By the end of the month, Duffy’s will take over the TGI Friday’s restaurant at the northwest corner of 441 and Glades Road, said Jason Emmett, Duffy’s president.
The eatery marks the Lake Worth chain’s 35th restaurant. It also ends a 10-year search for a west Boca Raton location, Emmett said.
Although Duffy’s already has a restaurant in central Boca Raton, on St. Andrews Boulevard, Emmett sees west Boca as a different market. It’s surrounded by housing communities, including country club communities, but it doesn’t have a lot of restaurants.
“It’s dense with lots of housing and lots of Duffy’s customers,” Emmett said.
Emmett likened the spot to the chain’s location west of Boynton Beach, at Jog Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard. That store is the company’s best performer, with customers ranging from older diners to families, he said.
TGI Friday’s is expected to close by around May 21. At that point, Duffy’s will commence with its signature interior renovations, including adding more than 100 televisions, plenty of memorabilia and lots of green paint.
Plans are to open the space as a Duffy’s by early September.
This restaurant marks the chain’s 14th Palm Beach County location. Over time, Emmett sees the county’s western housing growth as an opportunity for new Duffy’s restaurants. But not right away.
In the meantime, the chain continues to grow throughout the state, opening a Sarasota location on March 10. That date is the birthday of Jason’s father, Duffy’s patriarch Paul Emmett, who died two years ago in February from cancer. He was 62.
On Jan. 11, the specialty grocer will open its store at 5540 North Military Trail in Boca Raton. The grand opening festivities start at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday and continue through Jan. 22.
The store marks the company’s third in Boca Raton and the 43rd in the state.
Grand opening promotions include:
Wednesday, Jan. 11
· FREE meal for four from The Fresh Market’s signature Little Big Meal program for the first 50 guests
· FREE reusable shopping bags and sample size coffee for the first 1,000 guests
· Chef demonstrations featuring crab cakes and Mama Mancini’s meatballs
· Grilling demonstrations featuring The Fresh Market’s gourmet beef burgers and a variety of sausages
· Food sampling throughout the store, including favorites from Stonewall Kitchen and Good Health Snacks
Thursday, January 12 – Friday, January 13
· Chef demonstrations featuring The Fresh Market’s Little Big Meal
· Food sampling throughout the store, including favorites from the bakery department
Saturday, January 14
· FREE 9-inch old fashioned apple pie for the first 100 guests
· Celebratory mini cupcake sampling
· Grilling demonstrations featuring The Fresh Market’s gourmet beef burgers and a variety of sausages
· Food sampling throughout the store, including favorites from the bakery department, The Fresh Market’s Roasted Chicken Salad and Pear Broccoli Salad from the deli department
· Live music featuring Rhythm Trail Steel Drum Band
Sunday, January 15
· Chef demonstrations featuring crab cakes and Frontera White Bean Turkey Chili
· Food sampling throughout the store, including favorites from Gelato Petrini, Parmigiano Reggiano and Cajun Krab Dip
Friday, January 20
· Chef demonstrations featuring The Fresh Market’s signature Little Big Meal
· Food sampling throughout the store, including favorites from the bakery department, Suja Life and Super Crab Dip
Saturday, January 21
· Grilling demonstrations featuring The Fresh Market’s gourmet beef burgers and a variety of sausages
· Chef demonstrations featuring The Fresh Market’s signature Little Big Meal
· Live music featuring Rhythm Trail Steel Drum Band
Sunday, January 22
· Chef demonstrations featuring The Fresh Market’s signature Little Big Meal
· Food sampling throughout the store including favorites from the bakery department
Hyatt Place on Tuesday opened a new 200-room hotel in the heart of downtown Boca Raton.
Western entrance to the new Hyatt Place Hotel near the Mizner Park shopping center and Sanborn Square park in downtown Boca Raton, December 12, 2016. Damon Higgins / The Palm Beach Post
Amenities at the 15-story Hyatt Place Boca Raton include free WiFi, 4,000 square feet of flexible, meeting/function space, a roof top pool and terrace, 24-hour food offerings and a 24-hour fitness center.
“Boca Raton is a historic city with key business and leisure destination,” said the hotel’s General Manager Dave Cuadra. “Hyatt Place Boca Raton will add a wonderful new option for business and leisure travelers visiting the heart of the city’s business and financial district.”
The mall unveiled Santa’s “Enchanted Garden photo set” this month. As part of the display, the mall’s grand court has been “dressed up in magical style with boughs of evergreen, decadent, treasure-filled trees, twinkling lights, snow-covered drifts, and festive adornments of red, green, gold and silver.”
Photos with Santa in the Enchanted Garden through Christmas Eve and are available during mall hours.
