Breathing New Life Into Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile While Staying True to its Roots

In News Weekly, by Josh Wienmen  – December 23, 2022

It can sometimes be a bittersweet thing to witness the ebbs and flows of a city. The longer you are connected to a place the more it becomes a part of who you are, and even when it is experiencing new growth it can be difficult to say goodbye to aspects of it that get left behind in the process. Change is an inevitable fact of life, and yet it isn’t easy to face. All one can do when observing changes to an area is hope that the original spirit is kept alive through them.

That has been the goal of Stephen Bittel’s Terranova Corporation and the others who own properties on Coral Gables’ historic Miracle Mile. The coastal city itself has traditionally placed a high priority on historic preservation, and as the central artery for its downtown area Miracle Mile plays an essential role in the city’s culture and heritage. Owning a number of buildings on the stretch, Terranova has not taken its responsibilities to the original character and charm of Miracle Mile lightly, working to bring in businesses that simultaneously stimulate growth for the city while also remaining true to its history.

Case in point, the recently celebrated reopening of John Martin’s at 253 Miracle Mile, a property owned by Terranova. Originally one of South Florida’s longest-running restaurants, the Irish-themed pub was forced to shutter in April of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and was never able to open its doors again even after restrictions had been lifted. Emi Guerra and Alex Mantecon are the new leaders of Breakwater Hospitality Group, under their leadership, the bar has been given some rejuvenating updates while maintaining the original spirit of the pub.

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