Aventura Grand Cove, located on Biscayne and 187th Street, has been under new management for almost a year. When FIP Realty took over management, everyone wondered what would be the next restaurant to occupy the vacant free standing space in the plaza. This location has served many different cuisines – lobster, Brazilian, Kosher, BBQ, chicken, and more. If you lived here long enough and think back you’ll start to remember that this free standing facility at the plaza has always been a revolving restaurant. We poised a challenge, in the last article about this Aventura plaza, to find something new for the location other than a restaurant – read it here, Aventura commercial real estate.

Bob Dylan said it best, “The times, they are a changin.” The management team has surprised everyone and they will be bringing Jared The Galleria of Jewelry. The popular Jewelry retailer has secured an amazing location with excellent brand exposure on one of the busiest corners in Aventura. It’s such a natural fit, why hasn’t anybody thought of this in all these years?

The simplest solutions are sometimes the hardest to see. FIP Realty’s  diligent management gave clarity to this AH-HA moment – another jewelry store in Aventura.

Roy Faith, the broker of FIP Realty, explained that Jared has been looking for the perfect location in Avenutra for nearly a decade. He went on to say, “the deal took many months to put together and there will be a complete redevelopment of the property. The building will be demolished and rebuilt closer to Biscayne, it will have a fresh design and eventually a complete matching update will be given to the entire plaza.”

Aventura has no shortage of Jewelry stores and for some strange reason another one makes perfect sense, especially for a free standing building on Biscayne. Jared is a brand people trust and we’ve all seen the commercials… “He went to Jared’s!”

Thankfully, Aventura can sustain another jewelry store as tens of millions travel through this city for the sole purpose of shopping.

This addition, marks another recent development at the South tip of Aventura. There have been several new restaurants opened around the corner – Chipotle and Pei Wei. The Burger King has been demolished and cleared to make room for a new tenant (likely another bank). The facades have changed on the plaza of Mo’s Bagels. Bagel Works has recently opened. Vacant land has been developed into a synagogue. The Olive Garden has moved a block South. The plaza next to Fresh Market has been cleaned up and ready for redevelopment.

Not bad for a rough economy. It’s obvious that action in Aventura is not slowing down, and when everyone else sleeps those here are pushing forward.

It must be the water!

There’s always improvements being made in Aventura. As you drive through Aventura on the short stretch of Biscayne Blvd. you should start to notice the light posts are changing. Specifically, by the Aventura Mall area there have been several new light posts installed. These posts are a lot nicer than the typical posts, these have a second lower lantern for a more luxurious look.

These new lights will give Aventura a signature look in the evening and add to the luxury lifestyle that continues to build in this area.

Share your thoughts about the new light posts.

A recent Sun Sentinal article, by Michael Turnbell, outlines the ins and outs of the planned work. Read the article here – Ives Dairy Traffic

In Aventura, we’ve become very familiar with TRAFFIC and most residents have learned how to avoid certain areas. Even with the shortcuts, sitting in TRAFFIC is becoming a way of life here.

Looking to hear from our readers, comments and suggestions.

The bagel scene in Aventura has officially arrived with yet another Bagel / Deli now open in the area. Bagel Works, is a hot spot for all those craving a fresh bagel, eggs, deli, and more. There must be more bagel shops in this city per square mile then in any other South Florida area. Even with all the neighboring shops, it appears there’s enough traffic to support all bagel venues.

A quick visit to this location and you’ll quickly notice this isn’t your grandfather’s delicatessen. The graffiti style logo spray painted by the register and the hip colors give it a fun vibe. Get there early on the weekends it’s been packed.

This town is no stranger to a good bagel. We look forward to your comments on the new schmear in Aventura.

David and Denise Saba of Aventura were celebrating their honeymoon. This was the first time on a cruise ship for Denise, hopefully it won’t be the last time the couple vacation at sea.

Read the full story about the honeymoon that will certainly never be forgotten – S. Florida couples escaped Italian cruise ship after it capsized

A street over to the North are the Mo’s Bagel and Miller Paint shopping plazas, these have been transformed. The property now has a sleek design with bold and uniform signage. There are those that are nervous and hope that a uniform signage policy isn’t adapted by the City. The new facades look great and give that corner a breathe of fresh air.

There are two undeveloped pieces of property around that corner – one property West of Moes and the other diagonal to the new Synagogue. The property opposite the Synagogue looks presentable with the newly installed fence as the developers plan their next move. However, the property West of the bagel shop is vacant and looks deserted – there’s rebar and concrete sticking out of the ground. Also, the fence has been left uncared for leaving sloppy holes and all the overgrown weeds in view from the street.

If the new changes are any indication of the potential transformation on the horizon, then we can all be sure that the future looks bright in Aventura.

A sneak peek into the peek-a-boo playground & cafe reveals an awesome environment for the kids to let loose and the parents to relax. Their doors have not officially opened, but the front window is no longer covered up – go take a look. A mix of fun wall murals and a tactile play area will surely be a popular spot for Aventura kids. This new cafe is located on 29th Avenue across from The Venture.

We’ll keep you posted with more information about the opening, hours, and other fun facts. In the meantime, here are a few quick snapshots to peak your interest.

Have you noticed all the new facade work in and around Loehmann’s Plaza? Well, if you’ve stopped for a sandwich at Pita Plus or even across at Moes then you’ve noticed the construction taking place and it’s almost complete. Right next to Barnes and Noble, were signs for a Bagel Works. Can you believe it, another bagel shop in town across the street from Moes Bagels? The new facade creates a welcoming entrance and it was many months in the making. The photo above is during the construction process, the next photo shows the transformation.

The question remains, will Bagel Works open…if so when? Does anyone know the answer?

Filene’s Basement is going out of business and having a huge storewide sale – 10%-30% off already slashed prices. This location is located on the north tip of Aventura, parallel to the Aventura welcome sign. This spot has always been difficult to access and the parking is limited; however, you can bet with a “Going Out of Business” sale, people will find a way to check it out. Where there’s a sale, there’s a way.

Many more locations have also announced that they are going out of business. The full details of Filene’s Basement closing stores can be found at Market Watch, click here to read more – Filene’s Basement Going out of Business.

Here’s a quick glance at the announcement:

“A huge going-out-of-business sale begins Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 19 SYMS, 14 Filene’s Basement and 6 combined store locations in 12 states and the District of Columbia. As the holiday season approaches, discounts up to 30% off the lowest ticketed price will be offered on all merchandise at every location.”

Check our listing of retail stores in Aventura Mall.