Roman Jones Revives Historic Capt. Tom's Site on the Miami River

• House Kiki's Roman Jones signed a lease at 28 and 90 NW North River Dr., the former Capt. Tom's Seafood building on the Miami River.
• The site opened in the 1920s, celebrated its 100th birthday in 2018, closed in the late 1950s, and sat virtually untouched for more than 60 years.
• The new concept is S&L, shorthand for steak and lobster.
• The Karpowich family owns the property. No opening date has been announced; a two-year buildout is expected.

Roman Jones Claims the Miami River's Most Storied Address

Roman Jones has been quietly assembling the Miami River, one lease at a time. His latest: the building at 28 and 90 NW North River Dr., where Capt. Tom's Seafood Restaurant operated from the 1920s until it closed in the late 1950s, and where, by most accounts, very little changed in the six decades after that. The lobster traps were still on the side of the building when Jones came calling.

The new concept is S&L, surf and turf stripped to its initials. Jones' House Kiki hospitality group signed the lease with the Karpowich family, who have owned the property for years.

"I have been a fan of Roman Jones ever since I couldn't get into Privé," said Kent Karpowich. "Their team has done a phenomenal job at Kiki on the River and Habibi, and we look forward to their continued success."

The building celebrated its 100th birthday in 2018, making this the oldest structure Jones has taken on yet.

The Operator Behind the River

Jones came up in South Beach nightlife. He was a partner in Opium Group, the company behind Privé, Mansion, and Mokai, clubs that anchored the city's late-night scene for a decade. He pivoted to restaurants in 2017 with Kiki on the River, a 200-seat Greek waterfront spot at 450 NW North River Dr. He followed that with Habibi, a French Moroccan supper club next door, developed in partnership with Ikam Rebaia. Both have become anchors on the river's dining corridor.

Earlier this year, Jones added a third pillar: a $15 million partnership with Casablanca Seafood, the Cuban-American-owned fish restaurant that has operated nearby for three decades.

"Our vision is to develop the Miami River's dining experience with landmark concepts original to Miami, and tailored to maximize variety, flavor, lifestyle, and amazing memories," Jones said.

Eight Concepts Deep

S&L is one piece of a much larger build-out House Kiki has in motion. Already running: Kiki at Sea, a yachting experience on the water. Coming in 2026: Pirata, a sports bar, and Mercante Ristorante & Piano Bar, a joint venture with restaurateur Nicola Siervo targeting autumn. Further out, the group has announced Capella dell'Amore, a church-conversion event space; Maminette, a St. Tropez-inspired concept; El Morro, a Spanish fort-themed restaurant with a rooftop tapas bar called Café del Rio; Trinity, a private late-night lounge; and Villa Romana, billed as "the group's ultimate venue for privacy and excellence."

That's eight concepts, most of them concentrated along the same stretch of the Miami River, from a single operator.

What's Next

House Kiki has not announced an opening date for S&L. The Capt. Tom's building will require a full remodel, a two-year project, per reports, before the surf-and-turf concept can open. When it does, it will be the newest chapter for a building that has been waiting for one since Eisenhower was in office.