A New York-based luxury condominium developer plans to add a private members club and signature restaurant to a high-rise residential project underway in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village.
Naftali Group on Jan. 22 announced a partnership with Los Angeles-based hospitality company The h.wood Group to open the private club and dining concept at Viceroy Residences Fort Lauderdale, the city’s first Viceroy-branded residential condominium.
The venue, which has not yet been assigned an official address, is expected to open in 2029 either when the building is completed or shortly thereafter, the developers said in response to questions from the Business Journal.
The club and restaurant will span more than 15,000 square feet within the 45-story tower. Additional dining and lounge areas will be reserved for members, while the ground-floor restaurant will be open to the public, according to the development team.
A limited number of non-resident memberships will also be offered through a curated selection process.
The h.wood Group, founded in 2008 by John Terzian and Brian Toll, operates a portfolio of high-end restaurant and nightlife concepts, including Delilah in Brickell, which opened in late 2023, and The Nice Guy in Miami Beach, which is set to debut soon.
“Expanding our footprint into South Florida is a top priority,” said Terzian, in a statement.
While the group is branching out in Miami, the Fort Lauderdale concept will be designed specifically for the local market, with an emphasis on dining, hospitality and social spaces rather than replicating an existing venue, the company said.
Flagler Village was selected because of its evolution from an industrial area into a dense, arts-driven neighborhood with a growing residential base, the developers said, citing the area’s galleries, art walks and proximity to Las Olas Boulevard and Fort Lauderdale Beach.
“The city is quickly becoming a global destination, and we wanted to create a restaurant with elevated design, exceptional cuisine and an atmosphere that truly captures the energy of Flagler Village,” said Toll.
The project is expected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs and contribute to long-term economic growth in the area, according to the developers, though additional details on hiring timelines were not disclosed.
“Partnering with The h.wood Group brings a new energy to Fort Lauderdale, elevating the nightlife, dining and overall lifestyle with live music and immersive experiences the city has been waiting for,” said Danielle Naftali, executive vice president of marketing, sales and design at Naftali Group. “Their approach to hospitality aligns with what we are building at Viceroy Residences Fort Lauderdale.”
Viceroy Residences Fort Lauderdale is a 500-foot tower that will feature 251 one- to four-bedroom residences and more than 30,000 square feet of amenities, including a spa, pool deck, wine and sound bar, karaoke room, virtual reality simulator and concierge services. The project is the only hospitality-branded residential development in downtown Fort Lauderdale, according to the developer.
The announcement comes as luxury residential projects across the region increasingly incorporate private clubs and dining concepts, including The Standard Residences in Miami-Dade County, St. Regis Residences at Bahia Mar in Broward County and Mr. C Residences West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County.
As industry data remains limited, market research firms and professional associations indicate that private clubs have a significant economic footprint.
MarketIntelo, a California-based research firm, has estimated the global private members market at more than $30 billion, while a report co-produced by Club Benchmarking, the Club Management Association of America and the National Club Association found U.S. private clubs generated about $32.6 billion in direct revenue in 2023 and supported a payroll of more than $17 billion with roughly
573,000 jobs.