Apple will launch its largest store in Florida at the upcoming Brickell City Centre, sources told The Real Deal.
The Apple store will be among about 70 stores and restaurants at the open-air shopping center set to open this fall, including luxury boutiques Valentino and Chopard.
Swire Properties, Whitman Family Development and Simon Property Group are co-developing the 500,000-square-foot center that will feature a “climate ribbon.” The 1,000-foot-long twisted strip of steel and glass is meant to block rain and focus breezes through the retail areas, replacing air conditioning.
An Apple spokesperson said the company “hasn’t made any announcements about a store at that location,” and a Swire spokesperson declined to comment regarding Apple.
Apple already operates several stores in South Florida, including on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, at Aventura Mall, Dadeland Mall and the Falls.
At Brickell City Centre, other tenants announced in January include:Apparel: Armani Collezioni, BDBA, Crocus, Intermix, Koko & Palenki, LIVE!, Orlebar Brown, Rhythm of Grace, REISS, SportsAction, Sundek, 120% Lino, In-Sight
Fashion and personal accessories: Addict, Audemars Piguet, Caudalie, Designer Eyes, Font, Italia Independent, Kendra Scott, Kreations, Leetal Kalmanson, Nars, Pandora, Richard Mille, Westime
Dining: American Harvest, Big Easy Winebar & Grill, Calissons du Roy René, DAVIDsTEA, Dr Smood, Häagen-Dazs, Luke’s Lobster, Santa Fe, Taco Chic
Arts and services: AT&T, Bojanini Art Gallery, Brickell Nail Bar, Musart, Sean Donaldson HairIn November, the developers announced they had signed Acqua di Parma, IRO, Stuart Weitzman, Coach and Porsche Design, as well as Michele Lopriore, Mirto, Adolfo Dominguez, Capritouch, Santa Maria Novella, Diptyque and Nest Casa.
Those tenants will join eateries at Brickell City Centre such as Pubbelly Sushi, Pasión del Cielo, Quinto La Huella and Sugar; and retailers that include Giuseppe Zanotti Design, La Perla, Bally; European brands Ted Baker, Agent Provocateur, 100 % Capri, Addict, Vilebrequin, APM Monaco, Cole Haan, lululemon, Illesteva, Harmont & Blaine and OndadeMar; as well as designer boutiques Valentino and Chopard.
Luxury stores will be located on the first floor, with premium and contemporary retailers on the second and third floors. The shopping component, anchored by a three-floor Saks Fifth Avenue, will include street-level access to an underground two-story garage.
When completed this year, Brickell City Centre will have two condominium towers, two Class A office buildings, and its EAST, Miami Hotel. The development is valued at $1.05 billion.
Bal Harbour Shops has purchased the Church by the Sea’s lot for $30 million, marking another step forward for Whitman Family Development’s expansion plans for the upscale shopping center.
Miami-Dade County records show the now torn down church, formerly the oldest in Bal Harbour, sold last week to Bal Harbour Shops LLLP. The 27,000-square-foot property was part of a contentious battle between the Miami-Dade County’s historic preservation board and the church, the latter of which agreed to sell to the Whitman family. The board voted against protecting the church from demolition in November. It was torn down in December.
The church has been a key part of the neighboring mall’s renovation and expansion. The $400 million project will include a new entrance, wider sidewalks, a new canopy, landscaping and some new exterior walls. The upgrades will also include the addition of Barneys New York, expansions of existing Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores, and new luxury boutiques. Bernard Zyscovich of Zyscovich Architects is the lead designer on the project.
Whitman has also agreed to build a new home for the congregational church.
Last year, Whitman president and CEO Matthew Whitman Lazenby said that “without exaggeration the last 40 years have been spent trying to negotiate a deal with the congregational church,” and that Whitman’s plans ensure “that the Village of Bal Harbour remains the center for luxury living.”