Happy Holidays!

As we approach the end of an interesting year, I thought I would try to post one last blog before the holiday season. I have a very busy year end - as has all of the office. A few highlights, news items and upcoming events - in no particular order!

* I enjoyed the chance to say hello this past week with two of my best friends and mentors. I visited Aspen to visit with Lags - now a resident of this picturesque town. We had drinks at several places - but enjoyed our favorites of AJAX Tavern and Mezzaluna. While in Chicago this week, I got the chance to say hello to Keith Youngquist - someone who has helped shaped my career and personal life with his friendship and guidance.
* On the project side of life...Milan's Italian Kitchen is preparing to open in the next few days in Boynton Beach, Florida. It really looks great and I'm sure it will be sucessful.
* We have officially started on the Muvico/Splitsville combination project in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This $19.5 Million dollar budget will create a terrific end product. Along the same lines, we have begun to look at a Naperville, Rosemont, Newport News, King of Prussia for this same combination.
* In CocoWalk(Miami) and in CityPlace(West Palm Beach) we have started with adding a Lucky 7 Supper Club and Bowl-a-Rama concept to the Muvico destinations. Lucky 7 is the evolution of the Stump's Supper Club concept still thriving in Tampa.
* We have completed all of the revisions to the Marker 91 project in Cape Coral, Florida - that project is going into permit in the next few weeks.
* East Park Village in Lake Nona (Orlando), Florida is still continuing. We are working with John Gray on 6 restaurant concepts and a Boutique Hotel property. We have now completed Schematic Design on all of those pieces and have begun Design Development. Many of the shell components have begun to go "vertical".
* Harmoni Market Longwood has been completed - there was an informal wine party there this past Wednesday - from all accounts, this second location for the concept should be a success.
* On the Splitsville front (outside of the Muvico affiliated projects above), the Arlington, Texas unit is 70% complete with a target of mid-February for opening. We have started the construction documents for San Antonio, Texas as well. Other locations are being aggressively looked into including Orlando, Rochester, North Dallas and Columbus.

In some big news, we are almost 100% confirmed that Myself and Tim Cushman will be co-presenting a session at Hospitality Design Expo in Las Vegas in May.

And for the quote ....

"Ho, Ho, Ho....Merry Christmas!", Santa Claus


Raymond R. Schaefer, AIA / NCARB / IIDA
President / Founder
Maverick Architecture & Design, LLC