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Myles Chefetz

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Myles Chefetz
Born (1958-11-05) November 5, 1958 (age 66)
Miami, FL
NationalityUnited States
Alma materJ.D. University of Miami

Myles Chefetz is an American restaurateur and Chief Executive Officer of Myles Restaurant Group. He has been twice nominated for the James Beard Foundation "Outstanding Restaurateur" Award[1] and is unofficially referred to as the “Sultan of South of Fifth."[2] He's considered a visionary in the industry,[3] and according to Ocean Drive Magazine, "His concepts have gone global, with his versions of mac and cheese, creamed spinach, tuna tartare, and other menu items popping up in steakhouses worldwide."[4] Prime 112, Chefetz's chef-driven steakhouse, is consistently ranked in the top ten highest-grossing restaurants in the United States.[5] The restaurant is known for its high-end and celebrity clientele, with regular guests including Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union,[6] Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson,[7] and the Kardashians.[8]

Biography

Myles Chefetz was born on the Homestead Airforce Base in Miami, Florida to parents Dr. Marshall Chefetz and Jean Wyman.[9] He, his older brother Gary, and younger sister Karen grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Springfield, New Jersey. Chefetz attended Jonathan Dayton High School before graduating from George Washington University with a degree in political science. Chefetz earned a J.D. from the University of Miami in 1984.[10]

After finishing law school Chefetz moved to New York, and at the age of 26 started his own real estate law practice. Shortly thereafter, Chefetz became personal lawyer to Mark Fleischman, former owner of the iconic nightclub, Studio 54. It was during his time with Fleischman that Chefetz got his first introduction to the supper club business. Chefetz handled the lease negotiations for the property as well as contracts with club promoters, and even began promoting parties himself. By age 30 Chefetz left his law practice and opened Country Club, a 15,000 square foot nightclub on 86th Street in the Upper East Side.

During a 1994 vacation to Miami, Chefetz found himself disappointed with the dining scene in South Beach. Seeing a real need for chef-driven, rather than promoter-driven, restaurants, he opened Nemo in 1995.[11] Nemo was an instant success, so Chefetz sold his properties in New York and moved to Miami full-time.[12] Chefetz continued to innovate and reshape the South Beach dining scene, opening the modern diner Big Pink in 1996; the diner has now become a South Beach landmark.[13] In 2004 Chefetz opened Prime 112 in the historic Browns Hotel.[14]

Chefetz has parlayed his successful restaurant endeavors into numerous real estate ventures. In 2013 he sold his penthouse at South Beach's Ocean House to Marc J. Leder for $15 million ($3,592 per square foot) in an all-cash deal.[15]

Chefetz and his longtime girlfriend Natasha have one daughter, Mylie Danielle Chefetz.

Restaurants and hotel

Miami Beach:

  • Big Pink - opened December 1996[16]
  • Prime One Twelve - opened January 2004[17]
  • Prime Italian - opened December 2008
  • Prime Hotel - opened January 2010
  • Prime Fish - opened February 2014[18]
  • Prime Private - 200-seat catering facility currently under construction

Closed:

  • Nemo - January 1995
  • Shoji

Charitable involvement

Prime 112 is closely involved with the Mourning Family Foundation, a Miami-based non-profit founded by NBA legend Alonzo Mourning and his wife Tracy.[19]

References

  1. ^ "JamesBeard.org". February 17, 2011.
  2. ^ "The Sweet Life at the Chic Tip of South Beach". The New York Times. May 29, 2009.
  3. ^ "Myles Chefetz, Michael Schwartz dominate Miami's fine-dining scene". MiamiHerald.com. April 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "Myles Chefetz Preps for Prime Fish". oceandrive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  5. ^ "Top 100 Independents". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  6. ^ "So Romantic! Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade Hold Rehearsal Dinner in Miami". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  7. ^ Spector, Nicole. "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson takes to Instagram to praise his beautiful daughter". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  8. ^ "Why has Kim Kardashian gone out in her bra... not to mention the see-through skirt!". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  9. ^ "About Us : Myles Restaurant Group". mylesrestaurantgroup.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  10. ^ "About Us : Myles Restaurant Group". mylesrestaurantgroup.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  11. ^ "Myles Chefetz Preps for Prime Fish". oceandrive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  12. ^ "Myles Chefetz Preps for Prime Fish". oceandrive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  13. ^ Lease, Valeria Nekhim. "Prime One Twelve's Myles Chefetz: "Big Pink Was a Struggle in the Beginning"". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  14. ^ "Myles Chefetz Preps for Prime Fish". oceandrive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  15. ^ "Leveraged buyout king pays $15M for SoBe condo". The Real Deal Miami. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  16. ^ "Prime One Twelve's Myles Chefetz: "Big Pink Was a Struggle in the Beginning"". Miami New Times.
  17. ^ "Prime 112's Myles Chefetz Buys at Three Hundred Collins". Curbed Miami.
  18. ^ Jon, Warech. "Myles Chefetz Preps for Prime Fish". Ocean Drive.
  19. ^ "Mourning Family Foundation". Mourning Family Foundation. Retrieved 2016-04-22.