The staff celebrates after Caffe Luna Rosa was named Restaurant of the Year
by the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce for the second year in a row.
Photo provided by Michiko Kurisu
By Christine Davis
Fite Shavell & Associates agent Jack Elkins said he closed more than $26 million in property sales over the summer and, since then, has already listed a few luxury waterfront properties, including 1920 and 1940 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, which are owned, Elkins and public records say, by 1920 S. Ocean Blvd., LLC.
Other sources, though, report the owner is Billy Joel.
Property records show 1920 S. Ocean, a 13,216-square-foot estate, was bought in March 2014 for $11,836,000. It’s now for sale for $19.5 million.
“The price includes the furniture, some new and some that had already belonged to the owner,” Elkins said. The 1940 S. Ocean 1.94-acre lot was bought in May 2014 for $6.5 million and is now listed for $9.5 million.
While Elkins does not confirm the Billy Joel connection, he’s happy to sing the properties’ praises.
“Each sits on about two acres and has ocean and Intracoastal Waterway frontage,” he said. He’s already had calls, including some inquires on buying the two parcels together. “There’s nothing like it that comes close, except the Ziff estate,” Elkins said.
The nine-bedroom, eight-bath Mediterranean-style estate was built in 2005 and is completely renovated by its present owner. The main house, which stayed within the original footprint, was reconfigured to better use the space, Elkins said. “It was a beautiful but more formal Mediterranean-style home. It’s now a chic beach house.”
Greg Bonner of B1 Architects oversaw the design, and Ellen Kavanaugh was consulted regarding interior décor.
Why is “the owner” selling, you may ask? “At the time the properties were bought, it was still a down market, and the owner saw the value. Both properties were good investments and undervalued,” Elkins said. Most likely true, but hey, maybe Joel decided to settle down in his other beachfront Manalapan home just up the street.
As reported in The Coastal Star last spring, Joel purchased that property shortly after the two that are currently on the market. With 20,000 square feet, nine bedrooms, 16 baths, gatehouse, media room, billiard room, bar, library, elevators and wine cellar, it was built five years ago as a spec house by Robert Fessler on a parcel carved from the historic Harold S. Vanderbilt estate. Its price tag was $20 million.
Call Elkins at 756-9720.
Here’s the scoop: The Ice Cream Club really takes the cake (so to speak) when it comes to all flavors of vanilla (and chocolate and strawberry).
The Ice Cream Club started its first ice cream parlor in 1982 in Manalapan and produces its product in Boynton Beach. Year after year, the National Ice Cream Retailers Association has consistently awarded The Ice Cream Club blue (and red) ribbons — so many in fact that this year, the association named it, “Grand Master — Ice Cream Maker.”
Flavor, texture, color, melt-in-your-mouth-ability, all these were rigorously tested and applauded by the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota and Clemson University, along with the fact that the company’s ice cream surpasses strict standards concerning microbiology and bacteriology. You can put it to the test yourself at The Ice Cream Club, 278 S. Ocean Blvd., Plaza Del Mar, Manalapan.
Nico Hallwass was appointed director of operations at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Manalapan. Most recently, Hallwass was the general manager of The Paul hotel in New York City.
Introducing its new Buddha Bar and showcasing its recent renovations, Thaikyo restaurant invites the public on Dec. 12, to stop by for light bites, cocktails and entertainment. RSVP to 588-6777. Thaikyo is at Plaza del Mar, 201 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan.
Stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age are highlighted this December at The Palm Beaches Theatre during its weekly $5 classic movies series presented at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Admission is $5 per film. The theater is at 262 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. Visit www.pbifilmfest.org or call 362-0003.
The Container Store launched its Holiday Hugs Program in South Florida in partnership with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
Drop off new unwrapped books, small toys and games, toiletries, gift cards and stocking stuffers in collection bins at its Boca Raton location before Dec. 15 and store employees will package the gifts into a Holiday Hug bag and deliver them to the hospital in time for the holidays.
“Every holiday season, the Container Store embraces the spirit of giving by helping those in need in our local communities,” said Melissa Reiff, the company’s president and COO. “Our hope is that our customers will join us in providing these gifts to the thousands of children who have to spend the holidays in the hospital.” The store is at Town Center Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Road, Suite 1002.
