Just Hatched: Spring 2019 Openings Around The State
Debuts to Peruse: brand new restaurants, galleries, shops, resorts and more
NORTH
BOXWOOD & BIRCH
PONTE VEDRA BEACH
Bronze bookends, lamb wool throws from Ireland and oversized vases are just a few of the carefully curated items found at Boxwood & Birch, a new venture presented by Constance Riik, the owner of the design firm CSR Interiors. “When I started my design business, over 10 years ago, I always dreamed of having a showroom alongside my studio,” Riik said. “My goal was to create an environment that is beautiful and elegant yet warm and inviting, and of course functional for how we work. I wanted it to reflect what I can create for my clients.” The design boutique is Riik’s first retail location and offers home accessories and furniture. It is located within Merchant Plaza. csrinteriorsinc.com
FISHWEIR BREWING COMPANY
JACKSONVILLE
For Broc and Stacey Flores, what started as an at-home hobby spiraled into a full-fledged business. Fishweir Brewing Company opened in Jacksonville’s Murray Hill in November and quickly established itself as the neighborhood’s first brewery. “We really wanted to help the craft beer community grow and expand into new and different things,” Stacey Flores said. The family-owned business has 20 taps, with house beers including a coffee blonde and a sour beer, featuring a tart, citrus flavor. “Our goal is to become a predominantly sour brewery in the next two years,” Flores said. Fishweir offers non-alcoholic options like kombucha and a made-in-house soda, multiple TVs for watch parties, plus a kid-friendly atmosphere. fishweirbrewing.com
JOSEPH’S COTTAGE
PORT SAINT JOE
When Hurricane Michael hit north Florida, shops like Joseph’s Cottage, a coastal lifestyle store, were left in shambles. “We were extremely fortunate to have only two inches of saltwater muck inside the shop, compared to many of the businesses downtown, who had up to four feet of water in their buildings,” owner Melissa Farrell said. After repairing, rebuilding and mentally regrouping, Farrell reopened the shop on March 1 with fresh coats of paint, new awnings and more merchandise. “Reopening Joseph’s Cottage means a new beginning,” Farrell said. “So many in our community lost everything. I am so grateful to be able to reopen the doors and welcome everyone in.” josephscottage.com
IL LUSSO
TALLAHASSEE
Il Lusso, Italian for “the luxury,” is a traditional Italian restaurant with a midcentury modern design. The restaurant is the brainchild of Daniel Renninger, director of operations at Sage, a local French bistro. “Whether it be treating yourself to a quick lunch, a coffee to take a break or a luxurious dining experience, we aim to bring a little bit of luxury to everyone’s life,” Renninger said. “We feature handmade pastas and crafted sauces based in tradition but utilizing modern information and ingredient sourcing to provide a feeling that is both familiar and pushes boundaries.” The upscale restaurant offers a thoughtful selection of Italian and domestic wines and top of the line dishes such as Australian wagyu tomahawk steak. illussotlh.com
CENTRAL
SPARKMAN WHARF
TAMPA
What used to be the Channelside Bay Plaza now breathes new life as Sparkman Wharf, a waterfront retail center. The re-imagined plaza features live music, restaurants, a beer garden with more than 30 local brews and a lawn where movies are screened. Sparkman Wharf opened in December and is billed as Tampa’s first look at Water Street, a 50-acre stretch of waterfront businesses, offices and experiences. The first phase brings some of Tampa’s best-known chefs to one place in an outdoor food hall made out of shipping containers. Visitors can find everything from Vietnamese spring rolls to Mexican street corn. sparkmanwharf.com
POKEWORKS
ORLANDO
Peter Yang started Pokéworks in 2015 as a way to introduce Americans to Hawaiian food in an approachable way. Now, the Forbes 30 under 30 honoree’s vision is available in Orlando. Pokéworks offers burrito, bowl and salad options with proteins like ahi tuna, salmon, chicken and tofu plus toppings including seaweed salad, pickled ginger and wasabi. The Orlando location, which opened within Oviedo’s Stonehill Plaza, is one of more than 20 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Down the line, Yang hopes to have 100 Pokéworks locations open by 2020. pokeworks.com
THEATER WEST END
SANFORD
In the early 1900s, Sanford residents visited the Princess Theater for movies and live entertainment before it eventually closed down. Now, years later, Theater West End is picking up the pieces and giving the historic district a performing arts venue again. The old building’s new interior features exposed brick walls, Edison lights, neon and clean lines. Since opening last August, Theater West End has programmed a season’s worth of musicals including Wicked and The Color Purple. Other shows include West Side Story, Ghost and burlesque shows. The theater also offers youth programs where students can create and participate in their own stage productions. theaterwestend.com
CHICKEN GUY!
