Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Nikol Zarbalas is launching a brand new restaurant idea on the Gateway Buying District in Fort Lauderdale. The Meals Community star will open The Meals Republic, a brand-new restaurant that includes Chef Zarbalas’ elevated tackle a northeast-style diner with an evolving menu and “blue plate” specials.
Zarbalas, who additionally owns the Hellenic Republic in Coral Springs, has leased 1,500 sq. toes at 1910 E. Dawn Blvd. The 50-seat Fort Lauderdale restaurant will showcase the delicacies that acquired excessive reward from Man Fieri, who referred to it as “the best Greek food” he’s ever tasted throughout a 2023 episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Moreover, in April 2024, Zarbalas participated in an episode of Fieri’s Man’s Grocery Video games present.
Zarbalas, a Coral Springs resident and mom of 5, has been working Hellenic Republic since 2019. The restaurant is especially well-known for its signature lamb burger and kataifi fried shrimp served over traxana (Greek grits).
The Fort Lauderdale restaurant secured the lease, which was brokered by Native Realty, a Fort Lauderdale-based business actual property agency led by Jaime Sturgis. Drawing in a widely known chef corresponding to Zarbalas highlights the agency’s ongoing dedication to managing the adaptive reuse and curation of Gateway Buying District.
“Our vision to transform a property that had languished for several decades into a bustling shopping and dining destination is coming to fruition,” Sturgis says. “Gateway Shopping District now boasts a compelling line-up of cool experiential retailers and diverse food-and-beverage operators that draw area residents, visitors and professionals. Chef Nikol’s arrival is a shining endorsement of our successful placemaking campaign for this unique property.”
The Gateway Buying District, located within the Victoria Park neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, has a wealthy historical past. It was initially established because the Jungle Zoo in 1940 and underwent a number of transformations over time, evolving right into a grocery store, big-box retail middle and boutique neighborhood plaza. By early 2020, the property had important deferred upkeep points. Nevertheless, Native was introduced in to revitalize the realm by way of in depth enhancements and cautious tenant curation. It has since elevated the occupancy fee from 50% to over 95%. The corporate is getting ready to disclose a number of extra thrilling leases on the property within the upcoming weeks.
The renovation mission concerned putting in new roofs, home windows, doorways, fixtures, flooring, paint, facades, and extra. Native enlisted a number of artists to create exterior murals with the theme of “urban oasis/concrete jungle” as a tribute to the property’s historical past as a Jungle Zoo. Moreover, out of doors courtyards have been added to encourage al fresco eating for restaurant tenants.
