The quarter at a glance
What changed
The summer quarter showed two kinds of change: operators replacing or leaving existing restaurants, and smaller everyday food concepts reaching new neighborhoods. Stage Boca ended service before Boca Brasserie opened. Grease, Grande’s, Il Fiore and other restaurants closed. Avenir gained H&H Bagels, Carmela Coffee and Field of Greens, while Wellington added a gelato shop and Royal Palm Beach gained Guaca Go. These are different customer occasions, not interchangeable additions to a dining tally.
Downtown West Palm Beach also moved forward on projects that could influence future hotel and restaurant demand. Alida’s residential and hotel project broke ground, Vanderbilt’s draft campus design reached staff review, and the county approved a financial agreement for a second convention center hotel. Only the first was a construction start in this record. Operators should attach sales assumptions to confirmed delivery and use dates, with room for those dates to move.
[6][31][21][15][25][10][23][2][12]Documented opening entries
Q3 2026
Includes identified reopenings, relocations and residencies. Each is labeled in the inventory. View the entries.Documented closing entries
Q3 2026
Confirmed closures and location exits. Relocations and ended residencies are labeled.Gross bed tax collections
July-August 2026, partial quarter
+20.3% year over year
Hotel occupancy
September 2026
+3.2% year over year
Average daily room rate
September 2026
+6.7% year over year
Inventory counts describe this report’s documented businesses, not total market openings, closures or net growth. Each demand figure carries its own reporting period.
Highlights
- Boca Brasserie opened August 20 after Stage Boca’s July 5 closure. [6][31]
- H&H Bagels soft-opened at Avenir August 17; Field of Greens confirmed its Avenir opening September 25. [21][15]
- Café Marseille opened July 31 and Coastal Creamery opened September 5. [25][10]
- Il Fiore closed August 31, confirmed in later reporting with its chef. [23]
- Alida’s residential and Marriott Tribute hotel project broke ground near Brightline in July. [2]
- County commissioners approved a $26 million agreement for a proposed 400-room convention hotel September 29. [12]
Our read
What the quarter tells us
Avenir is becoming a repeat-visit food trade area
H&H Bagels, Carmela Coffee and Field of Greens added breakfast, coffee and quick meals at Avenir. These businesses are competing for routines as much as special trips. A new operator should test the drive path, pickup access and morning queue before deciding how much seating to build. A residential project’s planned population is less useful than the households already living nearby and their actual purchase frequency. [21][9][15]
A concept reset changes the job, even in the same room
Stage’s closure and Boca Brasserie’s opening show why a replacement needs its own operating plan. A changed menu can alter stations, prep hours and the way servers explain the meal, even if the address stays the same. Review the new check average and weekly cover target before carrying the old payroll or purchasing schedule forward. Record the change as one site with two concept events. [31][6]
Sweet shops and cafés need frequent visits
Café Marseille, Coastal Creamery, BuddhaBerry and La Coppetta Matta added bakery, frozen yogurt and gelato options. These formats can serve a short visit, but ticket size and service speed still control the economics. Count transactions and repeat customers, then measure waste and production labor. A queue in opening week does not tell an owner how many batches to make on a rainy Wednesday. [25][10][7][13]
Downtown projects sit at different stages
Alida had a groundbreaking. Vanderbilt had a draft-plan review. The convention hotel had a county agreement with financing and permit conditions still ahead. Put each project on a milestone tracker with its source date. For nearby restaurants, separate current customers from construction workers, future residents and future visitors. Each group has a different start date and a different reason to buy food. [2][32][12]
The local inventory
Area by area
Openings and permanent closings appear alongside dated hotel and development milestones. Planned openings are labeled as plans. Sources sit beside each entry.