ORLANDO
When Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl and chef personality Guy Fieri joined forces for a new restaurant, they landed on a simple theme: chicken. Chicken Guy! is Earl and Fieri’s first joint venture. The concept came together two years ago, according to Fieri, when Earl told him that “chicken was the future.” Chicken Guy! serves its tenders grilled or fried and offers 22 housemade sauces to accompany them including wasabi honey and bourbon brown sugar barbecue. “We said we want to be the best in the chicken business,” Fieri said when the restaurant opened. “[It’s a] pretty cool experience.” chickenguy.com
SOUTH
KAIDO
MIAMI
Sitting above Gucci in Miami’s Design District, Kaido is a Pan-Asian food and cocktail lounge that features decadent pleasures like wagyu tataki, foie gras and king crab legs, paired with elegant beverages. “You are encouraged to engage with your fellow diners and try something a little bit new but also familiar,” chef and owner Brad Kilgore said. “The cocktails have a great range in flavors, many varieties of Japanese whiskey and sake that pair well with a menu that speaks to everyone.” Critics say it’s the old classics that shine at Kaido, like Kilgore’s spin on crab rangoon and dumplings that are elevated by including quality ingredients like blue crab and Ibérico pork. kaidomiami.com
DUNE
FORT LAUDERDALE
Featuring a panoramic beach front view, the luxury indoor-outdoor restaurant on Fort Lauderdale beach opened in November. “We created Dune to be a casual contemporary restaurant that guests will want to return to again and again,” said Craig Reid, chief executive officer of the Auberge Resorts Collection. “The menu is ingredient-driven, upscale but never fussy.” Signature items include a wood oven–roasted mahi-mahi with fennel, short rib with sweet potato puree and top sirloin with spicy roasted romaine and hollandaise. The dining room, which features public and private spaces, glows from an abundance of natural light and includes midcentury furnishings. dunefl.com
LAUNCH PAD
PALM BEACH
LaunchPad, a boutique that rotates displays of fashion, accessories, home decor and furniture, welcomed its first clients in November. Since then, the store, situated on Worth Avenue, has featured 20 brands including luxury designers and small, independent makers like Circa Who, Lele Sadoughi and Source Adage. “Designed as a chic, in-home living room, the LaunchPad experience changes weekly,” said co-founder Katherine Lande. Lande and her business partner Nicole Munder have both lived and worked in Palm Beach for 15 years. “One of our main goals is to help introduce brands to Palm Beach and see them become successful,” said Munder, who describes LaunchPad as a modern approach to traditional retail. shoplaunchpad.com
LINCOLN EATERY
MIAMI BEACH
On the corner of Lincoln Lane and Meridian Avenue, the Lincoln Eatery opened in January, claiming the distinction of Miami Beach’s first food hall. The 9,600-square-foot space on Lincoln Road currently hosts 13 food and drink concepts including a liquid nitrogen ice creamery, a New York kosher deli and a loaded bar. With seating inside and outside, the interior features swanky subway tiling and concrete floors. A central bar offers beer, wine and cocktails. Lincoln Eatery opened after more than two years of planning. The second phase of the food hall, which is scheduled for later this year, will include a rooftop bar. thelincolneatery.com
