Government

Boca Town Center Mall to Expand Outdoor Dining for Two New Restaurants

by
Daniel Nee
September 9, 2024

The ongoing effort to adapt the Town Center mall complex in Boca Raton to better compete in the modern market received a shot in the arm by the city’s planning board, which last week approved a plan to create and expand an outdoor dining area to accommodate more seating for two new restaurants.

“The mall has seen a decrease in traffic caused by the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 and the Sears store being closed,” said Sr. City Planner Heather Hansen, explaining the need for the mall, owned by Simon Properties, to add new amenities.

The main entrance to the Boca Town Center mall, where two new restaurants are poised to open with outdoor dining. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The restaurants, both of which signed leases with Simon last year, are located off the Glades Road entrance. Outdoor seating will be expanded at that point from 940 square feet to 2,140 square feet. The outdoor seating area will accommodate al fresco dining for Madame Tang’s, an authentic Asian restaurant slated to open in either December 2024 or January 2025, and Limani Grille, a Greek-Mediterranean restaurant that is currently under construction within the existing mall building.

The expansion of outdoor dining will remove a small number of parking spaces, reducing the overall number from 8,015 to 8,009. The reduction did not concern officials.

“The Sears store has permanently closed, which previously had 811 parking spaces designated for parking use,” said Hansen. “If parking is not available, cars can spill over into the Sears parking area.”

A condition of approval also requires the two restaurants to provide a subsidy for employees to use public transportation.

Board members were familiar with the application, since it had previously been work-shopped, and was recommended for approval by city staff.

The main entrance to the Boca Town Center mall, where two new restaurants are poised to open with outdoor dining. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Like most shopping malls nationwide, Town Center is looking to expand its offerings beyond what was envisioned when it opened in the summer of 1980. The two restaurants are part of a larger re-visioning of mall properties that emphasize mixed-use tenants outside of the traditional department stores and corridors of smaller retailers.

Madame Tang’s is described as a “new Chinese restaurant that offers a modern take on Asian classics, with an expansive and vibrant bar scene,” according to a statement from Simon Properties. “By combining Las Vegas opulence with Shanghai elegance, Chef Ralph Pagano and Jay Shirodkar have created a restaurant that offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that sets it apart from traditional Asian eateries of the past.”

The restaurant will also feature a sushi bar. It is owned by Yes Hospitality Group.

Limani Grille, which is billed as a Mediterranean seafood restaurant focusing on traditional Greek specialties, has roots in New York and also operates a location in Boston. Its offerings will include premium first-pressed, cold-pressed olive oil from the Kalamata, fish and other seafood, plus locally-grown vegetables. The menu in its existing locations include items ranging from filet mignon souvlaki, to salmon and yellowfin tuna, to a full raw bar.