Latest news with #LeZoo
Business Journals
27-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Mandarin Oriental Miami to close, lay off 430 staff ahead of renovation
The Mandarin Oriental, Miami on Brickell Key will permanently close May 31 after 24 years of operation. The closure is part of a $1 billion redevelopment plan to transform the site into a two-tower residential project. Affected by the closure, 430 employees will be laid off, with separations beginning on the closure date and continuing through Sept. 30. Employees will receive assistance, including unemployment information and available benefits. To support the transition, Mandarin Oriental has implemented several measures, including a retention plan, career continuity initiative and an alumni program offering future job priority. The hotel, which opened in 2000, will be replaced by The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a luxury condominium-hotel complex. The project will feature 220 condos and 100,000 square feet of amenities. It's expected to open in 2030. Asian-fusion restaurant to replace Bal Harbour Shops eatery Le Zoo, the French Mediterranean brasserie by renowned restaurateur Stephen Starr at Bal Harbour Shops, will permanently close by the end of this month. The upscale eatery, which opened in November 2015, will end its nearly decadelong run at 9700 Collins Ave., No. 135. Known for its Parisian décor and seafood-forward menu, Le Zoo is part of Starr Restaurants, a Philadelphia-based hospitality group that also included the now-closed Continental Miami at the Aloft Hotel in South Beach. 'We have loved being a part of this wonderful community,' the group said, adding that, while Le Zoo is saying goodbye, a new Starr Restaurants concept is set to debut in late 2025 at a new location within Bal Harbour Shops. Le Zoo's departure coincides with the May 1 closure of Aba, a Mediterranean concept by Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. The Business Journal has confirmed that China Grill, the once-popular South Beach Asian-fusion restaurant, will replace Le Zoo. A successor for Aba has yet to be announced. Both are in prime spaces within Bal Harbour Shops, a luxury shopping center with over 100 high-end boutiques. Founded in 1965 by Stanley Whitman, it continues to be family-operated with his grandson, Matthew Whitman Lazenby, serving as CEO. Cruise companies to launch new ships The South Florida cruise industry is showing signs of long-term growth and diversification, with major announcements from Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and newcomer Crescent Seas. Carnival Cruise Line announced April 7 that its fourth Excel-class ship, Carnival Festivale, will debut in 2027 from Port Canaveral. The fifth ship, Carnival Tropicale, will follow in 2028, with its homeport yet to be determined. Both ships will feature new entertainment zones and expanded accommodations for families, including 1,000 interconnecting rooms. Looking ahead, Carnival's Project Ace ships, set to launch in 2029, 2031 and 2033, will be the largest in the fleet, with nearly 8,000 guests each. Additionally, Carnival has ordered two midsize ships for AIDA Cruises, set for delivery in 2030 and 2032, marking a significant expansion for the German brand. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also made waves April 7, announcing it will charter four vessels across its three brands – Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises – beginning in 2026. The chartered vessels, including Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun, will go to Cordelia Cruises in India, while Seven Seas Navigator and Insignia will be chartered to Crescent Seas. Norwegian has 12 new ships on order through 2036, with seven for Norwegian Cruise Line, three for Oceania and two for Regent. Crescent Seas, a new residential cruise line backed by Miami Beach-based GFO Investments, will add Insignia to its fleet in late 2027. The 594-foot ship will undergo a $50 million renovation and feature 290 residences priced from $650,000 to $10 million. Sales for Insignia residences will begin in late summer 2025 at the Gale Miami Hotel & Residences. The global cruise industry is projected to reach $16.7 billion by 2031, driven by rising demand for luxury lifestyles, river cruises and global tourism. North America remains the top revenue contributor. Sign up here for the Business Journal's free morning and afternoon daily newsletters to receive the latest business news impacting South Florida. Download the free Business Journal app for breaking news alerts on your phone.
