Lease roundup: BH, Electra’s Cutler Bay project lands university, Presidente Bar opens in Wynwood

NUC University Florida Technical College | Cutler Bay

A private for-profit university will consolidate its Southland Mall facilities into a new campus at the planned redevelopment of the Cutler Bay mall.

NUC University Florida Technical College, which is accredited, leased 30,000 square feet at Electra America and BH Group’s mixed-use project at 20505 South Dixie Highway, according to a news release from the tenant, developers and Urban Retail Properties. The mall has been rechristened SouthPlace City Center.

Electra America, a subsidiary of Tampa-based American Landmark, and the Toledano family’s BH Group are working on the $1.5 billion project that will consist of more than 5,000 residential units, 150 hotel keys and 500,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, according to the release. It also will have a 60,000-square-foot medical center.

Boca Raton-based Urban Retail Properties is overseeing management, leasing and other aspects of the redevelopment.

The developers will keep the existing main indoor mall building and develop on the outparcels and replace some of the big box stores. In November, Electra and BH scored a $125 million predevelopment loan.

Construction of the NUC University Florida Technical will start this year, and is expected to be completed in the spring, according to the release. In the meantime, the college, which offers programs in health care, hospitality, business and construction trades, will keep its existing facilities at the mall.

Presidente Bar | Miami

A famous Argentine bar opened its first U.S. outpost in Miami’s Wynwood.

Presidente Bar leased 4,200 square feet at 146 Northwest 28th Street, according to the tenant’s news release.

The site is within New York-based Kushner Companies and Miami-based Block Capital Group’s Wynd 28 mixed-use development, records show.

The bar, which features a mural by Argentine artist Martín Ron, can accommodate 160 seated guests and 90 standing guests. It consists of two spaces, a 100-seat main room and a 60-seat La Biblioteca space that’s designed in homage to large libraries with double-height ceilings and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

Christian Delpech and Sebastián García, well-known in the mixology and cocktail industry, opened the first Presidente Bar in 2017 in a restored national heritage mansion in Buenos Aires’ Recoleta neighborhood, the release says.

Sweet Leaf Body Art, Alma Matcha, more | Fort Lauderdale

The Thrive Arts District, a collection of galleries, artist studios and retail in Fort Lauderdale, scored six new tenants.

Sweet Leaf Body Art will open a 1,500-square-foot tattoo studio, and Alma Matcha will open a 1,400-square-foot outpost at 701 Northwest Fifth Avenue, according to Native Realty’s Kaley Tuning, who represented the landlord. Sweet Leaf will be leaving its current outpost at 701 Southeast 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale.

Restaurant Greek Sugar, led by New Yorker Sotiria Sourlis, leased 1,500 square feet; French wine bar and eatery Frandoge leased 1,300 square feet, and content creation and podcast studio office space Her Haus Studios will open in 772 square feet at 710 Northwest Fifth Avenue, according to Tuning and a Native Realty news release. Also, vintage motorcycles and apparel shop Petrol Head Motor leased 1,300 square feet at 744 Northwest Fifth Avenue.

All tenants are expected to open this year, according to Tuning.

Tuning also represented Greek Sugar and Petrol Head Motor.

In 2023, brothers Jonathan and Abraham Fish completed redeveloping a 5.3-acre area north of Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village neighborhood into the Thrive Arts District, according to the district’s website. It spans about 80,000 square feet.

Thrive is roughly from Sunrise Boulevard south to Northwest Sixth Street, and from Northwest Sixth Avenue east to North Andrews Avenue, Tuning said.

Gunster | Miami

Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart kept its Miami office in Brickell.

Gunster renewed its 21,000-square-foot lease at 600 Brickell Avenue, according to a news release from the tenant’s broker. The law firm has had its office at the 40-story, 614,000-square-foot office tower since 2014.

Shay Pope and Carlyle Coffin of Stream Realty Partners represented Gunster. Ilene Munoz of Elm Spring represented the landlord.

An entity tied to Elm Spring, which is based at 600 Brickell, owns the tower, according to records.

Airlab | Coral Gables

A group fitness studio will open in Coral Gables.

Airlab leased 3,200 square feet at 55 Alhambra Plaza, where it is expected to open in the fourth quarter, according to the tenant’s broker. Airlab offers strength, conditioning and high-intensity interval training classes.

Alexandra Mesa and Jared Robins of InHouse Commercial represented Airlab. Jonathan Carter and Pablo Camposano of Colliers represented the landlord.

Coral Gables Associates owns the building, records show.

Carrot Express | Miami

Carrot Express, a staple in South Florida’s health food dining scene, will open its second outpost in Brickell.

The restaurant leased 2,100 square feet on the ground floor of the condo tower at 1057 Brickell Plaza in Miami, according to the landlord’s broker.

Fabio and Sebastian Faerman of FA Commercial represented the landlord, an Argentine family office that owns the condominium tower’s ground-floor commercial units.

Carrot Express is expected to open early next year, according to Irma Figueroa of Comras Company, who represented the tenant.

Carrot Express already has a Brickell restaurant at the Sabadel Financial Center at 1111 Brickell Avenue.

Golden Krust | Miramar

A Jamaican fast-casual restaurant opened at Monarch Town Center in Miramar.

Golden Krust, a family run business that first opened in the Bronx in 1989, is at 12523 Miramar Parkway, according to the tenant’s news release. The outpost was opened by franchisees Kevin and Cassandra Lee, marking their fifth Golden Krust restaurant in Miramar.

Golden Krust has more than 110 restaurants in North America, and its Caribbean food grocery products are sold at 22,000 grocery stores, the release says.

Newark, New Jersey-based PGIM Real Estate, the real estate investment and financing arm of Prudential Financial, owns Monarch Town Center, records show.

The square footage the tenant leased wasn’t immediately provided.