West Palm Beach
4 openings · 2 closingsNew food concepts arrived as Clematis lost restaurants. Major development announcements require separate status labels.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuku407 S. Rosemary Avenue, CityPlace, West Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Fried-chicken concept added a CityPlace location. | July 2026 | [16][27] |
| Café MarseilleOkeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach area | Opening · Opened Bakery introduced sourdough and pastries. | [25] | |
| Austin Republic, Dixie Highway4801 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach | Opening · Reopened in permanent premises Restaurant returned after its former temporary kitchen closed in 2024. | Q3 2026, open by August 3 | [4] |
| BuddhaBerryCityPlace, West Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Frozen yogurt shop joined CityPlace. | September 2026 | [7] |
| Grease Burger BarClematis Street, West Palm Beach | Closing · Permanently closed Downtown burger bar ended service. | [19][3] | |
| Mystic Table218 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach | Closing · Permanently closed Restaurant closed after starting service in February. | August 2026 | [3] |
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alida Residences and Marriott Tribute hotel506 Datura Street, West Palm Beach | Hotel · Groundbreaking Mixed-use project started construction opposite Brightline, with 181 residences and a hotel component. | July 2026 | [2] |
| Vanderbilt campus draft-plan reviewGovernment Hill, West Palm Beach | Development · Staff-level design review Draft campus plans reached city staff review. This was not final development approval or a groundbreaking. | [32] | |
| Second convention center hotel agreementConvention center area, West Palm Beach | Hotel · County agreement approved Commission approved a $26 million arrangement for a planned 400-room hotel; financing and permit conditions remained. | [12] |
Boca Raton
2 openings · 3 closingsA replacement restaurant opened, a chain added a location, and two independent concepts closed.View activity and sources
Area context [28][6][31][3][23]
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panda Express, NE Fifth Avenue1914 NE Fifth Avenue, Boca Raton | Opening · Opened Chain added a Boca Raton restaurant. | August 2026 | [28] |
| Boca BrasserieFormer Stage Kitchen premises, Boca Raton | Opening · Replacement concept opened Bistro concept replaced Stage Boca. | [6] | |
| Stage BocaBoca Raton | Closing · Concept closed for replacement Final Stage service preceded the Boca Brasserie conversion. | [31] | |
| What’Sub, west Boca23223 State Road 7, west Boca Raton | Closing · Location closed West Boca sandwich shop ended service. Distinct from the similarly named Gardens business. | [3] | |
| Il Fiore9874 Yamato Road, Suite 114, west Boca Raton | Closing · Permanently closed Chef Michael Monaco confirmed the final date in later reporting. | [23] |
Boynton Beach
1 openings · 1 closingsPei Wei moved to a new site, and Golden Corral exited.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pei Wei Asian Kitchen7375 Boynton Beach Boulevard, Suite 415, Boynton Beach | Opening · Relocated and opened New restaurant replaced the brand’s earlier Boynton location. | August 2026 | [29] |
| Golden CorralBoynton Beach | Closing · Permanently closed Boynton buffet restaurant ceased operations. | July 2026 | [17] |
Palm Beach Gardens and Avenir
5 openings · 1 closingsAvenir added repeat-visit concepts while Donald Ross Village saw a closure and a pizza rebrand.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&H Bagels, Avenir12465 Northlake Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens | Opening · Soft opening Avenir shop began service before its August 20 grand opening. | [21] | |
| Carmela Coffee, Avenir12515 Northlake Boulevard, Suite 110, Palm Beach Gardens | Opening · Soft opening Dated opening-week visit corroborates the operator’s announced opening period. | August 2026 | [21][9][8] |
| Ben’s PizzaThe Gardens Mall, Palm Beach Gardens | Opening · Opened Pizza-by-the-slice shop began service. | [5] | |
| Field of Greens, AvenirAvenir Town Center, Palm Beach Gardens | Opening · Opened Operator confirmed Avenir was open on September 25. | [15] | |
| Pizza Connection TakeawayDonald Ross Village, Palm Beach Gardens | Opening · Renamed and relaunched Former Sal’s Express reopened under the Pizza Connection identity. | [11] | |
| Grande’s Bella CucinaDonald Ross Village, Palm Beach Gardens | Closing · Permanently closed Italian restaurant ended its run. | [18] |
Jupiter
0 openings · 1 closingsHooked’s current premises closed, while the owners discussed a possible future chapter.View activity and sources
Lake Worth Beach, Lake Clarke Shores and Greenacres
3 openings · 0 closingsAn art-focused restaurant, an ice cream shop and a Vietnamese restaurant added distinct local choices.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man Ray522 Lucerne Avenue, Lake Worth Beach | Opening · Opened Subculture Group restaurant replaced the former CWS Bar + Kitchen. | Q3 2026, operating by September 11 | [26] |