The mall has also brought back its annual “FastPass” for Santa photos, which allows families to skip the line by scheduling a time for their visit. The passes can be purchased on the mall’s website. For more information, click HERE.
Photo packages with Santa range from $27 to $48.
The cheapest photo package ($27) includes:
One 5 x 7
Two 4 x 6s
Two 3 x 5s
$10 card from Shutterfly
The most expensive package ($48) includes:
Four 5 x 7s
Four 4 x 6s
Four 3 x 5s
Eight wallets
Hi-Res Photos on Flash Drive
Digital Download
Abriana Camargo, (C), 3, of Greenacres, talks with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Mall at Wellington Green Nov 06, 2014, in Wellington. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the mall until December 24th. (Bill Ingram / Palm Beach Post)
Santa will pose for photos next to the mall’s annual Ice Palace. Every child who visits Santa will receive a cookie plate gift and a special offer from Lion Country Safari to visit their park during the holidays.
The Ice Palace is open all mall hours with the exception of Christmas Eve, when the hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Santa takes short break to feed the reindeer from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Sundays.
The 2016 Ice Palace at The Mall at Wellington Green is described as a “magical, interactive experience for the entire family. Featuring baby arctic animals, guest can make an icy hand print, compare their height to a polar bear, and enjoy a 360 degree visual display complete with snow fall inside a 30’ Ice Palace. The experience culminates with a visit with Santa.”
Palm Beach Outlets is giving awayFREE photos with Santa.
Each family will receive two 4×6 Santa photo prints and a high-res digital download of single image. Additional photos and Christmas merchandise available for purchase. One giveaway per family, per Christmas season.
Photo hours
Now through December 23, 2016
11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday
11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday – Saturday
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday
Photo Hours on Christmas Eve
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Town Center at Boca Raton Santa Experience offers keepsake photo packages starting at $24.99. This holiday season, guests can also choose a Hasbro toy or a $20 Shutterfly promo card gift with select Santa photo packages.
The mall also allows shoppers to make an appointment for photos with Santa. To schedule a photo, click HERE.
A Reuben sandwich at TooJay’s in Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens on October 24, 2016. (Richard Graulich / The Palm Beach Post)
Kids 12 and under will eat free with the purchase of one adult entrée.
The promotion starts Friday, November 25 and runs through Sunday, November 27. Kids must over from the kid’s menu. The deal does not include beverages and cannot be combined with any other offers.
TooJay’s has locations in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and West Palm Beach.
Microsoft Product Advisor Stephanie Le, right, answers questions about a laptop for Windows 10 Insider Eddie Tan of Fremont, Calif., at the Microsoft store at Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. (LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group/TNS)
The new store will officially open its doors at 11 a.m. on Nov. 3. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
The first 500 customers in line at the ribbon cutting ceremony will receive a gift card to the Microsoft Store with a surprise amount ranging from $10 to $1,000, according to a press release announcing the opening.
More than 100 of the customers in line will receive a card to the Microsoft Store worth at least $100 or more, the announcement said. One lucky customer will get a $1,000 gift card.
In addition, the first 200 customers in line will receive a ticket to meet retired Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. For more details, please visit the Microsoft Store Facebook page.
As part of the store opening, Microsoft will also award technology grants to local community organizations.
Customers walk into a Dick’s Sporting Goods store at Simon Property Group, Inc.’s White Oaks Mall in Springfield, Illinois Wednesday, June 8, 2005. Photographer: Randy Squires/Bloomberg News
The first 100 people in line on Oct. 28 will receive a free Adidas Go-To Performance T-Shirt. Adults who are in line at 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 28 will get a chance to open the Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Locker.
Giveaways on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 include a free “Mystery Gift Card” for the first 100 adults in line. Adults who are in line at 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 29 and 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 30 will also get a chance to open the Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Locker.
Former NFL defensive end and linebacker Jason Taylor will make an in-store appearance from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 30. Wristband are required for autographs. Wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of event only and quantities are limited, the chain said.
“We continue to strive to bring the highest quality products and services to the communities that we are part of,” said Lauren Hobart, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Dick’s Sporting Goods. “The opening of our newest Dick’s Sporting Goods in Boca Raton will enable us to serve athletes, sports fans and outdoor enthusiasts in the community at an even higher level.”
The Boca Raton store marks Dick’s 36th location in Florida. The sporting goods chain has more than 670 stores nationwide.
The sweet shop’s Golden Opulence Sundae costs a whopping $1,000 and is so special that it requires customers order it 48 hours in advance of their visit.
