If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my Email Newsletter. Thanks for visiting!
Newly built out sandwich shop downtown West Palm near Olive and Clematis St.
- 2500 Sq. Ft. 5 year lease with option to renew
- 80 seats
- offered at $190,000
Posts Tagged ‘Palm Beach’
West Palm Beach Downtown Casual Restaurant
Friday, March 26th, 2010Ex-Rothstein attorneys in Boca forge own paths after scandal
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010THE PALM BEACH POST
Copyright (c) 2010
DATE: Monday, January 11, 2010
PAGE: 1C SECTION: LOCAL BUSINESS EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Alexandra Clough
*
EX-ROTHSTEIN ATTORNEYS IN
BOCAFORGE OWN PATHS AFTER SCANDAL
It’s a new year and a fresh start for some of the Palm Beach County lawyers who worked at the notorious Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm of Fort Lauderdale.
Take former Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge William Berger. Along with County Commissioner Steven Abrams and attorney Peter Feaman, Berger was one of three lawyers who led Rothstein Rosenfeldt’s Boca Raton office as part of an expansion by the ambitious Rothstein firm. The expansion ended abruptly late last year when firm co-founder Scott Rothstein was found to have promulgated a $1 billion investment Ponzi scheme. (Rothstein now is in federal detention, charged with federal racketeering, money laundering and mail and wire fraud. Last week, his attorney indicated Rothstein would plead guilty on Jan. 27.)
Berger jumped from the bench to RRA in early 2008. But with the firm’s implosion, he resigned in mid-November. At the time, he also lashed out at Rothstein, calling him a “financial serial killer” for the damage he did, not just to investors but to firm employees.
Fast forward to today, and Berger is happily ensconced at the Boca Raton law firm of Weiss & Handler, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. What’s new is really old, because Berger used to work at the firm in the late 1990s. Berger kept in touch with his former colleagues, and he learned who his real friends were when the RRA scandal erupted: “Howard Weiss was probably the first person to call me when this whole matter broke, so I was appreciative of that,” Berger said.
These days, Berger said he’s very busy with a number of litigation matters, including divorce and personal injury cases. “I’m in court now more than when I was on the bench,” Berger joked.
As for his old law firm, Berger said he hasn’t been queried by federal investigators probing the firm’s wreckage: “No one has called me.” And although his anger at Rothstein has subsided, Berger says he’s “still amazed” that the Fort Lauderdale-based scam happened under everyone’s nose.
Weiss & Handler’s Henry Handler said he’s pleased to have a litigator as seasoned as Berger come aboard as a senior attorney. But Handler acknowledged there was some vetting prior to the decision to hire Berger, whose RRA title was shareholder but who did not actually own any firm shares. For instance, Handler said the firm was comfortable that Berger “did not participate in the extravagant bonuses that turned into (political) contributions,” as was the case with other RRA attorneys, Handler said. In fact, Handler added, “We don’t believe there is any kind of justifiable claim that Bill had any role in any untoward acts. … Bill is a terrific attorney and we have always found his dealings with people to be beyond reproach.”
Feaman, another of the former RRA lawyers in Boca Raton, has set up his own law firm in Boynton Beach. Feaman had been with RRA only a few months before the scandal. He joined RRA from Buffalo, N.Y.-based Hodgson Russ, which last year closed its Boca office, where Feaman worked. Feaman did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Meanwhile, Steven Abrams hasn’t yet hung his shingle at a new firm. Busy as he is as a member of the Palm Beach County Commission, Abrams last week said he has “plenty on his plate.” But he said he is talking to several law firms.
Z
Along with the cool breezes coming ashore these days, there also is a refreshing change along Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach: There are new restaurants opening that are not Italian.
In 2003, there were nearly two dozen Italian eateries in this trendy district, prompting some to speculate that the street should be renamed Via Atlantico. But today, “there is more variety and at lower price points,” said restaurant broker Tom Prakas. The Prakas Group has handled the bulk of the restaurant deals in downtown for the past few years. And despite the lingering recession, Prakas said downtown Delray still is where every operator wants to be: “I could put five to 10 restaurateurs on Atlantic Avenue,” he said, if he had the space.
