The Weekly Dish: Balans and Skorpios close, Chicago’s Yolk expanding to Boca & more

Breakfast and lunch concept Yolk is opening its first South Florida location in January

Balans in the MiMo District
Balans in the MiMo District

Balans | MiMo District
Balans restaurant in the MiMo District closed in late October and a new concept is moving in next month.

Miami.com first reported that Balans closed at 6789 Biscayne Boulevard. Jonathan Balan, CEO of the restaurant group, told the publication that it “just wasn’t doing as well as we’d hoped.” He’s renovating the original location on Lincoln Road and another in Brickell, and looking for a third.

In its place, Pubbelly’s Jose Mendin plans to open La Placita, a Puerto Rican restaurant, in December with Sergio Navarro, Jonathan Balan and Julian Gil, according to the Miami New Times.

Skorpios | Midtown Miami
After less than a year open, Skorpios has closed at the Shops at Midtown Miami.

The Mediterranean-style eatery opened in February in a 4,900-square-foot space that previously was leased to Bocce Bar. The restaurant, led by partners Eric Milon, Stephane Dupoux and Sami Kohen, signed a 10-year lease with two five-year extensions 3252 Northeast First Avenue, unit 107.

Yolk | Boca Raton
A restaurant group founded in Chicago is opening up in South Florida.

Yolk, founded in 2006 by owner Taki Kastanis, is set to open in January at 5570 North Military Trail. In Boca, the breakfast and lunch concept will seat about 220 diners and include a coffee bar and pick-up window.

It has 14 locations in Chicago, Indiana and Texas, according to its website.

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The Doral Yard | Doral
The Wynwood Yard is headed west.

The outdoor food and beverage market created by Della Heiman, Ken Lyon and Joe Furst is opening at Codina Partners’ Downtown Doral in the spring, according to a release. The 20,000-square-foot space will be broken up into three zones: the Hub, Charcoal garden bar + grill, and the Backyard. It will also include the Hall, a 5,000-square-foot indoor micro food hall with a co-working cafe and three food concepts.

The Doral Yard will be at the northeast corner of Main Street and Paseo Boulevard in Downtown Doral.

Con Murphy’s and Mana Poke | Fort Lauderdale
Irish pub and restaurant Con Murphy’s leased 3,500 square feet on the second floor of The Gallery at Beach Place in Fort Lauderdale. Mana Poke also signed a 1,250-square-foot lease at the shopping center, and both restaurants are set to open next spring, according to a release.

CREC’s Rafael Romero and Ariel Bernstein handle leasing for the property.

Thor Equities Group owns The Gallery, which was recently renovated. Other tenants include Häagen Dazs, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and The Gym Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Parliament Espresso & Coffee Bar | Miami
A new coffee shop opened at Brightline’s MiamiCentral.

Parliament Espresso & Coffee Bar opened on the second floor of Central Fare, MiamiCentral’s food hall, at 650 Northwest First Avenue. Kuenko, Rosetta Bakery and 800° Woodfired Kitchen are also expected to open soon at MiamiCentral. Joe & the Juice and Einstein Bros. Bagels are already open at the 160,000-square-foot retail portion of the mixed-use project.