Take a Look Inside Miami’s First Member’s Only Japanese Restaurant
The same New York-based food group that brought one of your favorite Italian restaurants to Miami, Carbone, opened Miami’s first member’s only Japanese restaurant in late summer. Introducing ZZ’s Member’s Club, located in the Miami Design District at Paradise Plaza.
ZZ’s is the 2nd of 5 restaurants that have been introduced to Miami by the Major Food Group. ZZ’s was inspired by the group’s Greenwich Village restaurant, ZZ’s Clam Bar, which also happens to be the nickname of one of the co-owners Jeff Zalaznick.
The group actually designed the new restaurant to have the same look and feel like the new Japanese restaurant. The 2-story restaurant was designed by a San Fransico-based interior designer, Ken Fulk.
The first-floor overflows with bentwood banquettes, sculptural, handpainted finishes, and animal print rugs. Antique furniture and brass lighting adorn every surface. The patio is referred to as a ‘tiki bar on acid,’ with wicker furnishings and banana prints complementing the modern architecture.
Your nightlife begins on the second floor with a cigar lounge, backgammon, and private bar. Don’t forget to try the signature drink, Pistachio Cocktail featuring gin, honey, and lemon.
According to Zalaznick “With ZZ’s Sushi Bar, we want to build a home away from home for the people of this vibrant, diverse city. It’s a dream come true to be able to create these dynamic spaces in this remarkable neighborhood.”
The centerpiece on the main floor is a custom marble sushi bar where you will find chefs Masa Ito and Kevin Kim. They are famous for their amazing work at Michelin Starred New York’s Sushi Zo. The sushi bar offers you traditional omakase, the main floor dining is a more modern Japanese experience.
The menu features classic tuna and salmon options, along with creative salads as well as Wagyu beef. ZZ also offers the largest selection of Wagyu beef in the United States. Don’t forget to try one of their most famous signature items, the Caviar Temaki.
Although ZZ’s is advertised as a member’s only restaurant, there is an optional invite-only membership so as long as you’re able to get a reservation, then you can enjoy all of the luxuries as a member does!
For more information on ZZ’s Sushi Bar, click here.
Developer Announces Sales for New Brickell Tower – Lofty Brickell
A new residential tower, Lofty Brickell, will be launching sales soon! The tower will rise 34 stories high, overlooking the river, and will feature 320 fully furnished and finished units.
These units will be ‘turnkey’ and are fully licensed for daily, weekly, and monthly short-term rentals. Owners can utilize platforms like AirBnb, VRBO, as well as manage on their own.
The units will feature 800 to 1,200 square-foot floor plans with studio to 2 bedrooms options. Prices will start in the low $500,000 with increases based on floor plans and upgrades.
Developer, Harvey Hernandez recently closed on the lot for $50+ million. Hernandez is responsible for Centro and Brickell House.
With the announcement of this new tower comes some controversy. The current development site holds KLA Schools of Brickell and sources have reported an ‘early eviction’ although their lease expires December 2021.
