Destined to become one of the country’s most visited retail destinations and a new landmark instantly identifiable among Miami’s skyline, the retail center at Brickell City Centre opened to the public on Thursday, Nov. 3 with its first group of stores. A select group of more than 100 committed retail stores showcased their concepts at the center for the first time at 10 a.m. that day. The kickoff was followed by a larger rollout of not-to-be-missed experiential events that will welcome the majority of retailers opening their doors throughout the next few weeks.
Developed by Hong Kong-based Swire Properties Inc, along with retail co-developers Whitman Family Development and Simon Property Group, Brickell City Centre will fill the void in Miami’s retail landscape by bringing one of the most diverse offerings of over 100 luxury, contemporary, international and local brands to Brickell’s underserved financial district.
“Brickell City Centre is certainly a first for Miami and will inevitably solidify the city as a true world-class destination. What we’ve done here is unique; there’s no handbook or manual for it because it hasn’t been done before,” said Stephen Owens, president of Swire Properties. “We have carefully created a vertical shopping experience that is very urban in its design, with many firsts and many internationally recognized retailers. I feel privileged to finally share with the world what we felt was always missing in Brickell: a destination.”
After four years of construction, the expansive three-level, open-air retail center will unveil half-a-million square feet of high fashion, dining and entertainment, anchored by Miami’s first new Saks Fifth Avenue in 30 years and the country’s first CMX theater, a subsidiary of Mexico-based Cinemex, the sixth largest cinema chain in the world. In 2017, Brickell City Centre will also welcome Miami’s first Italian food hall, which will take up three floors of the project.
The center joins the project’s other completed towers, including its two, 390-unit luxury condominium residences, REACH and RISE, two class-A office buildings, which are leased so far by Akerman LLP and WeWork, Uruguayan restaurant Quinto La Huella and signature rooftop bar Sugar, both of which are located at Brickell City Centre’s flagship hotel, EAST, Miami.
Brickell City Centre currently has 92 percent of its retail spaces committed. A sizeable percentage of these brands, approximately 20 percent, are using Brickell City Centre as the venue to enter the South Florida market. A full list of tenants opening throughout the holiday season and beyond can be found here.
Celebrations will continue with Brickell City Centre’s holiday season kickoff on Nov. 17, by which time another wave of soon-to-be-revealed retailers will be opening in time for the busy holiday season. The retail center will come alive with the work of famed production designer and Marvel extraordinaire, Kirk M. Petruccelli (set designer for The Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, Blade, Ghost Rider and more), who will be creating an iconic and sustainable spectacle that infuses holiday spirit into the interior and exterior elements of the center. The kickoff will also launch BCC’s curated music program by famous runway DJ and BCC’s Music Director, Michaelangelo L’Acqua.