Miami Herald
07-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
After 10 years, this sophisticated French restaurant is closing in Bal Harbour
Another restaurant at Bal Harbour Shops is closing for good. After 10 years at the luxury mall, Le Zoo from restaurateur Stephen Starr, will be serving shoppers, residents and tourists no more. With its lease up at the end of April, the brand has decided to close the French brasserie at 9700 Collins Ave. There's still time for a final bite there, though. Known for its sophisticated atmosphere and dishes like steak frites and classic cocktails, the restaurant, which opened in 2015, will be serving brunch, lunch and dinner through the end of the month. Starr Restaurants is also the parent company for the upscale Japanese restaurant Makoto in the Bal Harbour Shops, as well as the French bistro Pastis in Wynwood. New restaurant in 2025? The group announced the closing and said it plans to open a new Starr restaurant in Bal Harbour later this year. 'On behalf of the STARR Restaurants family, we want to thank our Le Zoo guests for their loyalty over the last ten years,' the statement said. 'We have loved being a part of this wonderful community. Although this may be a goodbye for now for Le Zoo, we are looking forward to introducing a new STARR Restaurants concept at an exciting new location in the Bal Harbour Shops in late 2025.' 'As our lease expires at the end of April, please join us over the next few weeks in celebrating Le Zoo and cherishing the amazing memories that were made here; à bientôt!' Le Zoo is the second restaurant in 2025 to close at the Bal Harbour Shops. In March, Aba Mediterranean restaurant announced it would be closing at the end of April. The original Aba restaurant in Chicago will remain open, as will the Aba in Austin, Texas.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MOTHER Games Releases Teaser for Le Zoo, Set to Debut in 2025
The teaser showcases the game's essence of self-discovery: encountering characters, confronting reflections of oneself and completing personalized challenges NEW YORK, January 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MOTHER Games, a Brooklyn-based art and media company that creates transformative experiences, today announces the teaser for its first indie title, Le Zoo. The teaser is a look into a new game set to debut in 2025, helmed by a team of industry-leading creatives. Le Zoo isn't just a game – it's a deeply personal, emergent role play experience where "the only way out is within." The game storyline is driven by you and a plot of self discovery inside a virtual theme park with friends. The missions and progression sit on top of ancient wisdom, including a range from Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Buddhist philosophy concepts. Built using an in-house AI layer called Womb (set to debut in Q1 2025) Le Zoo's personalized and emergent gameplay becomes a space for transformative experiences, allowing players to experiment, learn, and connect. From puzzles that challenge mental skills to surrealist dating simulation games or missions with friends that unlock new skills, Le Zoo delivers a trippy and deeply personal journey designed to break players free of the zookeeper mentality and play a social game that mimics the game of life. Directed by Dina Amer (You Resemble Me) and Kelsey Falter, co-founder of MOTHER Games, the teaser blends live-action storytelling with surreal animation to craft a visually stunning and thought-provoking introduction to the game. Giacomo Mora, (Moana 2, Super Mario Bros Movie), served as Animation Supervisor. Brian Alcazar, known for his dynamic production work on titles including Grand Theft Auto 5, brought his expertise as an Executive Producer, while Christof Stanits, an award-winning digital artist and creative engineer, contributed cutting-edge visuals and custom engineering. Le Zoo is in private alpha with testers; set for public access in 2025. To learn more about Le Zoo, visit To access the media kit, click here. About Le ZooLe Zoo, the first indie title out of MOTHER, appeals to modern gamers by offering a mashup of experiences within a single title. Le Zoo aims to reignite childlike wonder in its adult players by creating a game world that delves deep into the modern human experience. By exposing the code that runs beneath the surface of our daily lives, Le Zoo empowers players to make consequential choices about how they play the game, interact with others and move through realms—and, ultimately, how those choices translate beyond the edges of the screen. Le Zoo serves as a mirror, reflecting the hidden aspects of our psyche and society, allowing players to see clearly, for perhaps the first time. View source version on Contacts Tori Matteitori@ 631.942.5069 Sign in to access your portfolio
