On May 7th there was a stream of “OMG!” “OMG!” text messages coming from 74 Street & Red Road, as customers lined up outside of the new Honey Bee Donuts shop. It’s here that Karen Muirhead, a/k/a, “H.B.” (Honey Bee), a life-long nickname, was living her dream to serve up happiness in the form of a donut.
After ten years working in corporate America as a human resources executive, H.B. decided to open up a business in her “hometown.” Growing up in the South Miami area, she started baking at nine years of age, and it’s been a happy journey for years thereafter. Karen would be actively involved in charity work at church and schools, serving up her prized donuts, and a fourth generation recipe short-bread cookie.
In planning for her retail debut, she spent 1 1/2 years in recipe development. As a human resources professional, she selected her new staff from culinary schools.
“Donuts are a great canvas,” says H.B., and has designers on staff to work up new presentations. At Honey Bee Donuts, they serve locally-based Panther Coffee, make glazes in-house and also prepare Gluten-free donuts as well.
Honey Bee Donuts is open Monday-Friday, from 7am to Sold-Out (generally around 3:30pm), and Saturday, 8am to Sold-Out. They are closed on Sunday.
7388 Red Road | 786.773.2770
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- Karen Muirhead, holding the tray of donuts with staff: Javier Mendez, Front Manager; Joel Gonzalez, Baker; Andrea Avalos, Customer Service and Kim Echavaria, Designer.
Now in the final process of interior build-outs and getting ready for a grand opening this summer, Tea & Poets is the first of its kind, and will feature an indoor art walk style market, a full service tea bar redefining the way you drink tea, and live performances by local artists: poets, musicians and all creative minds.
Co-founders Joaquin Ortiz & Francesco Musalem. (Third partner Henryk Telle was in Norway at the time of the photo.)Tea & Poets is the collaborative result of best friends Joaquin Ortiz, Francisco Musalem and Henrik Telle who have teamed up to bring the lore of this market place to the heart of SOMI in The Shops at Sunset Place.
Located proximate at the base of the steps inside Sunset Place, Tea & Poets will be open 7 days a week. It’s there that shoppers will find designer clothes and jewelry to vintage art, books, lamps, hand-made soap, artifacts, paintings, eyewear and collectibles. On any given day, visitors can buy the most original designs and watch artisans at work, from designers sewing one-of-a-kind garments to silversmiths crafting custom rings.
At the forefront of tea gastronomy, Tea & Poets draws from a vast collection of fine harvested teas and signature blends from around the world. Their baristas customize and blend each tea based on the needs of the client. Whether you are in need of more energy, an immune boost, or a hangover cure, guests are assured to have the perfect brew set in front of them.
Tea & Poets will feature live performances by local artists ranging from poets, comedians, singers, musicians, thespians and all creative minds. Tea & Poets plans to host yoga classes, TV watch parties, sporting events, board game nights and various other shindigs.
As Joaquin Ortiz exclaims, the Tea & Poets market “pulsates with creativity and will reinvent the way you shop, drink and enjoy the arts.”
Mark your calendar as Tea & Poets will open to the public in the summer of 2016.
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- Local artist Jaclyn Cruz-Alvarez working on one of the five columns within the market, each painted by a different artist.
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- Eduardo Torres of Cutler Bay is designing a mandala for the front entrance rotunda.
TacoCraft is a boutique taqueria and tequila bar serving modern interpretations of Mexican street food classics prepared with the best local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. The menu features a selection of tacos made with hand-crafted tortillas, classic Mexican appetizers and entrees. The bar serves more than 150 types of tequila and mescal as well as selection of local craft beers.
JEY Hospitality Team: Executive Chef Robbyns Martinez, Co-Founders Marc Falsetto & Charles Hazlett and Manager Nicholas Carmona.TacoCraft is another concept from SoFLA restaurant industry leader, JEY Hospitality Group. With its flagship location is in Fort Lauderdale, “TacoCraft has been a hit since it opened in 2014 and we’re excited to be introducing this concept in SOMI, and hoping to become the go-to neighborhood taqueria!”” said Charles Hazlett, Co-Founder of JEY Hospitality Group.
TacoCraft South Miami is located on the corner of SW 58 Avenue & 73 Street, and offers indoor and outdoor seating. In keeping with the concept’s urban artistic theme, the restaurant is decorated with street art and hand painted murals created by local street artist, Ruben Ubiera. Overseeing day-to-day operations is Nicholas Carmona, who is also the general manager at its sister restaurant ROK:BRGR.
The restaurant will be open seven days for lunch, dinner, a late night taco window and Sunday Brunch. (Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 am to 2 am; Friday & Saturday from 11:30 am to 4 am). For more information and menus visit
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- Quinoa Bowl
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- Chorizo Taco
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- Oxtail-Empanadas
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- Ahi Tuna Taco
Arody Alvarez Della Campa set upon her mission to open her new business after some twenty years running a pool construction and other construction businesses.
She was inspired by a movie, “It’s Complicated” and the TV Show “Shark Tank” to forge a new life for herself, however, unlike the movie, Arody decided the restaurant business was not the place to be.
She made her decision to open a men’s grooming lounge, and in four days from January 28, she signed the lease to the space at 7222 Red Road, and in three months, completed the build out with help from her friends in the construction business.
“Men want to look as good as women, and don’t have their own place for personal services.”
Men In Mind has a industrial vintage feel with grey and black tones. Six large and luxurious ox blood brown leather manicure/pedicure stations line the wall of the lounge. Each gentleman will have his own TV screen and earphones. In the rear of the lounge, there are three barber stations.
Men In Mind only serves men and is open seven days (Monday-Saturday 10am – 7pm; Sunday 10am – 5pm).
7222 Red Road | 786.717.6520
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- Arody (left) with staff: Des’Re & Kristena, nail technicians and J.J. the barber.
Art Bistro Café opened on SOMI’s brick paved Dorn Avenue (SW 59 Avenue) across from Deli Lane in late April. Business owner Silvia Gomez, a restaurateur in Caracas, chose South Miami for her café because of its charming ambiance, walkability and beautiful night time lights in the trees lining the street.
Art Bistro Café is open seven days, from 8am to 5pm and serves breakfast all day.
They offer a great selection of both cold and warm sandwiches, soups and salads. Silvia takes pride in the fact that the bread is baked at the time you order the sandwich, and soups are made every two hours, with just vegetables and without cream or milk. She serves healthy foods and no fried foods. Desserts, coffees and bubble teas are on the menu. Art Bistro Café is available for catering and offers local delivery.
7209 SW 59 Avenue | 305.763.8841
CONGRATS
On Monday, May 16th, the League of American Bicyclists awarded Mack Cycle & Fitness the GOLD Bicycle Friendly Business award for its outstanding efforts in creating a bike-friendly workplace for employees and visitors.
Mack Cycle is one of only seven businesses in the entire state of Florida to be awarded this level, and actually holds the highest ranking of any business, community or university in Miami-Dade County.
Mack Cycle was judged by local cyclists and cycling advocates for its community outreach in forming teams for local charity rides like BikeMS, Dolphins Cancer Challenge, Tour de Cure and Best Buddies, for organizing regularly scheduled women-only training rides & performance clinics, and for encouraging Bike to Work efforts, including incentives for its own staff to commute via bicycle.
MOVING AROUND
After practicing yoga for some ten years and with her diploma of training, in February 2014, Alexandra Urvina opened Just OM Yoga in a small second story studio on Red Road here in South Miami. And now, two years later, she has taken a larger space right off Sunset Drive on 57th Court for her growing practice. At Just OM Yoga, she with other certified teachers are building a community of like-minded practitioners.