| The Coastal Creamery1800 Forest Hill Boulevard, Lake Clarke Shores | Opening · Opened Ice cream shop began service near West Palm Beach. | [10] | |
| Pho Hoa & Jazen Tea6716 Forest Hill Boulevard, Greenacres | Opening · Opened; July 18 and 19 grand opening Vietnamese restaurant and tea concept was operating before its July celebration. | July 2026 | [30] |
Wellington and Royal Palm Beach
2 openings · 1 closingsA gelato shop and fast-casual operator opened while a breakfast chain left Royal Palm Beach.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Coppetta Matta10660 Forest Hill Boulevard, Suite 150, Wellington | Opening · Opened Italian gelato and frozen dessert shop began service. | [13] | |
| Guaca Go, Royal Palm BeachRoyal Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Bowl and burrito restaurant opened before a September 16 to 18 celebration. | September 2026 | [20] |
| Maple Street Biscuit CompanySouthern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach | Closing · Location closed Royal Palm Beach breakfast restaurant ceased operations. | July 2026 | [24] |
Regulations
Rules affecting the operating plan
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations-charge disclosures take effectFlorida | Regulation · In effect Mandatory operations charges require notices on menus, ordering sites and applicable contracts. Receipts need separate charge, gratuity and tax lines. Check that each charge's amount and purpose are clear. | [36][37] | |
| Florida minimum wage reaches $15Florida | Regulation · In effect The hourly minimum rose to $15 on September 30. Florida's employee notice sets a tipped cash minimum of $11.98, plus tips. Check payroll settings and labor budgets. | [35] |
At quarter-end
What to watch next
The outlook below reflects information available at the close of Q3 2026. An announced date is a target, not a confirmed opening.
Convention hotel delivery conditions
The county agreement supports a future hotel, but it requires financing, permits and construction milestones. Nearby operators can prepare group-dining materials while keeping those future guests out of current sales assumptions. [12]
Vanderbilt’s next review steps
The draft campus reached staff review in August. Watch formal applications, approvals and construction dates before assigning a firm start date to university-related catering or lunch demand. [32]
Hacienda and other Subculture projects
September reporting described Hacienda on Clematis as approaching an opening, with other projects still in development. The reviewed record does not establish a completed September opening. Confirm public service before adding it to an operating inventory. [26]
Fletchers in Boca Raton
A membership-led dining and lounge concept was announced for downtown Boca. Assess what access includes, the public dining offer and the actual launch date before using it as a comparable for another restaurant. [14]
212 Bagel Co. On Clematis
August reporting described a future Clematis Street bagel shop. Keep it on a breakfast competitor watchlist until a dated public opening is confirmed. [1]
Decisions to take back to the business
- Check pickup circulation and morning queues at Avenir before fixing staffing or seating for a nearby café.
- When replacing a concept, recost the menu and rebuild prep schedules instead of inheriting the former restaurant’s assumptions.
- Track construction start, permit status and actual delivery separately for downtown hotel and university projects.
- Use transaction counts, repeat visits and waste logs to size production at bakeries and dessert shops.
- Review closed-site opportunities individually; confirm the lease and premises status before approaching an owner about a takeover.
Common questions
Palm Beach County: the practical questions
Which Avenir restaurants actually opened in Q3 2026?
The documented inventory includes H&H Bagels, Carmela Coffee and Field of Greens. H&H began soft service August 17, and Field of Greens confirmed its opening September 25. Other announced tenants require their own opening evidence.
Did the second convention center hotel open in September?
No. County commissioners approved a financial agreement for a planned 400-room hotel on September 29. Financing, permits and construction milestones remained.
Did Stage Boca close or become Boca Brasserie?
Both events occurred. Stage ended service July 5, and Boca Brasserie opened August 20 in its place. This review labels the closure and replacement so they are not mistaken for two separate physical sites.
Why is Il Fiore in Q3 when its closure article appeared in October?
The October report quotes the chef confirming August 31 as the closing date. Reviews use the event date rather than the article date.
Research notes
Sources and coverage
Documented inventory assembled from month-by-month opening and permanent-closure searches, municipality searches, local reporting and operator announcements. Events are assigned by service date or stated milestone, not article date. Reopenings, relocations and concept replacements are labeled. Planned openings and temporary inspection closures are excluded from completed-opening and permanent-closure claims. These are documented changes, not a countywide census or a measure of net restaurant growth.
