The Night Kings: The Men Behind South Beach’s Hottest Nightclubs

Nightclubs may come and go, but not at the hands of these five visionaries. The men behind some of South Beach’s hottest and most enduring attractions open up about why they laid down roots here – and why so many buyers in today’s real estate market are desperate to do the same

By Seth Semilof and Kamal Hotchandani
Photography By Reynaldo Ales

As developers continue to build luxury high-rise condominiums on South Beach, we decided it was time to talk to five pioneers who played an integral role in transforming the town into one of the hippest destinations in the world. Innovative and strategic thinkers, all of these players are respected for their creativity, smarts, and helping shape South Beach into the nightlife capital of the world.

And it was their vision and determination that has indirectly impacted the luxury real estate market here. Five years ago, everyone wanted to visit South Beach for its hot beaches, beautiful people, and incomparable nightlife. Now the world wants to own a piece of South Beach; in fact, more than 10 luxury buildings have been built in only the past five years – all within 20 blocks on the ocean.

Who better than these five – Shareef Malnik of The Forge, Roberto Caan of Mynt nightclub, Rok Bar and Vita, The Opium Group’s Roman Jones, Michael Capponi of Capponi Group Luxury Properties (along with Glass, The Victor Hotel and Mansion), and Mark Lehmkul of Snatch and Suite – to let us in on how it all began, evolved throughout the past 15 years, and how it all is most likely to play out?

[highlight_text] Really, my mentor is my father. He taught me so much about it, but gave me a foundation for me to grow on my own with my own ideas. [/highlight_text]

Shareef Malnik ||| The Forge and Glass nightclub
“The Godfather”

HL What brought you to Miami?
SM I was born in Miami. After graduating law school, I lived in Europe and other places for a number of years. Then I came back to Miami because I realized we were on the verge of something great.

HL What made you decide to go into the nightlife industry, and how has it evolved or changed since then?
SM I really grew up in the nightlife industry; my family has been in it my whole life. It’s something that’s been in my blood since I was a child. Well, 20 years ago there was almost no nightlife here. Around 1993, with the start of Bar None – which I was a partner in with other notables like Jason Binn, Oliver Stone, and Sylvester Stallone – it was a time that was very interesting to be in the nightlife industry. Miami Beach was still underground; there weren’t a lot of places, but it was still very, very special, catering to jet setters, models, bohemians – it was an interesting mix of people. In the mid-90s, the New York-style dance clubs changed the face of the city a lot. Now it’s a market that’s saturated, not over-saturated, with great lounges, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants.

HL Who was your first mentor and how did he or she influence you?
SM Really, my mentor is my father. He taught me so much about it, but gave me a foundation for me to grow on my own with my own ideas.

HL How do you feel your club has contributed to the real estate boom? What positive effect do you think the club/nightlife scene here has had on growth in the market, and why?
SM When I was a kid growing up in Miami Beach, being bored out of my mind, I used to look around and say, “Why aren’t people here?” As a kid I would go to St. Tropez, and I would say, “Our beaches are nicer than St. Tropez; why does everyone go to St. Tropez?” There was no real estate boom, and the city was boring. That’s why I left. When the modeling industry came in and the nightlife industry started to cater to people who were down here by creating an interesting ambiance of entertainment, more and more people started coming down here. And I’ve heard the story a million times: People say they came down to South Beach for a week and it’s been three years and they haven’t left because they had such a great time. The place caught on fire because we were showing people a good time, and then people like Ian Schrager decided to invest money here. None of these people would have come without the nightlife industry.

HL Do you think people are willing to pay more for luxury real estate to be in the midst of the action?
SM There are those who come to Miami Beach just because of the real estate boom, but the majority of the people came here to enjoy the lifestyle, and they’ve bought into that lifestyle. For example, in South Point, where I live, people have chosen to live on this beach. It was always the coolest local beach. There are concessions on the beach, models hang out there, and it’s like the locals’ beach. Somehow everybody else got the same idea, and it’s because they like this lifestyle. Why would you buy a place next to Nikki Beach if you didn’t like it? The nightlife industry was here first and everything else grew up around it.

HL What was your most memorable real estate deal?
SM Well, my place is now the only private residence on Ocean Drive, and I bought it in 1994 for $1 million. Today it’s probably worth ten times that amount. I love my place on Ocean Drive.

HL What’s your favorite condo development?
SM Well, first of all I think the idea of The Setai is really amazing; to have that type of design and those kinds of services in a city like this is great. I also think the Murano, Icon, Continuum, and Murano Grande are all beautiful. They are the nicest buildings that you can find anywhere, but The Setai to me is a whole different level. It shows that if that can work in Miami then the sky’s the limit here. Actually, Aqua, too; I’m thinking of buying a place out there.

HL What is your favorite residential neighborhood?
SM To tell you the truth, South Point. That’s why I’m living here, and that’s why I’ve resisted moving. It’s just a perfect neighborhood.

HL What is your forecast for the real estate market over the next two to three years?
SM I don’t think the housing market is going to be affected, but there might be a lull in the condo market because there are so many condos coming.

HL What is your forecast for the nightlife scene over the next two to three years?
SM The only thing that could hurt the nightlife industry would be over-regulation. I think as long as the city and the residents understand and appreciate that it is the nightlife industry that fills up all the hotels on the beach and creates a place that makes people want to travel here, it will thrive. If you hurt the nightlife industry, you’re hurting the city.

HL Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
SM I want to expand to other cities. I see myself in Las Vegas, New York, and Miami.

Roberto Caan ||| mynt nightclub, rok bar, and vita restaurant
“King of Class”

HL What brought you to Miami?
RC I came to Miami in 1993-1994, as I owned a fashion company. I was here for a fashion shoot, and fell in love with the Miami lifestyle. I loved the beautiful women, ocean, and views. I decided to stay and invest in some business.

HL What made you get into the nightlife industry, and how has it evolved or changed since then?
RC I got into the business by accident. Chris Paciello got in trouble, and they needed an investor in Joia. I invested and took over the restaurant. Then we sold it and started Mynt. After Mynt, I opened up Vita Restaurant and Rok Bar. My clients can have an amazing dinner at Vita, and then hit Mynt or Rok Bar for the night, while staying at The Setai or Shore Club.

HL Who was your first mentor and how did he or she influence you?
RC I have someone that I try to pattern my bars after. He had over 15 bars in France and was in business for over 12 years. Always they were the best places to go and very profitable.

HL How do you feel your club has contributed to the real estate boom? What positive effect do you think the club/nightlife scene here has had on growth in the market, and why?
RC Well, look at where Mynt/Vita/Rok Bar is located. Ten years ago, this area was nothing. Now, we have the Shore Club, The Setai, Gansevoort Hotel, and more. People from all over the world would hang out at Mynt, Shore Club, and more, and then want to buy the condo next to their favorite clubs and the ocean.

HL How do you keep your club at the top of its game when there are so many coming and going on a regular basis?
RC I think most important is that we reject people. Seriously. Most of my competitors deal with the masses, as they can make a lot of money running this business model. We are different. We cater to a very small crowd in Miami, as we only want the most beautiful people in our club. That is why people want to continue to come back year after year. Last week I had a client from Latin America that bought 25 bottles of Cristal, all in three hours.

HL Do you think people are willing to pay more for luxury real estate to be in the midst of the action?
RC I think because it’s a big mix of international people, and that is what gets these people to come here – the amazing ocean, beautiful women, and more. Look at me. I came to Miami for a fashion photo shoot and fell in love with Miami. I then bought some units in The Setai, a house, and more. Now I am a full-time resident. I feel this is the same for everyone.

HL What was your most memorable real estate deal?
RC I think one of the best deals was buying in The Setai, but this was buying in the beginning. It was still less than $600 a square foot when I got involved. I just wish I had bought more condos.

HL Where do you live?
RC I live on Venetian Island and have a couple of condos in The Setai.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
RC My clothing business is by far what I am most proud of. I achieved a lot and made a lot of money. To me, the club business is for fun. To open Mynt, then Vita and Rok Bar, was to bring a different venue to the beach. There are not a lot of places that cater to the very rich and beautiful.

HL What is your favorite condo development?
RC The Setai, by far. It’s one of the most beautiful buildings in Miami Beach. Nothing compares.

HL What is your favorite residential neighborhood?
RC I think Star Island is very overrated for what you get. Think about it. You buy an $18 million mansion, and you look across the way and you see The Floridian and the freeway. I personally think Bay Road has one of the most amazing views of the bay. Everybody talks about Star Island, but I love Bay Road.

HL What is your forecast for the real estate market over the next two to three years?
RC I don’t think it will crash, but I think it will stay at this level for quite some time.

HL What is your forecast for the nightlife scene over the next two to three years?
RC I still see room for some big places coming up again, and now I think there are a lot of smaller restaurant/nightclubs and all these places are going to do well.

HL Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
RC Around the world. I am planning to start Mynt Beach Clubs around the world – St. Tropez, South America, and more. I am also very excited about my new business, Ultimate Service Network. We cater to the very elite, helping them charter airplanes and boats. I am currently renting a 180-foot yacht in France for a top CEO of a major corporation. I feel that Miami is slow four to five months a year, so I plan to be in other markets during the slow times.

Roman Jones ||| Opium Group (Opium, prive, Mansion)
“Roman’s Empire”

HL What brought you to Miami?
RJ My college sweetheart was from Miami, and at the time everyone was raving about Miami. The flash, the style and the bass music were bringing an eclectic crowd to this city, and I was one of them. I fell in love with the city, and after graduated college I decided this town was for me.

HL What made you get into the nightlife industry, and how has it evolved or changed since then?
RJ Like most people, I caught the South Beach bug in the sense that I liked to go out and have fun. A close friend of mine, Francis Milon, had opened The Living Room nightclub, which I was frequenting often. He used to contact me almost every night to visit him at the club, which eventually led me to become a vocal non-partner. It was then that Francis and I decided to do something together, so we launched a restaurant south of Fifth Street, a new, uncharted area that at the time was vacant. From opening night it was a monster social scene, where people were fighting the crowd for a drink at the bar.

HL Who was your first mentor and how did he or she influence you?
RJ My parents divorced when I was very young, and I was raised primarily by my mother. She was working two jobs, one in the music industry and one in the nightclub industry ,to support us. The fact that she sacrificed herself for her child really instilled the respect of hard work. My mentor is my mother.

HL How do you feel your club has contributed to the real estate boom? What positive effect do you think the club/nightlife scene here has had on growth in the market, and why?
RJ I believe there are two major components to building a city: food and entertainment. Many of the people coming to Miami are from cosmopolitan areas, and they demand entertainment that is at a cosmopolitan level. So I had expectations to live up to; we had to provide the same caliber of nightlife sophistication that they have in New York and Paris, and I believe we have mastered it beautifully.

HL How do you keep your club at the top of its game when there are so many coming and going on a regular basis? What do you do to ensure that it is offering something that can’t be found everywhere else?
RJ I believe there are two things that have separated us from the rest. The first is hard work, because there are no shortcuts in life. The second is the fact that we live and breathe this business. I am very fortunate because I enjoy what I do, every night.

HL Do you think people are willing to pay more for luxury real estate to be in the midst of the action?
RJ Absolutely. There is no difference between North Miami Beach and South Beach – the value is based on the vibe, the environment. Miami is very unique, and when I travel and return home I realize how much I love this town.

HL What was your most memorable real estate deal?
RJ In Europe, we had to buy a commissary; we had to buy some land. I went to the meeting and it was two Polish guys. I said, “How much do you want for your land?” They shouted, without even seeming to understand anything, “A million dollars!” I said, “Wait a minute – the place next door to yours sold for $20,000, and the place next to that went for $30,000.” They said, “Yes, but you’re American; we want a million dollars.” Obviously I didn’t make that deal.

HL Where do you live?
RJ I live in an area that is an old residential retreat {Pine Tree Drive}, just on the border of South Beach.

HL What has been your proudest achievement?
RJ My proudest achievement has definitely been the opportunity to build a company from scratch that is a lifeline for many people.

HL What is your favorite residential neighborhood?
RJ Here [Pine Tree Drive] – it’s a stone’s throw from everything, yet it’s residential. It’s also very safe, and quiet. The key here is the lot size. I’d much rather live in a place with a large lot than a place with a big house on a small lot.

HL What is your favorite condo development?
RJ I’d have to say The Angler’s, because I love when properties are restored to something natural.

HL What is your prediction for the real estate market over the next two to three years?
RJ Honestly, I don’t think the rest of the world offers all the components that Miami does. People are constantly leaving Europe, South America, New York and they are all coming to South Florida. This influx is the driving force behind the real estate and entertainment industries in Miami.

HL What is your prediction for the nightlife venues over the next two to three years?
RJ That we continue to do well. Honestly, I think that we are essentially the think tank and Silicon Valley of nightclubs. Everyone comes here to get the experience firsthand, and then it is duplicated elsewhere. Miami is the tropical cosmopolitan city.

Michael Capponi ||| Capponi Group Luxury Properties, Glass, The Victor Hotel, and Mansion
“Comeback Kid”

HL What brought you to Miami?
MC I moved here from Belgium in 1979 with my mother and father. My dad owned some stores in The Shops at Mayfair.

HL What made you get into the nightlife industry, and how has it evolved or changed since then?
MC It wasn’t until about 1992 that actual nightclubs opened up here, so we were doing travel parties before the club owners got there. They were kind of forced to deal with us because we were here first. People always say that South Beach isn’t the same; my answer to that is, Ibiza isn’t the same, St. Tropez isn’t the same, and the Hamptons aren’t the same. Things progress and they evolve, period. .

HL Who was your first mentor and how did he or she influence you?
MC I think John Turchin – he opened up nightclubs. He had one of the most successful clubs in the late 80s, Club Nu. He went on to start a construction company and build luxury homes, sort of like what I’m doing now.

HL How do you feel your club has contributed to the real estate boom? What positive effect do you think the club/nightlife scene here has had on growth in the market, and why?
MC The early modeling agencies did a bunch of shoots here. Because of those beautiful girls in town, we threw some amazing parties, then some celebrities came, then the place got hot. When the money moved in, the real estate market boomed. I argued at a commission meeting when the Mayor was saying that the people don’t come to Miami Beach because of the nightlife; they come because of the sun and the sand. So I said, How come our tourist dollars are four times greater than the tourist dollars in Fort Lauderdale? They’ve got the same sun, the same sand; it’s not any colder there.

HL How do you keep your club at the top of its game when there are so many coming and going on a regular basis?
MC I have a very clear idea of my market and what I want it to be.

HL Do you think people are willing to pay more for luxury real estate to be in the midst of the action?
MC An analogy that anyone can understand would be, if you looked at the meatpacking district [in New York] six years ago, it was a bunch of warehouses. Today it’s more expensive than SoHo. Why? Because it’s a hot area; there are nightclubs. There are only nightclubs, a couple of stores and every trendy restaurant in New York City is there right now. Try to buy some real estate there; it’s going to cost a fortune.

HL What was your most memorable real estate deal?
MC Ten Museum Park will always be the one I will be most grateful for, [along with] Chad Oppenheim, Gregg Covin and everyone that brought me into that. It’s topped off, all the windows are in, and I’m doing a party there in December. I’m very proud of that; that was my big break.

HL Where do you live?
MC Sunset Island.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
MC Getting off drugs, staying off drugs and helping people get off drugs.

HL What’s your favorite condo development?
MC I think Aqua is really cool and unique; they did a really good job on that. Of course, Jorge Perez with his Apogee,; that looks pretty incredible.

HL What’s your favorite residential neighborhood?
MC I personally prefer the Sunset Islands because they’re closest to the Beach. It’s two minutes from Lincoln Road; I’m four minutes from the nightclubs.

HL What’s your forecast for real estate in the next two to three years?
MC There are about 850 homes on the water in Miami Beach, and I believe that there will always be 850 wealthy people that don’t care about interest rates or an adjusted condo market. I don’t think it’s going to be that affected. I think the condo market will at some point adjust itself.

