Lightstone Lands Eyal Shani’s Naked Tomato at Moxy South Beach

• David Lichtenstein’s firm secures 4,600 square foot restaurant lease at Moxy South Beach
• Eyal Shani to open Naked Tomato on May 14
• Deal highlights continued demand for experiential dining in prime Miami Beach locations

What the Naked Tomato lease means for Moxy South Beach

Lightstone is adding another experiential tenant to its Moxy Miami South Beach property with the upcoming opening of Naked Tomato. The restaurant will occupy 4,600 square feet, with a significant portion dedicated to front-of-house operations, signaling a strong focus on customer experience and in-person dining. Located at 915 Washington Avenue, the hotel sits in one of Miami Beach’s most active hospitality corridors. Bringing in a globally recognized chef like Eyal Shani strengthens the asset’s positioning as a lifestyle-driven destination rather than just a hotel. For landlords, this type of tenancy reinforces how food and beverage concepts are now central to activating ground-floor space and driving consistent foot traffic.

Why Eyal Shani is a strategic tenant

Eyal Shani is not a typical restaurant operator. His global footprint spans major cities, including New York, Paris, and London, making him a proven draw in high-traffic urban markets. Naked Tomato is positioned as a casual, high-energy concept inspired by Israeli roadside dining, blending accessibility with a strong brand identity. That combination is key for landlords looking to balance volume with brand recognition. For Lightstone, this lease is less about filling space and more about curating a tenant mix that enhances the overall property value.

What this says about Miami Beach retail demand

Miami Beach continues to outperform many urban retail markets, especially in the hospitality and experiential segments. High tourism, strong residential demand, and consistent foot traffic make it an attractive environment for restaurant operators expanding in the U.S. This deal reflects a broader trend where landlords prioritize tenants that deliver experience-driven traffic, rather than traditional soft goods retail that has struggled post-pandemic. The size of the lease also shows confidence in sustained demand, as larger restaurant footprints typically require strong and stable consumer flow to perform.

What this means for landlords and investors

The Naked Tomato lease underscores a clear strategy for retail owners in prime markets. Success is increasingly tied to experience, brand, and location synergy. By securing a globally recognized operator, Lightstone is reinforcing Moxy’s positioning as a destination asset. For investors, this signals that well-located hospitality and mixed-use properties can still command strong leasing demand when paired with the right tenant mix. In today’s market, restaurants are no longer just amenities. They are anchors that drive value, traffic, and long-term leasing stability.