The definitive closure of Perricone's Marketplace & Café, a landmark Italian restaurant in Brickell, Miami, after 27 years of delighting patrons with its exquisite culinary offerings, will leave a significant void in the local food scene starting next Thursday. Steven Perricone, the owner and founder of the establishment, announced on Instagram his decision to shut down, citing "times change and I am not as young as I used to be" as his reason for wanting to spend more time with his family and on other personal interests.
The 70-year-old New Yorker emphasized that "managing a restaurant in the hands-on way that I do requires a lot of energy and focus," also noting his over four decades in the restaurant business. "Our last day will be Thursday, May 16, 2024," Perricone stated firmly, while expressing gratitude to everyone who has supported him during the 27 years the restaurant has been open.
He nostalgically recalled how the venue had become a "daily meeting place for those living and working in Brickell and, over the last four years, in The Roads." He also reminisced about watching the Brickell neighborhood grow "into a global hub for international business."
In a touching show of community support, Perricone was surprised this Saturday by the Miami Police Department's Bomb Squad, who presented him with a special award. He shared on Instagram, "It has been a great pleasure to serve the members of the police force over the past 28 years," a relationship that has fostered deep friendships and wonderful memories.
Perricone’s originally opened on October 16, 1996, quickly becoming one of the most popular spots in Brickell long before the area transformed into the so-called Wall Street South and a trendy global neighborhood, as noted by El Nuevo Herald. Initially considered more madcap than visionary, Perricone bought the land in 1997 for $775,000: "My friends warned me I’d lose my shirt on this venture. Somehow, in my heart, I knew a sense of community was growing in Brickell," he said.
With its charmingly rustic decor and comforting Italian dishes, the venue hosted countless date nights, post-work gatherings, and celebrations. According to El Nuevo Herald, in 2018, Perricone sold the 11,000-square-foot property for $16.18 million; however, he ended up purchasing a 5,400-square-foot building for a new space in Roads, at 1700 SW Third Ave, just half a mile away.
In July 2020, amid the Covid pandemic, Perricone’s Marketplace and Café was reborn in a new, modern space which, like its predecessor, featured a large café and market brimming with cheeses, bakery goods, and gourmet delights, complete with a full bar and outdoor seating.