12 November 13-19, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | brand has additional outposts planned in Athens, Georgia, and Las Vegas, part of what it calls an effort to “redefine the food hall experience.” The building previously housed Time Out Market, a vibrant concept that opened in 2019 with local heavyweights such as Mi- chael Beltran, Norman Van Aken, Cesar Za- pata, and Giorgio Rapicavoli. It was meant to be a culinary showcase for the city, but it struggled through pandemic shutdowns and never fully recovered. The market closed in June 2023 after vendors said they were given only a few hours’ notice of the shutdown. Now, City Food Hall is promising a reset. CEO and founder Peter Rounce said the new concept aims to “celebrate diversity and ex- cellence” through a mix of all-day dining and spaces meant for socializing. “Our passion for genuine hospitality is at the heart of every- thing we do, and we can’t wait to bring that energy to Miami Beach,” Rounce said in a press release announcing the food hall. This project is occurring at a time when Lincoln Road is undergoing a $29 million city-led refresh, featuring upgraded side- walks, lighting, and outdoor seating. It’s one of many new investments reshaping the pe- destrian mall’s dining and retail mix. Miami designer Camila Dulcetti of Nova Design has been tapped to reimagine the space, which will house multiple chef-driven concepts under one roof. The lineup of ven- dors hasn’t been announced yet, but the com- pany says the goal is to create a more “dynamic, community-centered” experience than the traditional food hall model. City Food Hall. 1601 Drexel Ave., Miami Beach; cityfoodhall.com. Scheduled to open summer 2026. OLEE FOWLER ▼ IN PASSING NOT FORGOTTEN October was a rough one for Miami’s dining scene — the kind of month that reminds us just how fragile even the most beloved restau- rants can be. In the span of a few short weeks, the city lost three very different but equally meaningful restaurants and shops: a family- favorite ice cream shop that had been serving sweet memories for two decades, a bold new- comer that made North Miami feel like home again, and a Coral Gables rooftop that had just started to soar before being grounded by an old problem. Each closure tells a different Miami story. South Miami families said goodbye to 20 years of post-pizza scoops and fudge-topped memories. In North Miami, a new spot with creative spark burned bright but briefly, of- fering Afro-Caribbean flavors and coffee- house vibes. And in Coral Gables, a rooftop’s elevator woes finally caught up to it, forcing it to close just weeks after a triumphant re- launch. Below, we bid farewell to these three beloved spots. Cebada Rooftop Just weeks after celebrating its grand reopen- ing, Cebada Rooftop in Coral Gables has once again closed its doors — this time, not by choice but by necessity. Owner Jorgie Ramos says the restaurant’s long-troubled elevator finally forced a reckoning after nearly five years of breakdowns, near misses, and nightly apologies to guests. “It’s heartbreaking,” Ra- mos tells New Times. “We’ve been trying for years to get it fixed. No one knows what’s go- ing on with it. It’s gotten to the point where every night we’re apologizing, and it’s still not working properly.” The elevator issue, which dates back to Cebada’s opening, has been both a safety con- cern and a logistical nightmare. Staff often carried heavy supplies up three flights of stairs, while guests had to make the same climb just to enjoy dinner or drinks. Ramos says the decision to close came down to safety and fairness — both for his team and his cus- tomers. “People spend their hard-earned money for a nice night out,” he says. “They shouldn’t have to hike to their table.” The closure stings all the more because it comes on the heels of a successful relaunch featuring a revamped rooftop, new Spanish- Cuban menu, and a reimagined Bar Bella martini and raw bar. For Ramos, the pause is painful but necessary. He remains hopeful re- pairs can be made and that Cebada will one day return — elevator fixed, spirits lifted, and hearts ready to celebrate again. Cebada Rooftop photo Popular Coral Gables rooftop bar and restaurant Cebada Rooftop has been forced to close following years of malfunctioning elevator issues.
