Michael Emilio

Is Clematis Street in West Palm Beach going to get back to being the “hottest street in Florida” as once said by Donald Trump?

The late 1990’s was the last time Clematis Street was a true hotspot. During that time, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and stores like Starbucks occupied retail space in the downtown location.

So what brought Clematis Street down?

First Cityplace, then road construction, then crime. Add those up together and patrons forget about an old hotspot fast.

What’s the new plan for Clematis Street?

Clematis Street Live, an entertainment complex of more than 50,000 square feet, will open on the northeast corner of Clematis and Olive Avenue. Entrepreneurs Rodney Mayo and Cleve Mash are behind this project as well as Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil, who is a partner in one of the restaurants.

“We have a clean slate,” Mash said.

You can also expect to see a new library and city hall and a renovated waterfront. Along with plans for the Omni Mall complex in downtown Miami, we seem to be seeing the beginning of a commercial revival in South Florida.