Burlington is open on South Federal
A new store on South Federal, a stalled big-box vote, and prix-fixe menus running through September.
One big-box store opened last week and another one can't get off the ground. Meanwhile, nine kitchens around town are running deal menus until fall.
Pompano Marketplace has a new tenant. Burlington opened August 14 at 1131 South Federal Highway. What Now Miami reported it is the chain's 129th store in Florida. This one uses the company's updated format, which means wider aisles, better signs, and a floor you can actually navigate without backtracking. Burlington marked the opening with a $5,000 donation to a local high-needs school through AdoptAClassroom.org. The company also said it is hiring. If you have been driving that stretch of Federal for years without much reason to stop, that just changed.
Nordstrom Rack sets a date at Citi Centre
Pompano Citi Centre is getting a Nordstrom Rack. The company's own new-store page lists the address as 1440 NE 23rd Street. Nordstrom Rack says the store is scheduled to open September 17. That is the retailer's date, not a city one, and schedules like this can slide. Nothing is open yet, so there is no point driving over to look. But it is worth noting where the mall is headed. Between this and the Burlington opening down on Federal, the off-price crowd is clearly betting on shoppers here.
Chamber breakfast Thursday at South Bar and Kitchen
The Greater Pompano Beach Chamber holds its August membership breakfast this Thursday, August 20. It runs from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at South Bar and Kitchen, 165 NE First Avenue. That is the same restaurant taking part in the Dine Out promotion, so you can scout it before dinner. Advance registration is $25 for chamber investors and $35 for nonmembers. Waiting until the morning of adds $5. It is billed as networking plus community updates, which usually means you will hear what local business owners are actually worried about. Register through the chamber.
Nine kitchens are running deal menus until September 30
Dine Out Lauderdale Restaurant Months started August 1 and runs through September 30. Nine Pompano Beach spots are in: 26 Degree Brewery and Kitchen, Cafe Maxx, Farraddays Steakhouse, Lola's on the Water, The Kester, Oceanic, South Bar and Kitchen, The Vault, and Zoe's Beachside Grill. The prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus run $35 to $60. Some are not available on weekends, which is the detail that trips people up. Pull up the restaurant's menu before you book. Six weeks is plenty of time to work through a few of these.
Spanish-language theatre is finding an audience here
The growth of South Florida's Latino population has reshaped the restaurant scene and the business district. Now it is showing up on stage. The New Pelican reports that Latin American theatre is running live in Pompano Beach, with Spanish-speaking shows drawing real crowds. Celebrity performers including Clara Ulrich and Erika de La Vega have brought their productions to town recently. That is a meaningful shift for a city whose arts calendar has leaned in other directions for a long time. If your Spanish is rusty, this is a good excuse to dust it off.
The Costco vote ended in a tie, and that settles nothing
The proposed Costco at The Pomp is still just proposed. The Planning and Zoning Board rejected it. Costco appealed, and late last month the City Commission deadlocked. A tie leaves the rejection standing. The plan calls for a 160,000-square-foot store, 800 parking spaces, and 16 gas pumps on Powerline Road south of Atlantic Boulevard. Palm Aire residents have been raising traffic concerns about exactly that. Costco's attorney signaled the company may take the fight to court. So nothing is approved, nothing is being built, and this is not over.
Pompano stays with BSO, at $71 million a year
In the latest commission action, members voted 4-2 to move ahead with a new three-year policing contract with the Broward Sheriff's Office. The price tag is $71 million in the next fiscal year. The deal caps annual rate increases at 5 percent and lets either side walk with 90 days' notice. The alternative came up and got shot down quickly. Commissioners said building a city police department would cost too much and take about three years to stand up. So the arrangement you already have stays in place, with a firmer ceiling on what it costs.