Building Features
35-story landmark building designed by internationally acclaimed architecture firm, Arquitectonica
Prime Brickell location in steps from Brickell City Center
Short-term rentals permitted as-of-right
Spectacular panoramic Miami River, Brickell and Miami skyline views
2 Story lobby with floor to ceiling windows 24-hour welcome desk with concierge 24-hour valet parking 24-hour secure access Advanced technology smart-building with high-speed fiber-optic wireless internet access through out common areas
Exclusive LOFTY app
Cutting-edge green building technology
6 high-speed passenger elevators with access control
On-site hospitality management Curated River-front restaurant with outdoor dining terrace
Building Amenities
Exotic resort pool with pool-side cabanas
Bar and grill on pool deck 24/7
Co-working lounge Private meeting rooms
Event room with exclusive terrace
Fully-equipped, state-of-the-art fitness center with HD TVs and wireless audio Private Peloton studios Yoga lounge and terrace
LOFTY Rooftop Experience
Residence Features
Urban luxury residences with modern open layouts from 485SF—930SF Studio, one and two bedroom units
All residences are delivered fully finished and furnished specially curated by INC
Panoramic Miami River, and Miami skyline views
Private balconies for every residence
Corner units offer wrap-around balconies
High ceilings ranging from 9’ to 11’
Owner closets in every residence
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and sound attenuating impact-resistant laminated glass throughout
Advanced technology Smart Building wiring for HD TV,
Multiple telephone /data lines and ultra-high-speed internet access
Individually controlled energy-efficient central air conditioning and heating system
Kitchen
Imported European cabinets with premium hardware and drawer pulls
Top of the line appliance package including stainless steel refrigerator, oven, cook-top,microwave, dishwasher and sink disposal
Elegant imported stone countertops and backsplashes
Contemporary stainless steel under-mounted sink•High-arc gourmet faucet with integral sprayer
Master Bathroom
Imported European cabinets with premium hardware and drawer pulls
Elegant imported stone countertops and backsplashes
The project located in the heart of Brickell will include a private marina on the river with an expansive dock for boating.
Sales for a select few have started with anticipation public sales date soon. Construction completion date is expected in 2024.
Construction Permits Filed for NEMA Miami
In the wake of Miami’s construction boom, it is of no surprise that another tower will be underway soon. Plans for NEMA Miami were originally announced in February 2020 with plans to break ground earlier this year. The permits for this tower were finally filed this week with an anticipated groundbreaking mid to late August 2021.
Located at 2900 Biscayne Boulevard, NEMA Miami will rise 39 stories high at 428 feet high with plans of 588 apartments. There will be an additional 56,000+ square feet of retail space with a potential organic grocery store occupying a portion of the space. Located at the edge of Wynwood and Edgewater, NEMA will be centrally located close to the Design District as well as Brickell.
NEMA Miami will be Designed by Arquitectonia and the Rockwell Group, and developers include Crescent Heights. Crescent Heights have been responsible for all of NEMA towers.
The design appears to be a more modern style with a glass exterior reflecting the Miami sky. According to their website, “no two NEMA’s are alike,” and that their designs represent the culture of the neighborhood that they are located.
Tower amenities for NEMA include club benefits when traveling, guest suites, NEMA events, a full-service fitness center, a sky deck pool, and much more!
Residence Amenities:
Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows
9-foot-high ceilings
6-inch-wide plank floors
Acoustic solid wood core doors
Lutron Caseta lighting and ecobee3 thermostats
30-foot-long recessed balconies*
Extra den or office space*
Blackout and sheer thermal shades*
Custom-designed David Rockwell kitchen pendant
Kitchen island*
Chicago-sourced custom cabinetry featuring soft closures and dimmable lighting
Caesarstone countertops and seamless backsplashes
Blomberg stainless steel gas range and paneled dishwasher
Baths with polished chrome Hansgrohe fixtures and Duravit sinks
Dual vanity bathrooms*
Full-size washer & dryer in every apartment
Walk-in closets*
Customizable Elfa closet organization
Keyless entry via NEMA fob card or mobile app *Select residences.
The estimated construction costs for this project is $165 million.
New Restaurant Alert: Bobby Van’s Steakhouse Coming to Brickell
According to our sources, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse is coming to Brickell. It has secured the restaurant space located at the base of SLS Lux that was formerly occupied by Katsuya Brickell. The location will place Bobby Van’s Steakhouse Miami within a block of Brickell City Centre (a 565,000-square-foot, upscale shopping center) and South Miami Avenue (Brickell’s strip of restaurants and bars).
Established in 1969, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse has over 50 years in the restaurant business. Known for serving dry-aged, USDA prime-quality beef and fresh seafood, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse is a true steakhouse with richly handcrafted wood walls, a well-stocked bar, and an extensive wine list.
