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Downtown Fort Lauderdale enjoys a vibrant retail and dining scene, with 150 new restaurants and shops coming online in just the last five years, and more on the way! New restaurants and shops, combined with the existing spots we know and love, are elevating the downtown experience. I’m grateful that we are fortunate to add these new amenities that we all can discover as we continue to grow.
Growing cities like Downtown Fort Lauderdale thrive thanks to a critical mass of residents driving the addition of new experiences. We are truly becoming a year-round destination as we evolve and continue to emerge as a premier destination.
While many major cities are struggling to reach their pre-pandemic levels of foot traffic, Downtown Fort Lauderdale is thriving. Our downtown retail vacancy rate of 3.1% is the lowest in a decade and is even lower on Las Olas at 2.7%! Notably, our downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurants and shops are seeing a strong 14% increase in foot traffic compared to pre-pandemic levels and outperforming other hot Sun Belt downtowns like Austin and Nashville.
With nearly five million visits per year, the word is out that Las Olas Boulevard is better than ever. From Fogo de Chão to Flemings, Planta to Pura Vida, and Moxies to Matchbox, Las Olas is flush with new options. Adding to the fun are two newbars: Tin Roof and The Palm Room. And if you have a sweet tooth, be sure to experience Hof’s House of Sweets or the Hollywood Donut Factory.
On the shopping side, Lululemon’s arrival demonstrates that Las Olas is the place to be for world-class retailers. All this growth will continue to attract outstanding new concepts to Las Olas, especially with the new Tunnel Top Park opening soon and the reimagined Huizenga Park on the way.
It’s no secret that Flagler Village is Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s fastest growing neighborhood and now has become the hottest district for new eateries. Recent openings include Aqui Bar & Kitchen and Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza, plus Fireman Derek’s just across Federal Highway. Additional options are on the way with more than 300K square feet of new retail and dining space planned for the neighborhood in future mixed-use developments.
Whether you are strolling down Las Olas or checking out the newest concepts in Flagler Village, I encourage you to take advantage of everything that Downtown Fort Lauderdale has to offer. I hope each and every one of you has a fun and rewarding summer enjoying so many of our downtown hot spots. If you are looking for our recommendation on how to spend a perfect summer day – keep reading!
For a closer look into our vibrant retail scene, visit www.ddaftl.org/retailreport for the latest DowntownFTL Retail Market Report. Don’t miss the newest episode of The Pulse on DowntownFTL highlighting the evolution of the downtown food scene through the eyes of James Beard-nominated chef Timon Balloo of The Katherine.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR JENNI MOREJON
President & CEO at Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority Jenni leads the DDA’s initiatives to power the experience, growth, and prosperity of DowntownFTL. In this role, Jenni is advancing the agency’s priorities to grow investment in DowntownFTL, enhance the livability of the urban core, and highlight downtown’s evolution at the local and national levels. Currently Jenni serves as the Chair of the Downtown Coalition, on the Board of Directors of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and on the Advisory Board for Urban Land Institute SE Florida/Caribbean.
Article from LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES MAGAZINE is the official bimonthly publication of the Las Olas Association providing our local homeowners, residents, businesses and professionals in the Las Olas Boulevard corridor with relevant local news, civic updates and events information specifically and exclusively focused on our own Las Olas Boulevard, Isles and surrounding area.
Las Olas Boulevard & Isles Magazine is published by Fort Lauderdale Media Associates, Inc 401 E. Las Olas Blvd., Ste. 130-599, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 www.ftlauderdalemedia.com | publisher@ftlauderdalemedia.com