Turning into a home for Hollywood production
The Grove is actually turning into a small Hollywood sound stage when you think of it. All the empty storefronts are being used for filming.
The other day I passed the Villa Mayfair, which recently closed (they said they'll be back in the fall, but so did The Ivy a few years ago, so let's see) and there was a film crew in there (that's them above). The Real Housewives of Miami films there, but yesterday it was our friends from Burn Notice. I was going to hang around and take pictures of the stars, but they don't seem to like it, so I kept on moving.
The Cruz Building, the former Ivy/Christabelle's is always used for productions, mostly a Latin soap opera, but Burn Notice has used it and lots of commercials were filmed there including BB&T Bank most recently.
The Expo Center was an abandoned building when Burn Notice took it over and the empty space at the Shoppes of Mayfair are used often -- retail and office space, before Regus moved into the former Borders Books location, Burn Notice made it a bank for one location and Burn Notice has been using an empty office space at Mayfair for quite some time.
We really do have a lot to offer Hollywood productions! Who knew!
By the way, question: Those lush trees that the Burn Notice guys are filming under in the photo above are slated for removal under the streetscape plan because they are a hazard. If that is the case, why is Burn Notice allowed to film under them? Isn't that a hazard/lawsuit waiting to happen? Same with all those restaurants on Commodore Plaza, why are people sitting under hazardous trees every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Just asking.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:08 AM
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13 Comments:
This is awesome news for the grove.congrats
So Villa Mayfair just up and closed down until October? That's... odd. Did they give a reason?
And this is why a new plan for the waterfront needs to be considered. This would be HUGE for the Grove. A waterfront park is such limited thinking. Congrats to those business owners who foster this. The commissioner (all of them) need to take leadership on this.
The Grove has been a home for artists and musicians and actors since the 50's.
The Grove has been dying bit by bit since the 90's when the focus became dance clubs and bars and tearing down the existing Grove to erect new parasites that wanted to feast on the cash that flowed thru the Grove in the tourists pockets.
We once again have artists based in the Grove in the form of a theater company named Burn Notice. We have writers, actors, effects artists, and the various artistic personifies. We have a source of promotion for the Grove that is watched by millions of people a week. I'll say that again. Millions of people. Every week. We have artists and free publicity world-wide and the current brain trust want to kick them out, disenfranchise all those fans, and tear down more of the Grove to put up a park that will benefit only a small portion of the Groves newer and weary residents living on a small strip of South Bayshore Drive.
Effin brilliant.
OF
Disagree with the above Anonymous.. opening Water Views in the Grove, (Only One brief glimpse of the water available from 5 miles of Grove sidewalks and streets ),,,, would be a MAJOR BOOST for the entire District: tourists and visitors and investors would love the direct Bay Views we do not have.
CI
I understand this probably won't be posted but I've gotta try..
Sledge-
Citation requested.
YOU ARE SO WRONG THE GROVE STARTED DYING OUT WHEN THE CLUBS WERE GONE.SORRY TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE
The owner of Villa Mayfair owns the building. Doesn't really cost him anything to close for the slow season. Am I wrong?
The Grove is ideal for a Production hub!
I grew up their, it has a legitimate art scene
(not like south beach where it's a facade for something else) where local talent can be employed.
Adam and Eve discovered paradise in Coconut Grove. They feasted on fruit from the trees, amused themselves with the finest artists and musicians, and slept in their inexpensive wooden cottages. One day a slimy developer came along and told Adam and Eve that he would take their Coconut Grove and make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. He handed them an apple and said "Just take a bite. The taste will be like no other, even better then the mangoes hanging free upon your trees." Well, Adam and Eve bit the apple again and again. The slimy developer came back with more apples. Adam and Eve became so distracted, that the paradise they once had slipped away before their eyes. Art and music and an affordable lifestyle disappeared. People started fighting over rents and waterfronts. They even fought over when the paradise had disappeared! Paradise will always disappear when it is equated with money. In the words of Joni Mitchell (one musician that use to hang out in the Grove), "they paved over paradise and put up a parking lot."
Anon 8:56
Sir/ Ma'am-
(raises glass)
Slainté!
OF
Theres a new rumor that the grove may be the first in the country to have a floating parking lot. the location is the back part of kennedy park to help with the parking issues on the weekends.it will include a covered area for kids parties that will be rented out with a deposite.
There is still no deal between the city and Burn Notice. But the show continues to showcase the Grove as a beautiful backdrop. I wish they would stay...and that Borders would return!
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