New to the Avenue: Surf Sliders, by local restaurateur Jim Taube, recently opened on State Road A1A and Atlantic. Johnnie Brown’s, a casual American eatery, also recently opened in the old Elwood’s space. Dave Manero’s The Office, an American gastro-pub, opened quietly Friday and bills itself as a “neighborhood watering hole,” albeit with a notable chef, Mark Miletello, and a wide array of food choices. Meanwhile, Prakas handled the recent sale of the Cugini Grille, which is slated to be a new concept, possibly Mexican. And a French bistro has opened in the former Cold Stone Creamery space.
Delray Beach has grown in recent years as a prime retail and dining destination. From 2003 to 2008, retail sales volume increased by 49 percent, while food and beverage sales grew by 42 percent. Combined, additional sales volume totaled $88 million, according to Marjorie Ferrer of the Downtown Development Authority.
Going forward, city leaders hope to maintain those numbers. Delray Beach has the benefit not only of a festive streetscape but of an aggressive, citywide effort to promote downtown businesses and keep drawing in customers. Key to this program are a steady lineup of special events, including the revived Summer Nights on the Avenue series this summer. City officials encourage shops to stay open at night and support retailers by offering cooperative advertising programs.
Z
Of note: Jim Taube, the restaurateur, recently sold his Bimini Twist eatery in suburban West Palm Beach, just west of Breakers West. The owner Jupiter resident Ralph Benfante, one of the restaurant’s best customers. Reminiscent of Victor Kiam in the 1980s, who liked Remington Electric Shaver so much he bought the company, Benfante said he’s been trying to buy Bimini Twist for years. But Taube had been a reluctant seller. Until now. “Since I was opening a new restaurant, I was receptive,” Taube said. “He made an offer and I said, ‘I’ll take it.’ ” (Taube wouldn’t disclose the sales price.)
Palm Beachers might remember Benfante from his brief foray into island dining in 1996, when he opened Le Bateau on Worth Avenue. The restaurant closed after only three months. Benfante said the landlord wanted Le Bateau to serve lunch as well as dinner, a requirement that Benfante found “onerous.”
This time around, Benfante has purchased the shopping center that houses Bimini Twist, so Benfante says he controls his own destiny, and will open only for dinner, as has been the practice. Benfante, a veteran caterer from New York, said he plans to keep the staff and management in place and continue Bimini Twist’s seafood-oriented cuisine. The deal was brokered by Jeff Sussman and Alan Koch.
Alexandra Clough writes about the economy, real estate and the law. Contact her at alexandra_clough@pbpost.com.
Originally posted 2010-01-27 07:58:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Back To The Beach
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010There was a time Jupiter, Fla., was most famous for its Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, a red-brick stalwart that had survived the Civil War and many a hurricane. Throughout the ‘705 and ‘8os, though, there was Harpoon Louie’sa restaurant that was just as recognizable to tourists as the lobster-red lighthouse across the inlet that became something of a second home for locals who came once, twice, even three times daily to enjoy quality dishes served up with a side of Florida ambiance.
For more than 20 years, Harpoon Louie’s offered more than modestly priced breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Diners were invited to take a dip in the pool and to use an on-site locker room to tuck away their belongings while they spent days or eveningsor maybe bothtrolling the surrounding beaches soaking in the spectacular waterfront. Signature dishes like the Mascarpone-Stuffed Challah French Toast and the Crabarooneya filet crowned with a savory crab cakehad visitors popping in for breakfast and often coming back for dinner later the same day. When Owner Ken DePasquale sold the restaurant in 1989, after serving more than 600,000 meals a year to loyal diners, many a Louie’s devotee felt aches in both heart and tummy.
“I never really wanted to sell it,” owner Ken DePasquale says. “But the offer was just too good to refuse.” Indeed, the 23rd highest-grossing restaurant in the nation was sold for a record-breaking $7.5 million.
Well, for those foodies whose hearts sank along with Harpoon Louie’s decades ago, your day has arrived. The beloved restaurant has returned oceanfront at the Deerfield Pier with all the same passion, great food, and unforgettable highlights that made Harpoon Louie’s a full-fledged culinary experience.
Bringing back a restaurant with a legend has been a huge undertaking. For Louie’s return, DePaswuale called on Tom Prakas, the noted broker of restaurant properties who has put together more than 400 restaurant deals from the Keys to Palm Beach. “Tom coming in is a rare opportunity for us to join forces. It’s an unusual twist,” DePasquale says. “Together, we’re a formidable team.”
