Hermès inks lease for Latin American office in Coral Gables

Hermès of Paris has signed an office lease for its perfume division in downtown Coral Gables.

Hermès leased nearly 2,900 square feet at 2020 Ponce, where it will house its Latin American office, Avison Young announced on Monday. The brokerage’s principal Donna Abood arranged the lease for the high-end French retailer along with Skyline Realty International.

Florida East Coast Realty developed and owns the mixed-use tower, which includes ground floor retail and seven floors of office space. About 20,000 square feet in the 130,000-square-foot building are available to buy or lease, according to a press release.

Tenants include Avison Young – Florida, AMC Networks Latin America, Providence Companies, Peebles Corporation, as well as Florida Community Bank, Total Bank, Coral Gables Vein Specialists, and Elite Body Sculpting on the ground floor.

FECR first opened the office and retail building in 2009 with for-sale office space, but later shifted to leasing. The company announced last year that it would begin selling office and retail space again, citing demand from Latin Americans that traditionally buy the spaces they occupy.

Hermès opened its flagship store in the Miami’s Design District at the end of last year. The three-story, 13,000-square-foot boutique at 163 Northeast 39th Street represents one of the French brand’s largest stores in the country. – Katherine Kallergis