13 May 16-22, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | An Era Ends Perricone’s Marketplace & Café to close after 27-year run. BY NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR A fter more than 27 years, Perricone’s Marketplace & Café, one of Miami’s most beloved restaurants, is permanently closing its doors on Thursday, May 16. The announcement was made on Friday, May 3. Perricone’s was one of Brickell’s most popular restaurants for more than two de- cades. For generations, the restaurant hosted countless family gatherings, milestone birth- days, showers, anniversaries, graduations, and retirement parties in its garden setting in Brickell. Plus, the front porch bar was a leg- endary after-work watering hole for profes- sionals in Brickell. “We are tremendously sad to say goodbye to our loyal customers after nearly three de- cades, but we are also very proud that our res- taurant was the setting for so many of their special memories. It was a privilege that we never took lightly,” says owner and founder Steven Perricone. Perricone spoke to New Times about the tough decision he had to make. He didn’t nec- essarily want to close, but he knew deep down it was time. “It was a very tough decision for me,” Perricone tells New Times. I came close to closing during COVID, given all of the re- straints on the restaurant side, and I obviously didn’t. But now, it’s time for me to do it — for no one reason. It’s been just shy of 28 years that I’ve been open in the two locations.” Perricone’s first opened its doors on Octo- ber 16, 1996, in the heart of Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. It was adjacent to a city park in a setting inspired by New York City’s Tav- ern on the Green in Central Park. The rustic- looking restaurant and gourmet market opened at a time when office buildings domi- nated the landscape and the neighborhood hadn’t yet gentrified. “Everyone thought I was crazy, especially when we opened for dinner. Friends warned me that I would lose my shirt on this venture,” recalls Perricone. “Somehow, in my heart, I knew a sense of community was growing in Brickell.” And he was right. The emerging community he felt in the late ‘90s grew into his loyal fan- base, and equally as loyal employees, who have stood by him for the past nearly three de- cades. “I’ve had long-term employ- ees — some wonder- ful people working with me. And I’ve had several of those people be with me long enough that they gave me notice that they were leaving and retiring,” says Perricone with a laugh. “I never asked anyone to do anything that I wouldn’t do,” explains Perricone about the restaurant’s longevity. “I had some wonderful people that were able to run the business along with me in the way that I wanted it to be. I always wanted it to feel like a small fam- ily place. The guests were always taken care of. That was the best part of my 28 years — the people that I got to know and the friends that I got to make over the years.” Perricone is one of the last true restaura- teurs to work day in and day out at his own restaurant, serving all of his guests directly. He also built the former Brickell location res- taurant from scratch, sourcing wood panels from his 200-year-old Vermont barn back in the ‘90s. “We lived by the cliche, ‘Never say no,’ so, we made special orders, we made things happen, and we tried to be very ac- commodating,’” he says. “I wanted everyone to be professional, but also nice. I introduced myself to everyone at the table. We tried to create a great meal at reasonable prices. I tried to lead with that mindset.” In 2018, Perricone sold the legendary rus- tic Brickell property to a hotel developer. In 2019, he announced the restaurant and mar- ket would close its iconic space and move to a new location in the Roads. The modern space in the Roads is where Perricone’s has stood until this day. Perricone plans on staying in Miami and looks forward to spending more quality time with his two daughters, although they tell him they will miss the restaurant. Perricone’s last day of service will be on Thursday, May 16, which he hopes will give his regulars and die-hard fans one last chance to say hello and order one of their favorite menu items. “One of our regulars just told me, ‘It sucks for us, but I’m happy for you,’ and that made me feel good. I don’t want to just disappear. I want to give people enough time to come in, have a meal, and order one of their favorite dishes.’” [email protected] ▼ Café Photo by CandaceWest.com Owner Steven J. Perricone inside Perricone’s Marketplace and Café’s original location in Brickell. “SOMEHOW, IN MY HEART, I KNEW A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WAS GROWING IN BRICKELL.”
