year for $31.1 million.