Coverage limits and unresolved items
- The Q3 state-license approval file was used to discover candidates, not to prove opening dates. Dozens of approved businesses still lacked a reliable first-service date.
- The reviewed sources did not establish an exact opening quarter for several smaller cafés, kiosks and recently licensed independents. They remain in the research ledger.
- Parlor Doughnuts advertised a September 26 celebration and Carmela Boynton advertised September 28 service. Completed opening dates were not established in the reviewed record, so neither is counted here.
- No quarter-qualified entry was verified for every municipality. The absence of a listed restaurant in an area is not evidence of zero openings or closures.
- Hotel statistics are monthly STR market observations. Bed-tax totals use the county's industry-month labels and can be affected by collection timing or adjustments.
- The retrieved county bed-tax table ends with August industry activity. September is not included in the partial-quarter card.
Event dates determine which quarter an entry belongs to. Source publication dates and this report’s publication date are recorded separately. Later reporting may verify an earlier event; it does not move that event into a later quarter.
- 212 Bagel Co. Plans Clematis Street opening ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Aug 27, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Alida Residences and Marriott Tribute hotel break ground ↗Boca Post · Published Jul 31, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- South Florida restaurant closures in spring and summer 2026 ↗South Florida Sun Sentinel · Published Aug 26, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Austin Republic reopens West Palm Beach restaurant ↗Boca Magazine · Published Aug 3, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Ben’s Pizza opens at The Gardens Mall ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Boca Brasserie replaces Stage Kitchen ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Aug 25, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- BuddhaBerry opens at CityPlace ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Sep 30, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Operating locations, Avenir and Boynton Beach ↗Carmela Coffee · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Carmela Coffee Avenir soft-opening visit ↗Allexie Schylar, direct visit · Published Aug 24, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Coastal Creamery opens near Lake Clarke Shores ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Sep 15, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Pizza Connection Takeaway replaces Sal’s Express ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Sep 29, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- County approves $26 million convention hotel agreement ↗WFLX/WPTV · Published Sep 29, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- La Coppetta Matta now open and Palm Beach County pipeline ↗Business Debut · Published Sep 8, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Fletchers membership dining concept planned for Boca ↗The Coastal Star · Published Jul 28, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Company posts confirming Clearlake and Avenir openings ↗Field of Greens · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- August West Palm Beach restaurant openings ↗Palm Beach Now · Published Aug 5, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Golden Corral closes in Boynton Beach ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jul 30, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Grande’s Bella Cucina closes ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jul 9, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Grease Burger Bar closing on Clematis ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jul 13, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Guaca Go opens in Royal Palm Beach ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Sep 15, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- H&H Bagels expands to Palm Beach Gardens ↗Restaurant News Resource · Published Aug 24, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Hooked, Grande’s and Stadium Grill developments ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jul 7, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Summer and fall restaurant closures, including Il Fiore ↗South Florida Sun Sentinel · Published Oct 12, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Maple Street Biscuit closes Royal Palm Beach location ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jul 28, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Café Marseille and The Daily Focaccia opening dates ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Oct 13, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Rodney Mayo discusses Man Ray and Subculture’s project pipeline ↗Stet News · Published Sep 11, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Palm Beach County new restaurants in 2026, dated gallery captions ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jun 17, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Panda Express opens a Boca Raton restaurant ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Aug 21, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Pei Wei unveils Boynton Beach café ↗Pei Wei via Mann Report · Published Aug 18, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Pho Hoa & Jazen Tea opens in Greenacres ↗What Now Miami · Published Jul 9, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Stage Boca closes and will reopen as Boca Brasserie ↗Boca Magazine · Published Jul 6, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Vanderbilt reveals first vision for West Palm Beach campus ↗Stet News · Published Aug 21, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Monthly summary report, September 2026 ↗Monroe County Tourist Development Council / STR · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- FY 2025-2026 bed tax collections, by industry month ↗Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- 2026-2027 minimum wage notice to employees ↗FloridaCommerce · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- 2026 Florida Statutes, section 509.214 ↗Florida Legislature · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- SB 606 (2025), enrolled text, section 3 ↗Florida Legislature · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026