In January 2007, after scouting dozens of locations, Prakas found their spot the former Ristorante Luna Rosa, located at the end of the Deerfield Beach Pier. The restaurant, with a wraparound oceanfront patio, has a stunning panoramic view of the pier and the surfers who weave in and out of the rolling waves.
Ensuring the integrity of Harpoon Louie’s was a necessity for both men. The decor of the new restaurant features the original photos and souvenirs that the first location showcased, and vintage photos supplied by the Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton Historical Societies were transformed into wall art. (DePasquale also kept all the hand-drawn drafts of the menu he created 20 years ago and plans to display them in the new property.) Contemporary additions include two exterior lit-from-within gigantic metal fish sculptures, and a pair of oversize Adirondack chairs emblazoned with the Harpoon Louie’s name guarding the entrance.
Plenty of classic touches from the original Harpoon Louie’s came along for the ridethe new Louie’s will have beachfront lockers for patrons to store valuables. A “Louie Crew Card” will provide incentives for frequent diners, and DePasquale and Prakas are currently brainstorming even more amenities for patrons. “Maybe kayaks,” DePasquale muses.
DePasquale and Prakas didn’t stop at the tried and true classics, though. Bar Sushi, a trendy separate sushi bar located in Louie’s Lounge, will appeal to modern diners with an assortment of salads, rolls, sake, and the soon-to-be-famous Saketini. The menu, prepared by a Nobu-trained chef, entices a completely different crowd in the eveningsfolks keen on enjoying trendy rolls and cocktails with complementary flavors. So, if you’re looking for a drink to cap off your day, take a sharp right at Louie’s hostess stand.
As for the original fare, DePasquale has not only tracked down the same baker who fired the sandwich rolls and the beloved towering challah French toast guests devoured years ago, he’s also returned to the seafood purveyors that helped make the original Louie’s renowned. You can taste the results in dishes ranging from a grilled cheese with lobster and Brie to Boston-style clams in a melted butter sauce.
Peak dining experiences include the signature Down East specials (baked and stuffed, fried, or broiled shrimp dinners); the Wicked Good dinners (including fish-and-chips with hand-cut french fries served in miniature frying baskets; and the Chicken and Crab Mandarin, a breast topped with crab and orange slices). Market-price Maine lobsters can be prepared in one of seven ways.
“We have original Harpoon Louie’s diners who have come in to try us and are thrilled about how great everything still is,” Prakas says.
Whether you stop in to say hello to the old Harpoon Louie’s regulars, or to sample menu favorites from tried-and-true classics to trendier sushi additions, or even just to take in the world-class view of the Atlantic horizon silhouetted by the Deerfield Pier, you have to stop in at Harpoon Louie’s. Whether it before breakfast, lunch or dinner, for sushi or for cocktails, Harpoon Louie’s feels like home once again. And this time, it’s for keeps.
Originally posted 2009-10-02 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Hot Pizzeria
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, with headquarters in Aventura, presently has locations
in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Weston, Plantation, Palm Beach Gardens and Coral Springs.
Anthony Bruno, founder of
famed Anthony’s Runway 84 and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, along with partners
football great Dan Marino and Ben Novello,
former president of Outback Steakhouse,
plan to open 12-14 additional locations
in the next 12 months including locations in Delray Beach and Boca
Raton.
Anthony’s Coal
Fired Pizza’s unique concept includes using eight-hundred
degree coal-burning ovens, which cook pizza in just four
minutes, giving the pizza a “well-done” flavor, thus the chain’s slogan, “Our Pizza is Well Done.”
Tom
Prakas was responsible for the following recent lease
transactions for two additional Anthony’s Coal Fired
Pizzas, while Randy O’Donnell
handled the lease for a third Anthony’s location in Pembroke Pines.
“We’re
excited to represent Anthony’s on an exclusive basis and to help them grow in
South Florida,” he says. “After
procuring the sites in the tri-county area, we’ll expand to the markets of
Naples/Bonita Springs, Stuart and Martin County,
Orlando and Tampa over the next few years,”
said Tom Prakas.
“Anthony’s will thrive in these three
superb locations,” said Randy O’Donnell.
“The downtown Delray site has
great visibility just off Atlantic Avenue
and is surrounded by shops and
restaurants. In Boca Raton, the restaurant will benefit from a centrally
located retail center with popular anchors
that help draw additional traffic to
the site.