Once it opens its doors in Brickell, Miami will become the third U.S. city covered by Bobby Van’s Steakhouse. Currently, it covers two other U.S. cities, New York City (with seven locations) and Washington D.C. (with two locations).
First Treehouse Hotel will Open in Miami’s Brickell District in 2025
The Treehouse Brickell Hotel will be the first United States location as part of the SH Hotels & Resorts expansion. This 191-room, 62-floor, mixed-use hotel will be located at 1 Southside Park in the Brickell neighborhood.
According to the South Florida Business Journal, SH Hotels & Resorts is a subsidiary of Miami Beach-based Starwood Capital Group, led by Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht. SH Hotels & Resorts also operated the 1 Hotels brand, including 1 Hotel South Beach. There is currently one other Treehouse Hotel, located in London.
In a statement from SFBJ, Sternlicht said, “Brickell is the perfect place for a Treehouse. Like its London counterpart, Treehouse Brickell will be as much a destination for travelers as a local hangout, and will introduce a new kind of thoughtful, fun and imaginative hospitality experience to the area.”
This new hotel will be part of the 1 Southside development at 105-1133 S.W. Second Avenue, in Miami totaling 2.5 million square feet and rise 62 stories. This development will also include 1,175 apartments, 190,000 square feet of office space, and 11,000 square feet of restaurants.
Developer: JDS Development Group
Architects: SHoP Architects and ODP Architecture and Design
Landscaping Designer: James Corner Field Operations
Interior Designer: New York-based Rockwell Group
Michael Stern, founder and CEO of JDS Development Group states that “Barry continually raises the bar for exceptional experiences in hospitality, and our location at 1 Southside Park will provide the perfect environment to welcome Treehouse to Brickell … and celebrate the hotel’s first U.S. location.” Construction has begun and is expected to be completed by 2025.
The History of Brickell Miami
1920’s Point View of ‘Millionaire’s Row’
Over a hundred years ago, Brickell was a neighborhood of luxurious mansions and home to some of the wealthiest families, dubbing the name “Millionaire’s Row.” Located just south of downtown Miami, Brickell is lined with incredible towers, unique restaurants, marinas, and beaches; today Brickell is often referred as ‘Miami’s Manhattan’ as well as the ‘Financial District.’
Brickell’s Earliest Inhabitants
Evidence of Brickell’s earliest inhabitants include the Tequesta Indians, who are believed to have lived in South Florida for more that 2,500 years. The Miami Circle archeological site that is located at the Miami River to Biscayne Bay is the earliest evidence of the Tequesta settlement. According to the archeological site, a Tequesta hut once stood across the river from a burial mound. During construction of a hotel, the mound was destroyed but the circle still remains.
Will and Mary Brickell
The Brickell Family
Brickell was named after Will and Mary Brickell. They were one of the earliest families recorded to have established a home and a trading post in the Brickell neighborhood in 1871. They purchased large pieces of land and the trading post was located at what is now Fifth Street and Brickell Avenue. The family’s extensive real estate included all of the current Brickell and just south of Coconut Grove. When construction of the railroad reached Miami in 1896, the Brickell’s negotiated the extension of the railroad into Miami, creating a prime location for trade and development.
The Skyscraper Era
During the Great Depression, some homeowners in Brickell began to subdivide their homes, which took on the appearance of ‘rooming houses’ and, after World War II, additional changes of retail and institutional buildings appeared on Brickell Avenue. By the 1980s, the old Millionaire’s Row became the era of towers and skyscrapers and became a banking center headquarters. Atlantis on Brickell is a Miami landmark and was one of the very first towers built on Brickell. It is known for its glass façade and 5-story palm court cut out of the building.
Modern Day Brickell
Brickell has been on a developmental rise since the 1980’s. Present day Brickell is made up of massive residential towers, apartment buildings, offices, and hotels. Brickell is also home to international banks; HSBC, Espirito Santo Bank, and Banco Santander. Towers are getting larger and developments are moving further west towards I-95 to accommodate the growth.
