Miami Beach shopping center will allow pop-up restaurants

The Lincoln Road Business Improvement District announced on April 24 that it will be the first area in Miami Beach where food and beverage businesses can operate pop-up locations under a recently expanded municipal policy.

The Miami Beach City Commission recently approved changes to the permitting rules for pop-ups, allowing temporary businesses—including restaurants and bars—to occupy vacant spaces along Lincoln Road.

Previously, permits for pop-ups in Miami Beach were limited to three months. With the new policy, businesses will be able to operate for up to a year, as long as they actively work to obtain a Certificate of Use and a Business Tax Permit within the first nine months.

This measure comes as Lincoln Road continues to experience a wave of store and restaurant closures, especially in the area adjacent to the Regal South Beach cinemas and the 1111 Lincoln Road parking lot, where businesses like the French bakery Ladurée, Doraku Izakaya and Sushi, Nespresso, Ted Baker, Mac, Bluemercury, and Banana Republic have closed their doors. Other closures in the district include the Irish bar Finnegan’s Road, the Balans restaurant and bar, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, Express, John Varvatos, and Mayors Jewelers. Forever 21 also plans to leave Lincoln Road as part of its bankruptcy process.

The president of the Lincoln Road BID, Lyle Stern, noted that updating the permitting structure will help revitalize the corridor by offering opportunities for both entrepreneurs and property owners.

"This visionary policy gives emerging businesses the time they need to test and scale their ideas while empowering property owners and neighborhoods like ours to bring fresh, creative energy to our commercial corridors," Stern said in a statement. "The BID is incredibly grateful to the City of Miami Beach... for its support in making Lincoln Road a hub of innovation and new businesses, and for making Lincoln Road the only place in Miami Beach where food and beverage establishments can be part of this transformative program."

The policy change coincides with the second year of implementing stricter regulations for spring break in Miami Beach, aimed at reducing the city’s image as a party destination and repositioning it as a place for families and high-end experiences. Temporary measures include earlier alcohol sales cut-off times, higher parking fees, and curfews in certain entertainment districts during the busiest weekends. Finnegan’s Road, which closed last month after 25 years in operation, cited decreased foot traffic as one of the factors in its closure in an interview with WSVN. The Business Journal contacted representatives of the Lincoln Road BID for comments.

Commissioner Alex Fernández, who sponsored the change in permits, also noted that the new pop-up program was designed to stimulate economic activity throughout the city.

"Extending permits for emerging businesses in Miami Beach for up to a full year benefits both the businesses and the city by reducing bureaucracy and allowing for greater flexibility, experimentation, and economic activity, in addition to potentially boosting tourism and attracting more businesses," Fernández said.

Pop-up permits require the approval of the property owner. Businesses occupying more than 40,000 square feet of public space will need to make a minimum donation of $5,000 as a public benefit.

The program is based on recent pop-up activations in the district, such as the London toy brand Duck World, which launched its first pop-up in the U.S. earlier this month at 1622 Washington Ave. The California-based fashion store Bylt Basics also hosted a four-hour pop-up shop last Saturday at 1118 Lincoln Road in honor of the upcoming Formula 1 Grand Prix week.

Lincoln Road is a major destination in Miami Beach, with eight blocks of retail space, restaurants, and offices. It has traditionally attracted more than 10 million annual visitors, according to the BID, although it is unclear how the recent spring break restrictions have affected foot traffic. Meanwhile, the city welcomes over eight million visitors each year, generating around $18 billion in economic impact for the area, according to the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority.

Census data estimates that Miami Beach’s permanent population is approximately 79,600 residents, with an average household income of $67,014.

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2025/04/28/miami-beach-lincoln-road-restaurant-pop-up-permits.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=FL&j=39613468&senddate=2025-04-28&utm_term=ep4&empos=p4