Just over a month after the FBI raided Miami Fine Art Gallery, Brendy Melville, the popular fast-fashion, California-inspired clothing brand known for its one-size-fits-all approach, has taken over the property at 3180 Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove. It is now the company's second location in South Florida.
The store officially opened on Saturday, May 17, to much fanfare. Photos from the company's Instagram show the store filled to the brim with Miami logo tees, comfortable loungewear, shorts, and tank tops.
The teenage customers rummaging through the clothing racks may not be aware that the property that is now home to their favorite store was the site of an FBI raid where law enforcement officials hauled cardboard boxes filled with art as part of an investigation into serial scammer Leslie Roberts. The 62-year-old, toupée-wearing art dealer's gallery boasted artwork from artists like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Jeff Koons, and Banksy.
Roberts, who claimed to be a professionally trained art dealer with a degree from New York University and extensive training from Sotheby's, is now facing wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly selling fake Warhol artwork. As previously reported by New Times, Roberts has a long history of deception and allegations of fraud, including two previous criminal convictions, one stemming from an art forgery scheme involving Peter Max artwork.
Following the FBI raid and subsequent federal charges, his Miami Fine Art Gallery was boarded up and shuttered. After Roberts defaulted on his $19,000 monthly rent payment, his landlord later filed an eviction notice, which has since been voluntarily dismissed.
While Roberts' legal case plays out, his Miami Fine Art Gallery Gift Shop, which opened last October, is still open for business just down the street from his former gallery, despite his strict conditions that bar him from working in the art industry. As New Times inquired about his gift shop, the person behind the shop's Instagram account changed the username and profile picture.
First, it was @miami_fine_art_gift_shop. Then, it became @urban_art_gallery. Now, it is simply @shirt_boots_hats. FYI, the store sells a lot more than (Miami-inspired) "shirts, boots, and (bedazzled) hats."
It now has competition down the street, albeit in a narrow size range, at Brandy Melville.