At the heart of Brickell, two large, mixed-use developments ; Mary Brickell Village and Brickell City Centre are located. Mary Brickell Village includes 200,000 square feet of bars, shops, and restaurants. Toscana Divino, Blue Martini, Shake Shack, North Italia, and P.F. Chang’s are some of the notable tenants. Brickell City Centre, opened in November of 2016 spans over 9 acres and cost over $1 Billion. It includes 500,000 square feet of open-air retail featuring luxury brands such as Chopard and Valentino, a 5-star hotel called East Hotel, and 780 luxury condo residences in the Brickell City Centre Towers called Rise and Reach. Brickell City Centre also includes a high-end movie theater and an Italian food hall called Casa Tua Cucina.
It will be exciting to see what the next 20 years have in store for the Brickell neighborhood!
Open House – Jade at Brickell Bay 3-Bedroom Condo – February 6, 2020
On Thursday, February 6, 2020, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, come join me and Natalia Betancur as we open to the public and fellow brokers unit 4305 at Jade at Brickell Bay, our exclusively listed three-bedroom condo.
Unit 4305 is an east-to-west, flow-through residence featuring three bedrooms, three bathrooms, 2,130 interior square feet, two expansive and deep balconies, marble flooring throughout, a private elevator, laundry room, stainless steel kitchen appliances, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay from the 43rd floor. Asking $1,750,000, unit 4305 is the best priced three-bedroom residence in the entire building. The most recent three-bedroom unit (located 16 floors lower on the 27th floor), sold last month for $1,690,000.
Just Listed – A Gut-Renovated, Turnkey Furnished 2 Bedroom Apartment at Icon Brickell II – Asking $6,800 per Month
If you’re in the market for a turnkey furnished 2 bedroom apartment in Brickell and are looking for the very best, look no further. For the first time on the market, I introduce to you unit 4102 at Icon Brickell Tower 2 – a gut-renovated, turnkey furnished 2 bedroom corner unit featuring soaring, 16-foot high ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sweeping views of the city and water. In creating this stunning masterpiece, over $700,000 was spent in upgrades, renovations, and furnishings.
Unit 4102 also features a fully-equipped, modern kitchen with white quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, white cabinets, and wine cooler; wood-like porcelain tiled flooring throughout the living areas and second bathroom; an exquisitely appointed master bath w/ His & Hers console vanities, subway-tiled walls, a freestanding bathtub, and glass-enclosed shower; linear slot diffusers throughout; dropped ceiling with recessed lighting in every room; motorized shades; and a 268-square-foot balcony with access from the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom.
Asking $6,800 per month, unit 4102 is the ideal home for a corporate exec or Miami power couple. For showings, email Lucas Lechuga at lucas@miamicondoinvestments.com.
The world-class amenities at Icon Brickell include a 300-foot long swimming pool, 50-person hot tub, 28,000-square-foot full-service spa and fitness center, movie theater, game room, on-site restaurants, full-service concierge, and valet parking.
The Icon Brickell Pool Deck Has Officially Reopened
After two long years of construction, the Icon Brickell pool deck has officially reopened. The Icon Brickell master association “received permission from the City of Miami Building Department to open the pool and pool deck under a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM daily until the final building, roofing and electrical inspections are passed”.
Below is the letter sent yesterday from the Icon Brickell Master Association to owners and residents:
December 29, 2018 marks the first day that the pool deck has been open since closing on December 5, 2016 for repairs and renovations. Because the association did not make arrangements for an alternative pool during the time of construction, residents of Icon Brickell have been without a pool for a little over two years. The work was expected to be completed about 12 months later but unexpected delays prevented the association from hitting that mark.
Below are some Instagram photos and video showing people enjoying the Icon Brickell pool on this beautiful December day in Miami:
