Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit AHolland &Knight 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 3300 1 Miami, FL 33131 I T 305.789.7776 1 F 305.789.7799 Holland & Knight LLP I www.hklaw.com Ines Marrero-Priegues (305) 789-77760 Ines.marrero@hklaw.com July 22, 2025 Via e-mail Ms. Tamara Frost Zoning Administrator City of Miami 444 S.W. 2nd Avenue 3rd Floor Miami, FL 33130 Re: Application by Nishiki Market, LLC for City Commission Approval of Extension of Time for Approved TUP (initially approved under PZ-21- 11708, modified by PZ-22-13215 and Extended by PZ-23-16384) for Smorgasburg Miami event in Wynwood Address: 220 NW 27 Street, 2600 NW 2 Avenue, 2612 NW 2 Avenue, and 2630 NW 2 Avenue in Miami, FL (the "Property") Dear Ms. Frost, The undersigned represents Nishiki Market, LLC (the "Applicant" and/or "Smorgasburg Miami") in connection with a request for consideration by the Miami City Commission of an extension of time for the Smorgasburg Miami temporary event past the 3 year maximum established in Section 62-535(a) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida as amended ("Code"). Since 2022, the Applicant has been operating the Smorgasburg Miami event, an internationally renowned weekend street -food market in the Wynwood neighborhood that has been covered by local and national press.' Smorgasburg Miami is conveniently located near the Wynwood Walls location. Smorgasburg Miami has served as an incubator for local food vendors who may not have the means to open a traditional brick and mortar location. Through the event, these vendors are provided with exposure and opportunities for growth that fast track them to brick 1 https://www.timeout.com/miami/things-to-do/smorgasburg-miami https://www. miamiherald.com/miami-com/restaurants/article272559125.html https://www.fb101.com/brooklyn-los-angeles-and-now-miami-highly -anticipated-smorgasburg-miami-is-now-open- in-wynwood/ https://www. forties. com/site s/lilianraj i/2024/ 11 /27/where-to-savor-sip-and-socialize-during-art-basel-miami-art- week-2024/ Tamara Frost, Zoning Administrator July 22, 2025 Page 2 and mortar food and beverage businesses. Since its opening, Smorgasburg Miami has provided the exposure and opportunity for countless vendors to open their own stores. Smorgasburg Miami has been operating under a City of Miami Temporary Use Permit. Section 62-535 of the City Code permits temporary uses on vacant land, subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator of a Temporary Use Permit ("TUP"). TUP Permits are valid for one year, and may be extended by the Zoning Administrator for an additional year, not to exceed a maximum of three years. The City Commission may further extend the TUP beyond the three-year maximum. This application respectfully requests the consideration of an additional one (1) year of the TUP by the City Commission until October 9, 2026. The Property The chart below summaries the ownership and size of each Property part of this TUP application request. Owner City of Miami Address Folio Number ASG Wynwood LLC 220 NW 27 Street 01-3125-032-0030 (Lots 3-5 & 20-22) ASG Wynwood LLC 2600 NW 2 Avenue 01-3125-032-0130 (Lots 23-25) ASG Wynwood LLC 2612 NW 2 Avenue 01-3125-032-0020 (Lots 2, 26, 27, and 28) ASG Wynwood LLC 2630 NW 2 Avenue 01-3125-032-0010 (Lot 1) The Property consists of four (4) vacant parcels of land totaling approximately ± 1.1 acres of land and located between NW 26 Street and NW 27 Street, along NW 2 Avenue within the Wynwood Arts District. The Property is zoned T5-O and included within the Wynwood Neighborhood Revitalization District (NRD-1). It is surrounded by properties also zoned T5-O and NRD-1. Below is an aerial photograph of the site: 2 #526302008_v1 Tamara Frost, Zoning Administrator July 22, 2025 Page 3 Smorgasburg Miami concept and Community Benefit Launched in March 2022, Smorgasburg Miami is a vibrant food festival that brings together 50+ up-and-coming food businesses every weekend in the heart of Wynwood. Three years on, Smorgasburg Miami has become an iconic part of the culinary story of Miami and a touchstone of the local community. At its entrance, Smorgasburg Miami proudly display their company motto: "Everyone from Everywhere is Welcome Here. " As a free, open -to -the -public event, the event welcomes nearly 8,000 visitors each weekend, locals and tourists alike, who come to enjoy a diverse selection of Miami's culinary talent. Smorgasburg Miami offers guests and vendors alike a place to share food, stories, and genuine connection. Beyond serving as a weekly incubator for food entrepreneurs and a free, family -friendly destination, Smorgasburg MiamiMia also hosts monthly thematic programming that celebrates different cultures. From Smorgasburg Presents: Chinese New Year to Smorgasburg Miami Presents: Spookysburg, a Halloween Celebration, their events highlight Miami' s cultural diversity while creating new opportunities for community building. Smorgasburg Miami directly supports the city' s small business ecosystem by giving early -stage food entrepreneurs a cost-effective platform to test and grow their concepts, often serving as the stepping stone toward opening permanent establishments. This creates long-term economic benefits, from job creation to increased commercial activity in surrounding neighborhoods. The festival also serves as a cultural gathering space that bridges communities across Miami's diverse population, fostering inclusivity and civic pride. It attracts a wide cross-section of the city including families, young professionals, longtime residents, and visitors, helping to strengthen the local economy through tourism and repeat neighborhood visits. 3 #526302008_v1 Tamara Frost, Zoning Administrator July 22, 2025 Page 4 Smorgasburg Miami partners with local artists, musicians, and community organizations to create enriching experiences that go beyond food. Their events regularly feature live performances, art installations, and collaborations with cultural groups, giving local creatives a public stage and further contributing to Miami's vibrant cultural landscape. Smorgasburg Miami takes pride in being a safe, family -oriented environment that is accessible to all. Its programming encourages cross-cultural exchange, supports local talent, and helps create a stronger sense of community in the heart of Wynwood. Economic Impact Smorgasburg Miami is a significant driver of economic activity in the City of Miami. Our 50+ food vendors collectively generate approximately $15 million in annual sales, revenue that directly feeds into the local economy and strengthens the city's tax base through sales tax contributions. This steady and measurable inflow of tax revenue supports essential public services, infrastructure, and city programming, making Smorgasburg not just a cultural asset but an economic one. In addition to sales tax, Smorgasburg Miami stimulates economic growth through job creation. Their vendors employ hundreds of people each year, from chefs and cooks to servers, managers, and delivery drivers. Many of these positions are filled by local residents, ensuring that wages stay within the community and support household stability. As vendors grow their businesses, they often expand staff, purchase more local ingredients, and invest in equipment, all of which benefit other Miami -based suppliers and service providers. The festival also serves as a launchpad for small food entrepreneurs to transition into brick -and - mortar restaurants, creating new permanent businesses that contribute ongoing property taxes, business licensing fees, and sustained employment opportunities. The track record of Smorgasburg Miami's vendors successfully "graduating" into full-time restaurant ownership underscores their role as an economic incubator. Tourism is another key driver. Each weekend, the event attracts nearly 8,000 visitors, including a significant share of out-of-town guests who spend money not only at the market but also at nearby businesses like cafes, bars, shops, and hotels. This spillover effect amplifies the positive economic footprint of the event well beyond its own footprint in Wynwood. Local transportation providers, from rideshare drivers to parking operators, also benefit from the consistent influx of market -goers. By combining direct vendor sales, tax contributions, job creation, and tourism -driven spending, Smorgasburg Miami delivers measurable and sustained economic benefits to the City of Miami. Its success translates into more than just a thriving weekend event, it's a recurring and reliable source of economic activity that fuels both immediate and long-term growth for the city. 4 #526302008_v1 Tamara Frost, Zoning Administrator July 22, 2025 Page 5 Cultural Value Smorgasburg Miami is a living showcase of Miami's cultural diversity and creative energy. Its 50+ vendors represent a rich mix of ethnicities, backgrounds, and culinary traditions, offering everything from Haitian griot to Venezuelan arepas, Korean street food to Cuban pastelitos. This diversity is intentional as they seek to actively curate their vendor roster to reflect the multicultural fabric of Miami and ensure that visitors can experience a global tasting tour without leaving Wynwood. Smorgasburg Miami' s motto, "Everyone from Everywhere is Welcome Here, " is a guiding principle that shapes how they program their events, select vendors, and engage with the public. Every weekend, the event creates a space where people from all walks of life gather to share food, connect with one another, and explore new cultural experiences. Smorgasburg Miami also produces monthly thematic events that celebrate specific cultural traditions, deepen cross-cultural understanding, and offer underrepresented communities a highly visible platform. From Smorgasburg Presents: Chinese New Year, complete with traditional performances, lion dances, and special menus, to Smorgasburg Miami Presents: Spookysburg, our Halloween celebration featuring local artists, costume contests, and themed dishes, each event transforms the market into an immersive cultural experience. Smorgasburg has hosted programming for Hispanic Heritage Month, Caribbean culture days, and other heritage celebrations that give vendors and guests a chance to share their stories through food, music, and art. These events not only enrich the cultural calendar of Miami but also create opportunities for local cultural organizations, artists, and performers to collaborate with its vendors and reach broader audiences. By giving space to both established and emerging cultural voices, Smorgasburg Miami serves as an accessible, family -friendly platform where traditions are preserved, celebrated, and reimagined for a new generation. The result is a recurring, high -profile cultural gathering that strengthens Miami's identity as a global city, one where diversity is not only acknowledged but actively celebrated. Vacant Land Activation Smorgasburg Miami transforms underutilized and otherwise vacant land into a thriving community hub. Instead of remaining idle, vacant land becomes a vibrant gathering place that attracts thousands of people each weekend, generating both economic and social value for the surrounding neighborhood. Vacant lots often pose challenges for cities, becoming eyesores, contributing to blight, or failing to deliver any return in terms of public benefit or economic activity. By activating these spaces, Smorgasburg Miami turns them into high -traffic, safe, and family -friendly environments that foster civic engagement and strengthen the area' s appeal as a destination. The Smorgasburg Miami market infrastructure is designed to be temporary yet professional, allowing for flexibility while ensuring that the site remains well -maintained, visually appealing, and fully programmed during activation periods. Instead of sitting empty, the land becomes a cultural and commercial anchor, drawing both residents and visitors to Wynwood. This increased foot traffic benefits not only its vendors but also surrounding local businesses, from cafes and 5 #526302008_v1 Tamara Frost, Zoning Administrator July 22, 2025 Page 6 boutiques to art galleries and service providers. The success of Smorgasburg Miami also demonstrates to property owners and developers the long-term potential of otherwise underperforming parcels. The event create as "proof of concept" for the site's viability as a permanent destination for food, culture, and commerce, helping to spur future investment and development. In short, Smorgasburg Miami turns dormant space into an engine for community connection, cultural expression, and economic growth, providing immediate public benefit while setting the stage for longer -term neighborhood revitalization. Noise & Safety Management Smorgasburg Miami is committed to being a good neighbor and a responsible steward of the community space it occupies. As a family -friendly event, the programming is designed to create a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable environment for visitors of all ages, without disrupting the surrounding neighborhood. Music and amplified sound are kept at a moderate level, serving to enhance the guest experience without spilling beyond the immediate market footprint. Safety is at the forefront of the operations. Smorgasburg Miami employs a dedicated team of professional security personnel who work in coordination with event staff to maintain order, provide assistance to guests, and ensure compliance with all city safety regulations. Their team is trained to handle emergencies, manage crowd flow, and respond quickly to any incidents, creating a secure environment for families, tourists, and locals alike. In compliance with the Fire Departments' limitation on occupancy, the site is gated so that staff can count the number of attendees at any given time and confirm that the operation complies with maximum capacity limitations. The event' s setup also maintains clear and accessible pedestrian pathways, strategically placed lighting for evening hours, and designated vendor layouts that prevent congestion. In addition, the event observes a zero -tolerance policy for disruptive behavior ensuring that the market remains a safe and welcoming space for everyone. During its years of operation in Wynwood, Smorgasburg Miami has consistently operated as a respectful, community -oriented event, balancing the vibrancy of a cultural festival with the responsibility of being a considerate neighbor. Track Record Since launching in March 2022, Smorgasburg Miami has built a proven track record as a safe, well -managed, and positively received community event. In over three years of continuous weekend operations, they have had zero complaints or reported problems from the public, neighboring businesses, or city officials. This consistency is the result of thoughtful planning, strict operational protocols, and a deep commitment to being a responsible partner to the City of Miami. From day one, Smorgasburg Miami has prioritized safety, cleanliness, and community relations, ensuring that our market is a positive presence in the neighborhood. 6 #526302008_v1 Tamara Frost, Zoning Administrator July 22, 2025 Page 7 The operators work closely with security personnel, event staff, and city inspectors to maintain compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The event staff is trained to address any issues swiftly and discreetly, but the reality is that the guests, vendors, and operations have consistently run smoothly, without incident, week after week. This spotless track record is a direct reflection of the culture they foster: one rooted in respect for our community, the guests, and the neighborhoods they operate in. Smorgasburg Miami takes pride in being a trusted, dependable event that the City of Miami can continue to support with confidence. Approval History The initial permit was issued under PZ-21-11708 and extended an additional year through PZ-22- 13215 and one last, third year, under PZ- 23-16384. The last extension of the TUP is valid through September 30, 2025. Copies of these approvals are included as part of the submittal. The TUP, as currently approved, allows a maximum occupancy of 300 persons, and limits the event to following days/hours: Fridays 11 am — 8 pm Saturdays 11 am — 6 pm Sundays 11 am — 6 pm This extension of time for the Smorgasburg TUP will permit the continued operation of the internationally renowned street -food market until the property is prepared for development, which we anticipate will be within the next 24 months. The Smorgasburg food market has been a renowned success and has the overwhelming support of the Wynwood Business Improvement District as well as other business in Wynwood. It has received acclaim from local and national press, including The Miami Herald, The Miami New Times, the New York Times, and numerous food centric social media platforms. Smorgasburg agrees that all the conditions of the original TUP PZ-21-11708 as well as the conditions associated with the TUP Amendment approved under PZ-22-13215 and the TUP Extension approved under PZ-23-16384. Based on the foregoing, we respectfully request your favorable recommendation to the City Commission of an additional extension of time for Smorgasburg TUP for one (1) additional years. Sincerely, -71/1 Ines Marrero-Priegues 7 #526302008_v1 Tamara Frost, Zoning Administrator July 22, 2025 Page 8 Enclosures Cc: Gaston Becherano 8 #526302008_v1