Originally posted 2008-01-07 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Thriving Rocco’s Tacos, Taverna Opa expanding to Boca Raton despite downturn in restaurant business
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010Thriving Rocco’s Tacos, Taverna Opa expanding to Boca Raton despite downturn in restaurant business
By ALEXANDRA CLOUGH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Wednesday, July 22, 2009
BOCA RATON - - Two of West Palm Beach’s hottest dining concepts are making their way to Boca Raton.
Rocco’s Tacos, a casual Mexican eatery on Clematis Street, and Taverna Opa, a Greek restaurant at CityPlace, both plan to open at the Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail, near the Town Center mall.
The deals are significant because they are so rare these days. In the midst of the worst recession the region has seen in more than a decade, most restaurants are curtailing expansion, not seeking it. But operators at both companies are enjoying success despite the economy, chiefly through the Post your creation of a festive atmosphere that gives patrons a temporary respite from I comments recession worries.
Rocco Mangel and his Rocco’s Tacos will be taking over the Big City Tavern space at the Boca Center. The deal, brokered by Jeff Sussman of Sussman Realty, is a kind of homecoming. Big City Tavern was created by Mangel’s partners in Rocco’s Tacos, the Big Time Restaurant Group of West Palm Beach. Big Time subsequently sold the Boca Big City Tavern to a private investor, who is now selling it back to Big Time and Mangel.
“It will be the same, economically-friendly restaurant as in West Palm Beach,” Mangel said. “If we’re doing a $7 margarita on Clematis (Street), we’ll be doing a $7 margarita in Boca.” Plans are to open in the fall.
Meanwhile, a Taverna Opa franchisee has purchased the Opus 5 restaurant from Burt Rapoport. This is the second restaurant sale for Rapoport in recent weeks: The veteran restaurateur just sold Clematis Social, following a disappointing showing in its first six month of business.
As proof that the restaurant business really is a small world, the group that bought Clematis Social consists of Mangel, Big Time and nightclub owner Cleve Mash. (Plans are to turn the Clematis Social space into Reef Road & Rum Bar, a seafood restaurant.)
Rapoport said his investors in Opus 5 had been toying with the notion of changing the menu, or maybe selling the space, “because Opus 5 was perceived as a special occasion, expensive restaurant. That’s not where we wanted to stay positioned,” Rapoport said. When the Taverna Opa deal came along, “we decided to take some chips off the table” and sell, Rapoport said.
Rapoport still owns Henry’s in Delray Beach and Bogart’s at Cinemark Palace 20 theater in Boca Raton. Tom Prakas, of the Prakas Group in Boca Raton, brokered the Opus 5 deal.
Look for Opus 5 to stay the same for the next few months, albeit with some tweaks to the menu and the addition of weekend entertainment, said Lirim Jacobi of Taverna Opa. Jacobi operates the CityPlace Taverna Opa franchise of the famed Hollywood-based Greek restaurant. Jacobi said he’s too busy to turn Opus 5 into Taverna Opa right now because he’s in the middle of opening two eateries in Miami, including a Taverna Opa at the Dolphin Mall.
But Prakas, the restaurant broker, said Jacobi moved in on the Boca Center deal right now “because he didn’t want to lose the location.”
Both Jacobi and Rapoport predict the two new restaurants will be a big draw for fun-seekers. “This will put a whole new vibe in that center,” Jacobi said.
-alexandra clough@pbpost.com
Originally posted 2009-10-02 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
THE PRAKAS GROUP, INC. REPORTS COMMERCIAL SALE, BUSINESS SALE AND ONE LEASE TRANSACTION IN RECENT PALM BEACH COUNTY COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010DELRAY BEACH,
FL Athan “Tom” Prakas, president/broker of
The Prakas Group, Inc., a full service real estate brokerage specializing in
commercial transactions, business brokerage, restaurants and hospitality
properties, has reported the completion of a property sale, business sale and
one lease transaction in recent activity in Palm Beach County.
Christian Prakas, restaurant/nightclub
specialist, was exclusive broker for the following three
transactions:
*Select
Investment Properties has purchased a 2,800 SF building located at
19-23 SE 5th
Avenue, Delray Beach, FL. The building is presently 75% leased
including an insurance company and BluIce
Lounge, a new martini lounge. The sale is valued at $1,250,000. The Prakas
Group, Inc. represented both the buyer and the sellers, Joseph Peraino and Frank
Carucci of Joe’s Pub Corp.
