Jaime Sturgis Discusses South Florida’s Restaurant Space Shortage in Bisnow Article

The Native Realty CEO details how new developments, such as Motif in Flagler Village, are working with restaurant operators to build out locations in these brand-new spaces as available second-generation restaurant space dwindles. Demand from out-of-state operators for such space in South Florida is extremely high.

As restaurateurs look for space, top concepts with a lot of capital backing them will spring for first-generation space if it is in an A-plus location, Sturgis said.

“Fort Lauderdale broker Jaime Sturgis, CEO of Native Realty, said summer is usually slow in South Florida, but this year has stayed busy and fall could set records.

“For good restaurants with a strong following, you likely have to make reservations weeks in advance,” he said.

As restaurateurs look for space, top concepts with a lot of capital backing them will spring for first-generation space if it is in an A-plus location, Sturgis said. In the urban core and emerging neighborhoods, where parking is constrained, many landlords have also been moving proactively to get their properties approved for restaurant and bar uses in advance so tenants won’t need to go through a conditional approval process, he said.

Sturgis said that some new developments, like Motif in Flagler Village, are making tenant improvement dollars available to operators to build out their spaces.”

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