Before Coral Gables Lights Its Trees, Miracle Mile Quietly Changed Its Lineup

At the ribbon cutting for Cabana Chic, each guest drew a picture of a dress from a bowl and then searched the racks for the real one. Anyone who found a match kept the dress. Coral Gables Magazine reported the scene this month, with Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Vice President Gloria Baez in the room.

The store at 290 Miracle Mile is the founder's first physical shop. Helena Solly started Cabana Chic as an online resort-wear boutique. Her landlord is the City of Coral Gables, and the lease runs six months. Across the Mile this fall, the new arrivals share that small scale: compact rooms, short terms and first locations. The holiday season is their first on the street.

The Storefront the City Rents Out

The address 290 Miracle Mile is a city-owned retail space. The City of Coral Gables runs it through its Pop-Up Retail Space Program, which exists to let a new operator establish a brand and build a customer base on the Mile. Here are the terms the city publishes:

• A six-month lease, with a six-month renewal option at the city's discretion
• $2,200 a month in rent, which the city calculates at about $31.06 per square foot, with utilities included
• A deposit of one month's rent, plus two months' rent as security
• Preferred categories: home furnishings and decor, gifts, beauty, apparel, athleisure and other new concepts

Applications for the 2026 cycle closed May 15. The City Commission picked Cabana Chic from eight applicants, and Coral Gables Magazine said the choice came down to how well it fit Miracle Mile's retail mix.

The program is older than most shoppers probably realize. The city signed its first pop-up lease in 2021 as an incubator run by the Economic Development Department, and the first tenant was Ben & Giules Concept Store. Five years later, the same storefront is how a local label got its spot on the street.

Inside, Cabana Chic sells maxi dresses, matching sets, wide-leg pants and cover-ups. Labels include Trina Turk, and there are CÉCIE hats, which are designed in Miami and hand-painted by artisans in Mexico. A tropical halter maxi dress is $156, and the Dagger fedora, made with CÉCIE, is $375.

Small Rooms, Block by Block

The city-leased pop-up is one example of how small this fall's arrivals are. Here is the run of newer addresses from east to west:

Imoto, at the east end of the street, sets the pattern. Markets of Tomorrow reported that the restaurant opened in October. It is the first Imoto outside Palm Beach, and its name means "little sister" in Japanese, a nod to Buccan next door. The menu includes composed sashimi, sushi, crudo and dishes from a wood-fired grill. Conley told the outlet where the idea came from:

"Imoto is really special to me, as the concept was inspired by my time living and cooking in Tokyo."

Imoto has 45 seats. A few doors west, Azul signed for the old Kao Sushi & Grill space at 127 Miracle Mile, a lease Hoodline reported in August as roughly 200 seats. Among this year's new Miracle Mile leases, Azul's is the one large room. The others are closer to Imoto's size.

Linen Drama at 215 Miracle Mile also opened with a ribbon cutting, attended by Mayor Lago and supported by the Chamber. Its clothing is made in India from 100 percent European linen, and some pieces are hand-embroidered. Women's dresses run $150 to $325, and men's shirts and kurtas mostly fall between $150 and $175. The store is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, so it stays open past dusk, when the holiday lights are on.

At the west end, Call Your Mother Deli has taken 317 Miracle Mile, the former Bodega Taqueria space, for its first South Florida location. Co-founder Andrew Dana told the Gables Gazette that the brand is "looking for more great neighborhoods in need of carbs!" What Now Miami reported that the team was aiming for early December.

Farther south, Havana Harry's on South Le Jeune Road reopened on October 19 after more than a year closed. Its website now says "OPEN NOW."

Merrick Park Hosts the Big Events

Shops at Merrick Park has the season's largest set pieces. Its newest restaurant, La Pecora Bianca, is now open. The center describes it as a large space with indoor and outdoor dining, a wraparound bar with about 20 seats, and a private dining room for up to 20 guests. Culinary director Ed Scarpone's opening menu adds dishes created for South Florida, including a giant Carbonara Raviolo and Lobster Spaghetti "Fra Diavolo," alongside the restaurant's Vodka Rigatoni and Tiramisu for Two. The restaurant serves lunch and brunch as well as dinner.

The center's annual tree lighting is on Thursday, Nov. 19, starting at 5:30 p.m. Lili Estefan, co-host of Univision's "El Gordo y La Flaca," hosts the evening, which is held in partnership with Nicklaus Children's Hospital. Santa arrives on a Coral Gables Fire Department truck, the ceremony begins at 6:50 p.m., and Santa and Mayor Lago light the 50-foot tree at 7 p.m. Performers include the Coral Gables Senior High School Gablettes, Miami Royal Ballet, and the Belles of Harmony and Candy Cane Crew from Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park. Miami Mom Collective runs free activities, including face painting, holiday crafts, a jumbo snow globe bounce house and an Elf Factory. A Holiday Makers Market brings in local makers, artisans and food vendors.

Local sellers also set up every week at the Sunday farmers market in the courtyard, open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

December, in Order

Once the Merrick Park tree is lit, the City of Coral Gables runs most of the month's events:

1. Dec. 2 to 6: The Merrick Festival Caroling Competition at 550 Biltmore Way, with an awards show on Dec. 8.
2. Dec. 4: The city's Christmas Tree Lighting, with resident VIP tickets listed for a 5 to 10 p.m. window.
3. Dec. 4 to Jan. 5, 2027: Holiday Park at City Hall opens at 6 p.m. on Dec. 4, then runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with exceptions on Dec. 12 and 19.
4. Dec. 5, 10 to 13, 17 and 18, and 19 to 23: Photos with Santa at City Hall, with afternoon and evening hours that vary by day.
5. Dec. 12 and 19: Hot Chocolate with Santa at Holiday Park, for Coral Gables residents.
6. Dec. 13, 1 to 4 p.m.: The free Merrick House Holiday Open House at 907 Coral Way.

Giralda Live, the monthly music and performance night at Giralda Plaza, skips December and returns in the new year for a season that runs through May.

At Jessica Adams Luxury Real Estate, we follow the Mile storefront by storefront, because the businesses that open there help shape what it's like to live in the Gables. If you'd like to talk about life near Miracle Mile, or what a Coral Gables address offers this season, we'd be glad to show you around. Start Your Luxury Search.