Miami Beach’s Historic Cameo Theater Will Transform Into $20M Supper Club

• Romain Zago's Mainro Miami Holdings LLC received unanimous 7-0 Planning Board approval for the Cameo Theater conversion at 1445 Washington Avenue.
• The proposed 17,589-square-foot venue will feature a 226-seat lounge and a 240-seat restaurant.
• The project represents an investment of more than $20 million, with late-night operations potentially extending to 5 a.m.

What Romain Zago Plans for the Historic Cameo Theater

A historic South Beach entertainment landmark could soon have a new life as an upscale dining and performance destination. Romain Zago, the former owner of Mynt Lounge, is leading plans to transform the Cameo Theater at 1445 Washington Avenue into a two-level restaurant and lounge.

The Miami Beach Planning Board approved the conditional use permit by a 7-0 vote on November 3, clearing a major land-use hurdle. The building has been largely vacant since its nightclub operation closed in 2019.

Originally built in 1938, the Cameo is being repositioned around upscale dining, live entertainment and theatrical performances rather than a traditional nightclub format.

What the $20M-Plus Redevelopment Includes

The proposed conversion will create two distinct hospitality spaces inside the historic building.

The ground floor will feature a 226-seat cocktail lounge, retaining the existing theater stage for live performances. The second floor will house a 240-seat restaurant focused on upscale dining.

The concept draws inspiration from European supper clubs and theatrical productions, with the application describing a format that combines restaurant service with choreographed entertainment.

The venue is also designed for late-night business. The proposed operating schedule includes the restaurant until 4 a.m. and the lounge until 5 a.m.

The plans call for an interior restoration that preserves historic features while adapting the building for its new use.

What the Planning Board Approval Means

The unanimous vote represents a significant step toward bringing the property back into operation, but it does not mean the venue is ready to open.

The approval includes operating conditions intended to manage neighborhood impacts. The proposal reduces the building's permitted occupancy from the former nightclub's 1,121-person capacity to 987 people.

The plans also prohibit outdoor entertainment and require customer queuing to be handled inside the building rather than on the public sidewalk. Additional requirements address sound testing, valet operations and post-opening compliance reviews.

Building permits and remaining work will still be necessary before the restaurant and lounge can open.

What the Project Means for Washington Avenue

The Cameo project is part of the ongoing effort to reposition Washington Avenue's hospitality properties and bring activity back to prominent commercial spaces.

For landlords and investors, the project illustrates the potential of adaptive reuse. Rather than replacing a historic building, the plan seeks to create a new revenue-generating hospitality concept while retaining the property's architectural and cultural identity.

Zago's experience operating Mynt Lounge and launching MainRo in Hollywood, California, provides a nightlife background for the concept. Commercial Observer also reported that the Cameo application may involve Miami real estate investor Michael Konig, although his precise role has not been publicly established.

What Comes Next for the Cameo Theater

No official reopening date has been announced. The project must move through building permits and the remaining renovation process before welcoming guests.

The next milestones to watch are construction activity, final operating approvals and the announcement of the restaurant and entertainment concept.

For South Beach, the redevelopment could return a long-vacant historic property to the hospitality market. For investors, it is a case study in repositioning an existing entertainment asset through a more dining-focused business model.