Chef Jean-Georges Vongrerichten is grateful for his A-list celeb clientele — but locals take top billing at his restaurants.
“Priority [in hospitality] is taking care of your zip code. It’s very important to connect with your zip code. If there’s bad weather or something, you want your local customer to come in,” he told Page Six ahead of Art Basel Miami Beach.
His latest project, Jean-Georges Miami Tropic Residences, is a new luxury building in Miami’s Design District.
Vongrerichten has been in the restaurant business for over half a century. But the new development is the Michelin star chef’s first foray into real estate.
The endeavor came about after David Martin, CEO of top Florida development firm Terra, reached out with the idea. “I said, ‘Do I need another restaurant?’ So, we started talking,” Vongrerichten said.
The conversations led to Vongrerichten developing the “Jean-Georges living experience” that “is almost like living in an apartment building with hotel quality service on every level,” he said.
For example, if it’s a second or third residence, “You’re traveling from somewhere and we can fill up your fridge before you arrive. You can arrive to a dozen stone crab in your fridge and champagne on ice,” he told us.
“It’s about having a great life. Work hard, go home and be pampered. We propose things. It’s not a necessity, it’s more of an amenity than anything else… My life is pampering people, and doing that in a building of this quality is amazing,” he added.
Vongrerichten told us it will be another two to three years before the building is complete, but they’re already getting buzz.
Cultured editor-in-chief Sarah Harrelson moderated a discussion with Vongerichten, Martin, Gleen Pushelberg, George Yabu and Bernardo Fort-Brescia at the sales gallery for the building last week.
In the meantime, Vongerichten is continuing to do what he does best. “I’m still excited about [my restaurants]. I still wake up in the morning and run to work,” he told us.
Vongerichten’s private NYC supper club, Chez Margeaux, has been flooded with celebs like Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper and Kate Hudson.
He told us, “I don’t even know how they found out about the place. It’s just magic!” he said.
More celebs have flocked there since including Taylor Swift, who has spent two evenings at the exclusive Meatpacking spot.
And while he’s excited about its opening, he’s ready to sprinkle his magic on his new residential building in Miami.
“[The neighborhood is] the action of Miami, where people want to live. The funkiness is there. The art is there. Everything is good!” he said.