Retail and business changes in South Florida explained

Shifts in retail are reshaping South Florida through closures, openings and reinventions.

High-end designer boutiques like Manolo Blahnik are redefining retail districts. Traditional retail such as long-standing bookstores, are adapting by downsizing or relocating.

Economic pressures have led to the shutdown of some local businesses and institutions, such as hospitals or independent restaurants.

Take a look at what's happening.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Drag queen Asheeria Pryce performs as Gladys Knight during a celebrity impersonation show at Aquaplex on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Aquaplex, formerly known as Lips, offers guests a variety of drag shows along with food and drinks. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 1: AN ICONIC FORT LAUDERDALE DRAG RESTAURANT WAS ON ITS LAST LEG. IT JUST GOT A FACELIFT

The owners of Key West drag destination Aquaplex bought and remodeled the drag restaurant Lips in Fort Lauderdale. | Published January 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Amanda Rosa

A Manolo Blahnik showroom. The designer shoes company has a flagship U.S. store on New York’s Madison Avenue. Manolo Blahnik will open its third U.S. store in Miami’s Design District in March 2025.

NO. 2: MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT TO WELCOME A FAMOUS DESIGNER’S FIRST FLORIDA BOUTIQUE

Will you add it to your shopping destinations? | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

A contemporary Tim Hortons restaurant serves coffee, donuts and fast foods like sandwiches, wraps and chicken strips. There is talk about opening locations of the Canadian landmark eatery in South Florida.

NO. 3: THIS DOUGHNUT AND COFFEE RESTAURANT IS COMING BACK TO FLORIDA. TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLANS

What to know about the chain. | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jason Dill

Publix greeted customers at the 7 a.m. grand opening of its long-awaited rebuilt Briar Bay store with custom bags on Feb. 27, 2025.

NO. 4: A NEW PUBLIX JUST OPENED IN THE FALLS AREA, AND SHOPPERS HAVE BEEN TALKING. TAKE A LOOK

The Briar Bay Publix is just one of several opening in March around Florida. | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

An administrative complaint has been filed by the Florida Department of Health against a Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon.

NO. 5: A FLORIDA HOSPITAL WAS SOLD IN A BANKRUPTCY DEAL. NOW, THE NEW OWNER WILL SHUT IT DOWN

What to know about the latest twist. | Published February 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

In this file photo from Oct. 30, 2024, comedian Brittany Brave is photographed outside of the Barnes & Noble bookstore in West Kendall. Brave grew up in Miami’s Kendall neighborhood and worked at this store as a barista during high school and had a stand-up performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center on Nov. 23, 2024. By MATIAS J. OCNER

NO. 6: COULD ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROOMS TO GO IN THE COUNTRY REPLACE A BELOVED KENDALL BOOKSTORE?

The closing plans coincide with other plans for expansion. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

NO. 7: THIS POPULAR SPORTS BAR IN A SOUTH MIAMI-DADE STRIP MALL HAS SUDDENLY CLOSED

You’ll have to find somewhere else to grab a beer in the neighborhood | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Madeleine Marr

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.