December 3, 2024
New concepts have emerged at several historic downtown locations thanks to major investments from experienced operators with dreams of elevating Fort Lauderdale’s food scene.
Three local hotspots provide a roadmap for how older restaurants and entertainment venues can be repurposed to serve our growing community. As Fort Lauderdale continues to evolve, three distinct eateries are prime examples of how new investment is helping to celebrate and preserve elements of our city’s past.
Breathing New Life into Historic Spaces
The House on the River opened in 2023 along the New River, just steps from the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Following a $1 million renovation of a 120-year-old structure, proof-of-concept was born for how once-popular Fort Lauderdale restaurant sites can be realized after a period of neglect. Largely abandoned for many years, these historic Bryan Homes were a popular dining destination that once thrived as the Chart House and, more recently, “River House” under the management of The Restaurant People.
In 2023, The House on the River opened, offering a coastal oasis where guests can find old-world charm in a new-world way.
Described by the Sun-Sentinel as a “rescue mission for local hospitality veteran Steven D’Apuzzo and a bet on the quirky appeal of a restaurant composed of two historic homes huddled in the expanding shadow of glass-and-steel monuments to modernity,”
The restaurant pays homage to Fort Lauderdale’s unique charm by introducing a series of intimate dining rooms with a nod to the Florida Riviera.
Just steps away from The House on the River, another historic restaurant site is seeing new life thanks to investment from the family behind Pummarola Pizza. Emily’s Garden recently opened at the site of the former OB House next to the Museum of Discovery & Science. “Craft wine, live music, and a variety of local cuisine, all nestled within a lush garden” summarizes the concept, which introduces a new all-day-long attraction to Himmarshee Street.
Building on the success of revitalizing older restaurant spaces, TIMBR will emerge across the street from The Wharf and between the residences of 10X Riverwalk and Flow Fort Lauderdale. Through a multi-million-dollar investment, 3 Hospitality has transformed a 100-year-old building into a high-end concept that looks like a turn-of-the-century European storefront and reveals a “twilight park” environment on the inside. This much-anticipated opening in early 2025 will help elevate the city’s culinary experience with great food and bold design.
What does it all mean? It often takes a long-term commitment and fresh vision to breathe new life into older buildings and create destinations with staying power. Our city’s momentum is driving restaurateurs to make major investments in culturally significant buildings, turning once-forgotten sites into community gems.