Miami approves revamp of historic Coconut Grove Playhouse
By Mark Dovich – Reporter, South Florida Business Journal
July 14, 2026
Officials in Miami have approved measures to advance the long-planned revamp of the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse.
At a July 9 meeting, members of Miami’s City Commission approved a resolution granting Miami-Dade County the needed zoning exceptions and waivers to redevelop the building, overriding a recommendation from the city’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board.
That sets the stage for the revitalization of the property, at 3498 and 3500 Main Highway in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood.
The plan calls for the construction of a new 310-seat theater that preserves the 99-year-old building’s historic facade, plus about 6,400 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurants, 31,000 square feet of offices and a 289-space parking garage.
The property, owned by the state of Florida, occupies a roughly 2.5-acre lot on the boundary between central Coconut Grove and the historically Black West Grove part of the neighborhood.
Miami-Dade County’s budget for fiscal years 2025-2026 estimates the cost of reconstructing the Coconut Grove Playhouse at $58.4 million.
The theater shuttered in 2006 and has since fallen into disrepair. There’s been talk of revitalization, but efforts to revamp the property have been stalled by years of litigation.
There’s also been local pushback to redevelopment efforts, with critics citing a desire to preserve Coconut Grove’s distinctive character, as well as concerns over gentrification in the West Grove area.
On the other hand, proponents say a revamped theater could draw more visitors to the area and provide a boost to nearby retailers, restaurants and other businesses.
“It’s been 20 years, and it’s really hurt the Grove not being open, because it’s a draw. When people go to the theater, they go to dinner and walk around. … It really helps the businesses,” said James Cassel, chair and co-founder of Miami-based investment bank Cassel Salpeter & Co.
Speaking with the Business Journal, he said he expected more public parking would also help lift nearby businesses.
“There is a real shortage of parking today in Center Grove. … Sometimes people don’t come to the Grove because parking’s a problem, and that hurts business,” said Cassel, who also serves on the board of the Miami Parking Authority and has closely tracked the issue. “Having the parking and theater there will serve Grove residents and the Grove business district well.”
A detailed timeline for the redevelopment of the Coconut Grove Playhouse wasn’t immediately available.
In recent years, there’s been an influx of billionaires, executives and other high-net-worth residents to Coconut Grove. Those shifting demographics have contributed to a surge in demand for luxury residences and offices in the neighborhood.
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