HL What about your forecast for the nightlife scene for the next two to three years?
MC I was just in New York for a weekend, and all the people I went with said nothing compares to Miami. There’s something about Miami; the energy that we have here in the clubs you just can’t compare to L.A. or New York.

HL Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
MC Hopefully developing a little resort somewhere that I can get to by boat. That would be my dream. I don’t know if I’d want to go into the strict hotel business, but probably a spa/trendy resort – Club Med done by the modern Ian Schrager in the year 2015. As the Delano was when it first got here, but on an island in the Caribbean.

Mark Lehmkuhl ||| Snatch and Suite
“New Kid on the Block”

HL What brought you to Miami?
ML I first came to Miami in 1994, right after college. Two years before that, I came here for spring break. When I was in Miami for spring break, I would walk down Washington Avenue and see all the excitement in Miami. I told myself that when I left college I would move there, so the day I was done with school, I [did].

HL What made you get into the nightlife industry, and how has it evolved or changed since then?
ML I grew up in the nightlife industry, as my father had hotels and clubs. When I was younger, he would drop me off and I would hang out in the DJ booth. So I have always loved this industry and lifestyle. In my opinion, Miami has gone from a “boutique” city to more of a corporate/commercial city. I also feel the same trend has gone through in the nightlife.

HL Who was your first mentor and how did he or she influence you?
ML First reason why I got in this business was someone like Ian Schrager. He took the best part of nightlife and transformed it into a lifestyle. He created something different, which is why he became so popular. For a mentor on Miami Beach, I would have to say Chris Paciello. He brought the glam to South Beach. He brought it to a completely different level. He had Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, and more. He put South Beach on the map.

HL How do you feel your club has contributed to the real estate boom and what effect do you think the nightlife scene here has had on growth in the market?
ML South Beach was built upon the fashion industry and nightlife of the world. Before we had that, all we basically had was rundown hotels; a crime-infested area with no value to the city of Miami Beach. When the fashion people came to Miami, the nightlife soon followed. That is basically what built the Beach. It is about the nightlife, hotels, restaurants, etc., that brought the excitement. The core of that is the nightclubs.

HL Do you think people are willing to pay more for luxury real estate to be in the midst of the action?
ML I don’t think there is anywhere in the world like South Beach. We have a vibrant international city, we are surrounded by a beach, and we have world-class nightlife, hotels, and restaurants all on a 25-block little island. The people buying here are the affluent of the world – athletes, rappers, trust fund babies, etc. South Americans can’t put money in their banks, so they have been buying Miami real estate. That is another point that has fueled our real estate boom.

HL What was your most memorable real estate deal?
ML Getting the commercial space for Suite/Snatch.

HL Where do you live?
ML On South Beach, at The Portofino.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
ML The balance of family, friends, and the business I am in. This business can take a lot out of you, as it is really a 24/7 business. Doing Suite was huge, as this is my first project. This is one of the proudest moments of my life, to stand at my club on Saturday night and watch people enjoying themselves so much and escaping to a fantasy world, on something that I built.

HL What’s your favorite condo development?
ML Interior, Philippe Starck’s Icon. Exterior: Portofino, one of my favorite buildings on the beach.

HL What’s your favorite residential neighborhood?
ML Venetian Islands.

HL What’s your real estate forecast for the next two to three years?
ML I don’t agree with anyone, as they have been saying the market is going to crash for the past seven years. The average price for a luxury condo on the Beach is between $1,000-1,500 a square foot. That is substantially cheaper than New York, Paris, and the great cities of the world. We are very well priced. But Biscayne/Brickell is overdeveloped; there are way too many condos on the market.

HL What about your forecast for the nightlife scene over the next two to three years?
ML More big players are going to come to Miami. South Beach has been very hard [to enter into] for an outsider – the same players have been involved on the Beach for the past ten years, but I sense a change where big money is going to invest and come into Miami. You will have Tao, Cipriani, Cirque du Soleil and more. That is the best thing that has happened to Miami in the past 20 years.

HL Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
ML I want to expand to other cities. I see us opening Snatch and Suite in Markets from Las Vegas to South America. I hope to take our brand to the same level as Ian Schrager.