What Now reported back in April on plans for the expansion of Midorie, the sushi concept from Álvaro Perez Miranda, to West Palm Beach, with a new location planned for 500 Palm Street. But that’s only part of the brand’s expansion plans.
The Miami New Times, for example, published coverage this week revealing plans on the part of Perez Miranda’s APM Restaurant Group to transform its Japanese restaurant Wabi Sabi, located at 851 NE 79th Street in Miami, into another Midorie location.
What Now spoke to Perez Miranda on Thursday about the brand’s plans for the future, and his thoughts on the Midorie concept in general.
“We’re going step by step,” the chef said. “I’m always looking for neighborhoods, because what we’re about is building communities. I don’t envision Midorie in a food court; I see it a neighborhood, where you have regular customers. It’s somewhere to go where the service is great, where you know people’s names. That’s the concept I envision.”
The transition for Wabi Sabi will be a natural one, because it was operated, from the beginning, under this same local-facing framework.
“When we opened Wabi Sabi in 2018, there was nobody here. We built up the neighborhood,” said Perez Miranda. “In fact, one complaint was that it was hard to find because I didn’t put a big sign up. Then, once you found it, it was a treasure.”
For what it’s worth, the new Midorie will be marked by a sizable neon sign. It’s opening very soon—but even that isn’t all Midorie has in store. Perez Miranda tells What Now that another new site has just been finalized in Miami Beach (the chef declined to reveal the location just yet, though).
That means that just on the horizon is a Midorie brand that comprises not one but four neighborhood sushi spots.
The location taking over for Wabi Sabi will feature the same menu already popularized at Midorie. There will also be a new temaki menu, and a temaki omakase.
You can keep up with Midorie news by following @midorie_miami on Instagram.