* Khoury Synergy has purchased the 1,500 SF BluIce Lounge located at 19 SE 5th Avenue,
Delray Beach, FL. BluIce Lounge is a chic lounge serving
Mediterranean themed dishes and crepes along with a full liquor bar. The sale is
valued at $175,000. The Prakas Group, Inc. represented the buyer as well as the
seller, Taylor Smith of On The Rocks.
According to Christian Prakas, “This is an
excellent location in Delray
Beach, right on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and
Federal
Highway. It’s a treasure-trove for any business
seeking maximum exposure on one of the hottest strips in Palm Beach County.”
*Boca Tanning Club Deerfield, Inc. has leased 1,700 SF of retail space for Boca Tanning Club, an upscale tanning
salon, located at 215 N. Federal
Highway, Boca Raton, FL. The company has been in business for
five years and has three other Florida
locations including one in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The deal is valued at
$215,000. The Prakas Group, Inc. is exclusive broker for Boca Tanning Club for
all of South Florida. The Prakas Group, Inc.
represented the lessee. The lessor, Investments Limited, represented
themselves.
The Prakas Group, established in 2000, is on track
to close over $300 million in sales over a six-year period. Headquartered at
705 East Palmetto Park
Road in Boca Raton,
FL, The Prakas Group provides brokerage
services for restaurant, nightclub and commercial properties throughout
Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties, and
Orlando.
Principals of The Prakas Group add depth to the firm’s brokerage services with
over 200 years of combined experience in the restaurant/nightclub industry as
owner/operators. Clients of The Prakas Group include Taverna Opa, Buckhead Life
Restaurant Group, Gusto’s Grill & Bar, Burton Handelsman, MDN Properties,
Rodney Mayo, Tarpon Bend Restaurants, Gotham City, Dave Manero Restaurants, and
Mama Mia’s, just to name a few. For more information, contact The Prakas Group
at (561) 368-0003, or visit the company’s website at www.prakasgroup.com.
Originally posted 2007-07-17 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
The Great Outdoors
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010“Spring break” may conjure up visions of college students
descending upon our South Florida shores and invading our treasured beaches and
restaurants, but for local residents
it is simply that time of year where the weather invites us to take in all that the
Sunshine State has to offer. This includes the opportunity to enjoy the
pleasures of outdoor dining at our local area restaurants, especially the
irresistible panache and variety of Atlantic Avenue.
From board shorts to boardroom attire, diners “come as they
are” to take a break from the beach, host a business lunch or enjoy a
night out with friends. It’s no wonder that restaurant deals are always
creating news here as owners want to get in on some of the most profitable real
estate sites in Palm Beach County.
Outdoor dining is truly an option you might want to consider
before the famous Florida humidity sends you back into the air-conditioning.
Restaurateurs that offer outdoor dining know that their customers take pleasure
in being smack dab in the middle of the heartbeat of Delray, people watching
and socializing. Outdoor tables are available at many restaurants in Delray
including City Oyster where patrons are attracted to the hustle and bustle. According to owner Bob Beal, “Our outdoor dining
is a premium area and a big part of our business. It is certainly a popular
attraction, especially during the spring months. People like to watch what is
going on and want to be in the thick of things. After dinner, folks like to take a walk and visit the retail shops,
so in general it is good for business on the avenue.”
This April look for Vic & Angelo’s to open with its own
outdoor seating, brought to you by restaurateur David Manero, who ushered in
Gotham City, Sopra, and Shore to Delray Beach and DeVito’s in South Beach. His latest restaurant promises not to disappoint. With one Vic & Angelo’s already open in
Palm Beach Gardens, Manero brings his formula for success to Delray once again
with his new location at 290 East Atlantic Avenue. In other real estate news,
get ready for some more delicious carbs! Mellow Mushroom is set to open in the
former Vittorio’s site at 25 SE 6th Avenue.
With such a wide array of choices in Delray restaurants, it
is a good bet that you haven’t tried them all yet. So while leaving Florida might not be on your spring break
agenda, why not soak up the local flavors we have in our own backyard.
Athan “Tom” Prakas is president/broker of The
Prakas Group, a restaurant/hospitality brokerage firm in Boca Raton and
Orlando, Fl. He can be reached at 561.368.0003.
Originally posted 2008-05-13 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
May I Get You A Table?
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010In the old days, May
was the month when we would see the last of
the car trailers on the highway heading back north for the summer. They
left behind less traffic, the possibility
of getting a reservation, and a huge
plummet in business.
But these days, Delray
Beach and
South Florida in general,
are home to more year round
residents and less about seasonal
visitors. What this demographic
change in our area population means for us is more balance in our traffic and
sales throughout
the year.
Just like the people that populate the area, restaurants move in and out
of Delray Beach and South
Florida all year long. However, May and the summer months are typically when
restaurateurs remodel, exchange or purchase new furnishings.
In fact, there are a few exciting projects going on in the restaurant real
estate world including the
renovations of Saki Room on Atlantic Avenue.
It is being suited up to
open as one of the city’s hottest venues. Also’, the former City Limits space recently closed and is re-opening with a very hot concept that will add a new dimension to downtown
and Atlantic Avenue. I’m very
excited and you will be, too!
What about our beautiful community keeps attracting new restaurants while the economy on the whole is not good
Delray Beach and Atlantic Avenue continue to be a
magnet for Palm Beach County
diners and shoppers because of the plethora
of restaurants, shops and late night
action.
Another appealing factor of
Atlantic Avenue is the
music and entertainment
that some restaurants
offer, which can be a big crowd-puller. At Sonoma
Cafe and Bistro on Atlantic Avenue, live entertainment is offered every Friday
and Saturday night at 8 p.m. Owner/chef Milan Hejda says his restaurant offers
music throughout the year including the
summer months. “We like to vary our
entertainment, piano,
jazz,
country. It keeps it fresh for our customers
and keeps them coming back for more,” said Hejda.
“Patrons enjoy the music either from
our beautiful wooden bar or from the dining room. When the weather is comfortable
we also offer outdoor dining and music in the garden area.”
With the gas prices shooting higher every day and
with the variety
of restaurants and cafes offered in Delray Beach, singles, couples or a family
can park for free on the street, in a parking lot or in a garage and go eat, shop and make an
evening of It without moving the car, wasting fuel or spending a fortune for dinner or cocktails.
All great reasons to dine in Delray all year long. Salute!
Athan “Tom” Prakas is president/broker of The Prakas Group, a restaurant/hospitality brokerage firm in Boca Raton and Orlando, Fl. He can be reached at 561.368.0003.
Originally posted 2008-06-18 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Park Avenue, Harpoon Louie’s open new locations
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Restaurants have to attract the public’s
attention if they want to compete in this fickle and value-conscious
dining market. So two eateries are opening with splashy specials.
First up: Barbecue. Park Avenue BBQ Grille is expanding to Boca Raton, taking the home of the original, and legendary, Tom’s Place barbecueat Glades Road and Dixie Highway. (The building formerly was occupied by the failed Dwayne Wade sports-grill chain, and before that, Bucky’s Barbecue. ) Owner Dean Lavallee
said the recession created an opportunity for Jupiter-based Park Avenue
to expand into Boca at a good lease price. “There’s opportunity in pork
in Glades and Dixie, and we hope to take advantage of that,” Lavallee
said. He expects the chain’s 10th restaurant to be open in mid-November.
To introduce Park Avenue to Boca diners, and
celebrate the company’s 21st year in business, Park Avenue plans a
chain-wide promotion during the first week of December: Food at 1988
prices. For instance, a full rack of baby back ribs will cost $9.99,
down from the usual $17.99 price.
Meanwhile, Harpoon Louie’s, the iconic Jupiter seafood restaurant, has returned to South Florida, led by its original operator, Ken DePasquale. To
celebrate, DePasquale isn’t hosting a grand opening at his new
oceanfront location in Deerfield Beach. Instead, he’s hosting some
grand deals, starting with 50 percent off every food item Monday
through Friday, and after 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The deal
started Thursday and runs for a week, at least. The idea is to do
something nice for consumers: “I’d rather do this than blow $15,000 on
a big grand opening,” DePasquale said.
For those not familiar with Harpoon Louie’s, this popular seafood
restaurant facing the Jupiter Lighthouse once was a landmark in north
county and the site of many engagements and celebrations. DePasquale
and majority owner Bill Coleman came up with the concept during the
1970s, and they cornered the mid-priced dining market in northern Palm
Beach County throughout that decade and into the 1980s. At one point
they served 600,000 meals a year. In 1987, the restaurant was sold.
(The restaurant space is now known as the Crab House).
The Prakas Group’s Tom Prakas brokered both deals and serves as a consultant to Harpoon Louie’s, too.
Now for something completely different: Clematis Street in West Palm Beach has hooked Off The Hookah, anEgyptian
restaurant and lounge. The Fort Lauderdale restaurant company (which
also has a location in Richmond, Va.) is taking a whopping 15,000
square feet of space formerly occupied by
block of Clematis. Off The Hookah leased the former furniture showroom
after scouting the market for more than a year, owner Ihab Atallah said. Again, the recession created an opportunity for the Atallah family to go into the space at a reasonable price.
What awaits the Off The Hookah visitor Expect a Vegas-like
atmosphere, replete with waterfalls, belly dancers and “flair”
bartenders who will spin bottles, toss drinks and do other aerobic
feats with libations. A $1.5 million renovation is planned, Atallah said.
The interior will be akin to “dining in your living room,” with sofas
and even beds where patrons can feast on the restaurant’s full menu of
Mediterranean food, Atallah said.
The beds may be one novelty, but so are the hookahs, which are
water pipes used for smoking. Off the Hookah doesn’t use tobacco-based
products. Instead, the pipes are filled with an herbal compound that
comes in various flavors. “You can eat on the bed and hang out on the
bed. You can relax, kick your shoes off and people watch,” Atallah
said. Look for an opening in December.
Anderson & Carr’s Paul Snitkin, who brokered
the deal, said the restaurant’s expansion to Clematis Street further
diversifies the area’s dining options. In fact, Clematis soon could
become a sort of Epcot in West Palm Beach, with a world’s array of cuisines along one street.
Alexandra Clough writes about the economy, real estate and the law. Contact her at alexandra_clough@pbpost.com.
Originally posted 2009-10-02 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
The Prakas Group Brokers Joint Venture Partnership for II Marco’s The Eire Restaurant Group and South Florida Entrepreneur Taylor Smith
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
The Prakas Group Brokers Joint
Venture Partnership for Il Marcos The Eire Restaurant Group
And South Florida Entrepreneur
Taylor Smith
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Boca Raton, Fla.,
February 28, 2008Tom Prakas, founder
of The Prakas Group today announced a formidable new partnership between Il
Marco founder Marc Spillane, CEO of The Eire Restaurant Group and South Florida
Entrepreneur Taylor Smith
Prakas explains,
New plans are in store for the high profile Il Marco restaurant and lounge
situated at Restaurant Row in east Boca Raton.
Spillane, a
recognized philanthropist and founder of The Eire Companies, owners and
developers of commercial properties in Palm Beach and Broward, says he is also
excited for whats to come for the venue.
Weve enjoyed an
exceptional year of success with Il Marco but were looking forward to watching
as the developments of this exciting new venture unfold, remarks
Spillane.
Smith, a Boca Raton
based entrepreneur, will not divulge details of his plans for the venue at this
time but explains that monumental efforts will be in the works for the high
profile establishment.
Whats to come
will absolutely be a phenomenal new concept for the area, says Prakas.
Location is
everything and Il Marco certainly fits the bill for having an excellent one.
Taylor is sure to take this market by storm when people see what hes getting
ready to unveil at Il Marco, he adds.
Further details on
the joint venture; re-launch dates etc. to be released later this month.
For more
information on the developments of this story please contact Michelle Soudry at
The Gab Group, 561-750-3500 or email msoudry@thegabgroup.com
The Prakas Group,
Inc., established in 2000, provides brokerage services for restaurant, nightclub
and commercial properties throughout all of Florida’s metropolitan areas and
strategically located properties throughout the country. Other clients of The
Prakas Group include The Falcone Group, Boca Tanning Club, Danny DeVito of
DeVito’s South Beach, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa, David Manero
Restaurants, Johnny Rockets, Rodney Mayo, Tarpon Bend Restaurants, Gotham City,
and Mama Mia’s, just to name a few.
The company is located at 705 East
Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL, and at 7380 Sand Lake in Orlando. For more
information, contact The Prakas Group at (561) 368-0003, or visit the company’s
website at www.prakasgroup.com
Originally posted 2008-03-11 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter