Only in government can a crowded restaurant become a political crisis.
You would think Coral Gables had already solved traffic, flooding, parking, taxes, and every other problem residents complain about daily. Because judging by the obsession coming out of City Hall, you would think Fritz & Franz Bierhaus is the biggest threat facing Coral Gables.
A packed restaurant. Imagine that.
Most cities would love to have downtown streets filled with people eating, shopping, walking, and spending money. That is called success. Coral Gables spent years promoting itself as a destination for outdoor dining, nightlife, and walkability. The city wanted energy downtown. Now they have it, and suddenly City Hall acts shocked people actually showed up.
Restaurants like Fritz & Franz help make Coral Gables what it is. They create jobs, generate tax revenue, support nearby businesses, and keep downtown alive after dark. Nobody drives to Coral Gables to admire government regulations and empty sidewalks. People go for the atmosphere.
And let’s be honest — a busy restaurant is not a failure of planning. It is the result of planning.
Of course cities need rules. Nobody is arguing against standards or basic order. But government also needs common sense. A successful restaurant is naturally going to attract crowds and activity. That should not become a political war or a public obsession.
What makes this situation look bad is the appearance that City Hall is more focused on flexing power than fixing actual problems residents care about. Business owners across Miami-Dade are watching this closely because the message being sent is clear: if your business becomes too successful, too popular, or too visible, government may decide you are the problem.
That is not how you build a strong local economy. That is how you scare off investment.
And let’s be honest. If Fritz & Franz were empty every night, nobody at City Hall would care. The issue is not failure. The issue is success.
Government acts like a crowded restaurant is some kind of emergency while residents are still dealing with traffic, parking shortages, and everyday quality-of-life issues that deserve real attention.
Coral Gables should stop punishing businesses that bring life, customers, and energy into the city.
Because crowded restaurants do not destroy downtowns.
Empty ones do.
Grant Miller is Publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. Reach him at 305-323-8206 or grant@communitynewspapers.com
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