Jennifer Govberg and Marie Mangouta of the Govberg Team, along with broker/owner Jim Balistreri, recently launched the Balistreri Realty International Luxury Division and its new office, the division’s sales gallery, in downtown Boca Raton. The office is at Royal Palm Plaza in Royal Palm Place, 100 Plaza Real South, Suite F. Call 886-1646.
In October, Rick Versace, CEO of A1A Airport & Limousine Service in Boca Raton, was named the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s 2015 Limousine & Sedan Operator of the Year. Currently, he’s working on franchising A1A Limousine nationwide. Versace has served as president of the Florida Limousine Association for the past five years.
Peter L. Gladstone was named a 2016 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law and his firm, Gladstone & Weissman, P.A., received a 2016 Best Law Firms Tier 1 ranking by U.S. News — The Best Lawyers in America, a legal-related peer-review publication.
Additionally, Tova N. Verchow has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Gladstone & Weissman, P.A’s main office is at 101 Renaissance Centre, 101 N. Federal Highway, Suite 702, Boca Raton.
Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Florida Atlantic University’s part-time MBA program first in South Florida and 27th among public universities in the nation.
Palm Beach State College leaders accepted Gov. Rick Scott’s statewide “Ready, Set, Work” challenge calling for the achievement of 100 percent graduation rates for full-time students. Palm Beach State College’s graduation rate for full-time students currently stands at 38.65 percent within three years and 51.73 percent within four years.
The college has already embarked on a comprehensive improvement plan that includes enhancements in instructional support and class scheduling, provision for more advisers and better advisement tools.
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club elected three new directors for three-year terms: Josh Donner, Lawrence Greenberg and Robert Pick. Also, the club returned two members to its board: Armand Grossman and Nancy Hite.
The club’s programming includes Saled Shemirani speaking on “From Monarchy to Mullah, the State of Terror” on Dec. 9, and Kamal Fereg speaking on “Infidels Living Under Sharia Law” on Jan. 13, 2016.
The club’s events are held at City Fish Market, 7940 Glades Road, Boca Raton, at 11:30 a.m. To join the club or attend the luncheon, call 852-0000, or visit www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com.
In October, the Delray Beach CRA received Florida Redevelopment’s Roy F. Kenzie Creative Organizational Development and Funding Award for its initiatives in the redevelopment of the Delray Beach Fairfield Inn & Suites.
The product of a 2010 request for proposals issued by the CRA for 7.7 acres along the West Atlantic Avenue corridor, the 95-room hotel is the first major private development project to be completed in that area of the CRA District in a decade.
Several CRA economic development incentives were leveraged with Prime Hospitality Group’s private financing to bring the $11.5 million project to fruition. Community input led to a voluntary local hiring program that resulted in 48 percent of the hotel’s permanent jobs going to local residents.
The fourth annual Best Bite On The Avenue restaurant competition is scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in Delray Beach. The participating restaurants are Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Caffe Luna Rosa, City Oyster, Deck 84, Martier, Pizza Rustica, Prime and Tryst.
Benefiting from this “fun-raiser” are the HOW Foundation of South Florida and Project Holiday. It will be held at Crane’s Beach House Boutique Hotel at 82 Gleason St., Delray Beach. The cost is $10 per person. Call 278-1700.
And some announcements from Crane’s Beach House: In October, Adam Artille was promoted to the position of front office manager, and it was named to the Expedia Insiders Select List of the “world’s best hotels” as judged by the experience of Expedia travelers.
Corcoran reports strong real estate sales for the third quarter of this year, increasing county-wide over last year.
The average price in the South Palm Beach to Gulf Stream submarket rose by more than 50 percent versus last year and last quarter, though median price rose by just 13 percent year-over-year.
This dramatic jump in average price is explained by several sales at the very high end of the market this quarter, including one $33 million sale in Manalapan.
Sales in Delray Beach rose slightly year-over-year. Days on market fell, while median price, average price and average price per square foot rose versus last year.
Sales in Boca Raton were up compared to last year, while average days on market declined. Median price, average price, and average price per square foot all increased moderately over last year.
Bill Yahn, Corcoran senior regional vice president for South Florida, said the third quarter was an active sales period reflecting increased buyer interest in owning a Palm Beach County property. “Strong buyer demand drove sales and prices upward,” Yahn said.
Send business news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.
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