Blue Martini Boca Raton closing; Italian market will take place
![A rendering of the Joseph's Classic Market, a specialty Italian market planned in place of Blue Martini Boca Raton, which closed Jan.1. [Courtesy of Simon Property Group]](/gcdn/authoring/2019/01/17/NPPP/ghows-LK-7fab9b68-16da-40ac-e053-0100007f8a6c-9c332993.jpeg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
BOCA RATON — Blue Martini Boca Raton, a popular late-night lounge at the Town Center mall complex, closed its doors this month after a tumultuous relationship with the city.
The bar quietly shut down New Year’s Day, without a mention of its departure on social media. An Italian specialty market, Joseph’s Classic Market, will redesign and take up the space Blue Martini and adjacent Pinon Grill restaurant once held, said Simon Property Group, which owns the Town Center complex off Glades Road.
Blue Martini was one of just two lounges in Boca Raton that served liquor past 2 a.m. until the city scaled back alcohol sale-hours in 2017 then slapped the business with thousands of dollars in fines for noise complaints.
Neighbors of Town Center often described the bar as a nuisance that regularly played pounding music until daybreak. But the lively lounge was popular among many, including students from two nearby university campuses, for its entertainment and late hours.
Blue Martini was open until 5 a.m. most days until the city cracked down on alcohol sale hours. Then general manager Bruce Gregory said scaling back hours would be “catastrophic” for a business that made most of its money after 2 a.m.
Blue Martini management could not immediately be reached for comment.
Last year, Blue Martini took Boca Raton to court to fight a $45,000 fine levied against the bar after management allegedly told city officers they would rather pay noise fines than lower the volume of the bar’s music, according to court records.
The $45,000 in fines — for just three weeks worth of complaints in early 2018 — was the maximum city code officers could impose.
Blue Martini continues to fight the fines, court filings as recent as last week show.
The bar chain — with outposts throughout South Florida, including CityPlace in West Palm, The Galleria Mall in Sunrise and two in Miami. It also has spots in Texas, Arizona and Las Vegas. The chain plans to open a lounge on Delay Beach’s Atlantic Avenue, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Blue Martini’s space will remain vacant until Joseph’s Classic Market converts it into a 14,700-square-foot supermarket venue. Joseph’s, originally from Brooklyn, also operates markets in Palm Beach Gardens and a smaller location inside Town Center.
“Once we outgrew our current location, an expansive and newly-designed concept at Town Center at Boca Raton was the clear next step,” owner Joseph Acierno said in a statement. “As a fourth generation locally-owned and operated business, we look forward to continuing to serve a delicious alternative to dining out with our chef-prepared meals and fresh goods, bringing our home to yours.”
Joseph’s Classic Market will include a bakery, Italian deli, produce section, New York-style pizzeria and kitchen for chef-prepared cold and hot foods. The market is expected to open next year.