Richard Branson's Florida Commuter Rail Steps Up Retail Leasing in Miami
Jones Lang LaSalle has been charged with leasing the retail space at Virgin MiamiCentral, the southernmost transit hub for a high-speed commuter train service partly funded by billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.
The JLL brokerage will oversee leasing of 136,000 square feet at the station, located at 600 NW 1st St. in downtown Miami.
The Florida commuter rail, Virgin Trains USA, formerly was known as Brightline before officials established a partnership with Virgin Group. It connects the downtowns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with plans for future service to Orlando.
The JLL leasing assignment also includes the 30,000-square-foot Central Fare food court, which recently opened a first phase anchored by La Estacion American Brasserie, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant and bar. Tenants expected to open this year at the food court include wine bar Art de Vivre and 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen.
Next to the station is Miami Worldcenter, a $4 billion mixed-use development along NE 1st Ave. that will include 300,000 square feet of retail space. Retail plans at Miami Worldcenter switched from an enclosed mall to an outdoor center, with plans to attract restaurants and lifestyle tenants.
An onslaught of development downtown is likely to attract “top-tier food and beverage brands looking to plant a flag in South Florida’s most dynamic neighborhood and tap into its growing residential and visitor base,” JLL’s Rafael Romero said in a statement.
JLL also is listing 13,000 square feet of ground-floor retail at Park-Line Palm Beaches, a new rental building adjacent to the West Palm Beach station.
