Massive Italian Market Eataly is Headed to Miami

After nearly a decade of rumors about a possible South Florida Eataly location, yesterday the Miami New Times reported that the popular Italian food hall is looking to debut a three-story, 29,000-square-foot location inside Aventura Mall near the Nordstrom sometime soon.

The publication said it has good authority that the permitting process is well underway, suggesting the opening could be in a ‘matter of months.’ Eater’s requests to confirm this new location with Eataly press representatives have not been returned.

Eataly was originally founded by Oscar Farinetti in Torino, Italy, in 2007, who transformed an old vermouth factory into a marketplace celebrating Italian food culture. The concept quickly gained popularity, rapidly expanding to over 40 locations worldwide, including New York, Chicago, and Tokyo. Each location is meant to offer an ‘Italian experience’ with various restaurants, food counters, and markets under one roof.

The popular brand hasn’t been without controversy, though. Disgraced chef Mario Batali played a crucial role in Eataly’s U.S. expansion, helping open the first American location in New York City in 2010 and serving as a minority investor and the public face for the brand. However, in 2017, multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Batali emerged, leading to his removal from day-to-day operations and the eventual buyout of his minority stake in 2019. Eataly has since distanced itself from Batali.

We will update this report further as more details emerge.