Mecca to Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- John Varvatos, the new Gap building, Zara, Stella McCartney for Adidas, I Love Toys, SuperDry, LUSH, Lids, Laduree and Sabon are just a handful of the new shopping emporiums that have opened on the legendary Lincoln Road in Miami Beach in the last few months. The popular pedestrian-only shopping district is the centerpiece of Miami Beach retailing but it's certainly not the only hotspot for visitors and residents to get their fashion fix. Lower Collins Avenue with retailers like the Kardashian's Dash store, Intermix, Urban Outfitters, Bebe, Levi's, Barney's Outlet Store and Armani Exchange offers a mix of unique single location retailers as well as familiar names from malls across the country.

"There's something for everyone when it comes to shopping on Miami Beach," notes Steve Adkins, Chair, the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority. "Visitors from South America, Europe, Asia and of course, the U.S., come here for our one-of-a-kind shopping experiences. We offer a wealth of choices, recognizable retailers as well as intriguing merchants who offer products you just can't find anywhere else in the world."

In the past few years, retailers from around the world have flocked to Miami Beach, attracted to the year-on-year increase in visitor numbers and tourist spending, the boom in condominium development and new hotels, as well as infrastructure support from the city. Retail spending in Miami Beach has been on the rise since 2009, topping $2.6 billion in 2013. Retail purchases in Miami Beach accounted for 26.8% of the total overnight visitor expenditures in 2013.

"Miami Beach is becoming a global city, a force to be reckoned with in the shopping, restaurant, hotel, and real estate businesses," says Grisette Marcos, Executive Director, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority. "No longer just a beach town, Miami Beach has evolved into a complex, urbane, chic city that is attracting the best-of-the-best from around the world."

Although just north of Miami Beach, areas like Bal Harbour and Aventura are also benefitting from the vast interest in Miami Beach retail with popular malls in both those cities significantly expanding in the next few months.

New Stores in Miami Beach
Gap
South Beach: Behold, the new and improved Gap! It's officially open on Lincoln Road, and boasts two floors of clothing and accessories for the whole family, not to mention a cool hidden section with, wait for it, phone charging couches. No more angry dads, no more restless kids. It's just you, a shopping bag, and 19,000 square feet of good ol' American basics.

Zara Lincoln Road
Lincoln Road Mall welcomes yet another A-list retailer to town this month as Spanish fashion giant ZARA launches a 2-story boutique at the corner of Washington Avenue along the eastern entrance to the popular pedestrian promenade.

Laduree
The luxury French pastry shop famous for its macaroons, has opened its third U.S. location (there are two in New York City), on Lincoln Road. The company is taking their foray into South Beach seriously, offering an art deco-inspired macaroon box, a nod to the significant collection of art deco era architecture found in Miami Beach.

Adidas by Stella McCartney
Adidas and Stella McCartney joined forces to open the first ever standalone adidas by Stella McCartney store in the United States in early 2014 in the 1111 Building.  The 1,000- square-foot store, which stocks the Swim, Run, Cycling, Studio, Yoga and Adidas by Stella McCartney collections includes apparel, shoes and accessories.

Sabon
Luxury bath store Sabon NYC has recently opened a Miami Beach outpost on Lincoln Road, offering scrubs and liquid soaps to shoppers strolling the pedestrian mall. For a unique experience, guests can have their hands washed in the Jerusalem Stone sink.

John Varvatos Lincoln Road
Designer John Varvatos offers his upscale rock & roll clothing and accessories edited to suit the South Beach climate at a 2,200 sq.ft. boutique designed to resemble his iconic Manhattan flagship location. The Miami Beach location offers unique men's designer clothing, shoes, accessories, and fragrances.

About Miami Beach
With an average year-round temperature of 75 degrees, Miami Beach has an unrivaled reputation for culinary offerings, nightlife, culture, fashion, and luxurious hotels.  Also a popular destination among travelers, Miami Beach was recently ranked by Trip Advisor as number one on its Top Winter Sun Vacation Rental Getaway Destinations for 2011 list and was included on both the Top 25 Beaches in the World and Top 25 Destinations in the U.S. lists. Boasting seven miles of breathtaking beaches, Miami Beach is easily accessible from the Port of Miami and Miami International Airport.  The City of Miami Beach has just been named one of the top cities worldwide for 'walkability' and is equally easy to navigate by bike or by boat.  Home to unique museums, to the New World Symphony and Miami City Ballet, to over 17,000 luxury, boutique and resort hotel rooms, 12 public parks and to the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach is a destination for all seasons.  Miami Beach is like no other place in the world! Visit MiamiBeachGuest.com or MiamiBeachINCARD.com for more information or contact Grisette Marcos at [email protected].

SOURCE Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority