Audio By Carbonatix
Chef/restaurateur Michelle Bernstein might be opening a new “to-go” version of Michy’s in the same neighborhood as her flagship restaurant, Open Media Miami reported yesterday.
Chariff Realty Group posted the enticing rumor on its Facebook page. A picture of the groundbreaking ceremony of the 10,000-square-foot retail space currently under construction at 6101 Biscayne Boulevard shows Bernstein and husband/business partner David Martinez in hardhats alongside commissioner Marc Sarnoff, Lyle Chariff, and Steven Perricone, shovels in hand.
The caption under the picture alludes to a deal in place, “‘another Done Deal’ Michele [sic] Bernstein will be creating Miche’s [sic] to go which is an Epicurean [sic] market of high end meals. We still have more space available.”
We contacted Larry Carrino of Brustman-Carrino, Bernstein’s rep, who
first sent us an email stating simply, “This is so overblown.” A few
minutes later, Carrino told us that, indeed, Bernstein and Martinez
were at the groundbreaking and did express interest in a future deal
with the building, but that’s the extent.
“There was no contract, no
pre-lease, no memorandum of understanding signed.”
We called Lyle Chariff, founder and owner of Chariff Realty,
who said that he was initially told there was a deal, but then acknowledged, “There is not a deal. She’s thinking about it.” Since we spoke to him, the post on Chariff’s Facebook
page stating there was a pre-lease with Bernstein was deleted.
The
building in question is is owned by Steven Perricone, owner of
Perricone’s Marketplace & Cafe and part-owner of Michy’s. Plans are for a
10,000-square-foot commercial space. Chariff Realty has been tapped
to procure commercial tenants for the space, which is slated for completion in mid-2012.
A post on Chariff Realty’s Facebook page (since taken down), stated
that Bernstein wanted a quarter of the space for her Michy’s-To-Go (which may
or may not be a reality at this point).
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