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SoHo South: MIA Design District Undergoes Makeover

Miami Design District Often Referred To As SoHo Miami Or SoHo South

MIAMI (CBS4) ― What was once a sparsely populated Miami neighborhood is undergoing a true renaissance. Instead of being sparsely populated, the Miami Design District is now populated with high-end fashion boutiques, jewelers, restaurants and art galleries.

Known for its top notch design stores as well, the Miami Design District is the place where those in the trade bring in clients to see the latest in interior furnishings and décor.

But recently, thanks to a few notable chefs, the district is also bringing in a new crowd. "Foodies" who enjoy a nice glass of wine and a good meal.

Chef Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink on Northeast 40th Street, is described as a pioneer when it comes to the restaurant scene in the district.

"I love that, I wanted to be the pioneer, we wanted to be first, we knew what was going to happen in this area and I've had my eye on it for a long time, and I knew, I liked it just the way it was but I knew it was going to change and it has already," Schwartz told CBS4's Lisa Petrillo.

In the past year, four other notable restaurants have set up shop. Jonathan Eismann's Pacific Time moved off Lincoln Road and is now located at 35 NE 40th Street.

Up the street is the elegant Fratelli Lyon, located at 4141 Second Avenue. Down the courtyard is the Mediterranean bistro Brosia Miami, located at 163 NE 39th St. and on the corner is Domo Japones, 4000 NE 2nd Ave., an eclectic Asian restaurant with a cool vibe serving black edamame and a delicious spicy tuna roll.

Amir Ben Zion owns Domo Japones and Scott Engleman is the owner of Brosia.

The Miami Design District, which stretches only 18 blocks, is described as relaxed, without the pressure of South Beach and filled with really nice people.

The five restaurants in the neighborhood are also creating a new consumer base. More and more people consider the district a destination rather than those who go just for the trade.

It's not just restaurants that are opening up in the district, there are high-end fashion boutiques, like En Avance, which sells women and children's clothing and jewelry. It opened last month after the owner moved her high-end store from the high-rent of Lincoln Road.

"Lincoln Road has pretty much tripled, the rents have gone through the roof and it's become very corporate and very kind of commercial, so I felt that its lost a lot a lot of its charm so I was looking for a new location to kind of reinvent myself," said En Avance owner Karen Quinones.

The Miami Design District has reinvented itself into a vibrant and growing neighborhood, where art and design combine for good taste and good fun.

"The unique thing about the design district is that there really is an air of sophistication, so it's a safe clean neighborhood, it's very confined within a small radius and people are comfortable coming here. There's a lot of activity, a lot of heart," said Scott Engleman.

Coming soon to the district, a 150 room boutique hotel which is set to begin construction next year. There are also more office buildings being planned, along with more residential buildings to make it more of a living neighborhood.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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