The Golden Opulence Sundae at Serendipity 3 at The Boca Raton Resort and Club costs a whopping $1,000 and is so special that it requires customers order it 48 hours in advance of their visit. (photo provided by Boca Raton Resort & Club)
The sundae features 20 scoops of homemade gelatos (vanilla bean, dark chocolate, fresh strawberry) and sorbets (raspberry, mango); 8 sheets of gold leaf some covering dark chocolate truffles, others on the gelatos and sorbet; 4 petals of arabesque chocolate style décor; and a large arabesque chocolate style crown.
The extravagant dessert is serviced in a Waterford Crystal bowl with a mother of pearl spoon, both of which the guest gets to keep.
“The story behind this particular sundae was more of a Marie Antoinette large “opulent” style, with an oversized Waterford Crystal bowl with a very organic tree trunk and branches pewter stand,” Pastry Chef Rebecca LeDee said. “We wanted the chocolate décor to showcase that particular style, so we chose an arabesque design which is composed of just interlacing scrolling and rhythmic patterns. To enhance the experience we wrapped some of the gelato and sorbet in 24k edible gold leaf, as well as some of the decadent chocolate truffles. All gelatos and sorbets are made in house with the finest ingredients.”
For those interested in placing an order, you’ll need to make a reservation at the resort first. The restaurant is only accessible to guests and club members.
The furniture brand Robb & Stucky is preparing its return to Boca Raton.
The Fort Myers-based company plans to break ground on Sept. 6 on a new 30,000-square-foot showroom at 1353 North Federal Highway.
The two-story showroom, which is slated to open next spring, will be the fifth location for the upscale furniture retailer.
“We are thrilled to be opening in Boca Raton,” Steve Lush, the company’s president said. ” It is an upscale and vibrant market that we feel is a perfect fit with our high-end home furnishings and interior design concept. All of us at Robb & Stucky are looking forward to being involved in the Boca community.”
In 2011, Robb & Stucky liquidated its inventory after it filed for Chapter 11 protection following the housing market crash. Robb & Stucky had roughly 20 stores in Florida, Texas, Arizona and Nevada. It had Palm Beach County locations in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park and in Palm Beach Gardens.
A new Robb & Stucky was formed when the family of Samuel Kuo, founder and CEO of Samson Holding Ltd. purchased the brand and intellectual properties in 2011. The new company opened its first showroom in Fort Myers in 2012. The chain also has locations in Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Coral Gables.
Contact: Shops at Boca Center, 5250 Town Center Circle, Suite 135, Boca Raton; 561-750-0021 / more locations in Greenacres, Lake Worth and Palm Beach Gardens
Among the Mother’s Day options available this year: Hoffman’s Chocolates High Heel Shoe for $29.95 and a Sweet Purse Basket starting at $26.95. Hoffman’s Chocolates has been gracing the taste buds of Palm Beach County since the company opened its first store in downtown Lake Worth four decades ago. The company celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015.
Paneterie
Contact: 16950 N. Jog Road, Delray Beach; 561-403-5192
The European-style bakery and café has locations in Delray Beach and downtown West Palm Beach, offering a variety of confections. It is lead by French master baker Patrick Lézé, a veteran of some of France’s best known bakeries and executive chef at the Patrick Lézé patisserie in Palm Beach.
Sydney Boutique Flowers & Gift
Contact: Quantum Town Centre, 1034 Gateway Blvd., #106, Boynton Beach; 561-628-1361
In addition to flowers, the shop offers a number of artisan and specialty gifts, including some items made by South Florida-based artists. Gift wrapping is also available.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
Contact: 100 S. Ocean Boulevard, Manalapan; 888-306-4894
The Forbes Five Star resort is offering special room rates, spa deals, and a Sunday brunch so you can make the whole weekend all about mom. Room rates for Mother’s Day weekend start at $199 per night. (Use booking code: MOTHER). The “Queen Mother” spa package (90 minutes for $295) includes hand drawn bath of exotic florals, oriental teas, and precious oils combined with a hand washing and polishing of the skin, a delicate dry buff, and a warm butter and silk massage.
Culinary tours
Culinary tours are the perfect gift for a foodie. Two of Palm Beach County’s three tour operators offer guests in Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Lantana a chance to sample some of the area’s most unique eateries.
This studio offers paint parties led by an artist who will help you recreate the nightly featured painting. Mom can enjoy a glass of wine, while the artist provides step-by-step instructions. Group painting classes are also available.
Evelyn & Arthur
Contact: Locations in Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach and Manalapan
The family-owned business offers a number of unique items, including Mother’s Day options. They include: Nico silk wrapped pearls in a variety of colors ($82) and Ah!Dorned bags, created from all vegan leather (46-$48).
Snappy Turtle
Contact: 1100 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach; 561-276-8088
The Delray Beach boutique offers a variety of clothing, accessories and unique home items. The store first opened in Delray Beach in 1987. Its beach-themed collection includes year-round “resort wear.”
