American Icon Brewery Highlights Newest Integra Development

Michael Rechter and his Integra Corporations have developed and manage more than a million square feet of retail and commercial real estate across Florida and the Southeast U.S., but the entrepreneur’s latest projects – in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s FAT Village -- are closest to his heart and home.

The longtime Las Olas area resident recently celebrated the opening of American Icon Brewery at 911 Northeast Fourth Avenue, as well as two nearby buildings along Northeast Second Avenue in FAT (Flagler Art & Technology) Village.

“I’ve been developing properties for 20 years in other parts of the state, and now it’s especially gratifying to help transform and improve what’s really in my own backyard,” Rechter said. “I love it here. My kids are growing up here. It’s exciting to be part of and imagine what this neighborhood will look like in the future.”

While the interior of the 6,000 square foot brewery was being completed over the past year, the building has already become well known in the up-and-coming business district because of the large murals of rock icons Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix painted on the exterior walls.

Integra developed the building, as well as owning and managing the brewery as part of the company’s hospitality division. Integra also developed the concept and owns/manages the American Icon Brewery in Vero Beach. The brewery, along with two redeveloped Integra retail plazas, helped transform a shabby strip of U.S. 1 and the downtown Vero Beach areas into a popular shopping and nightlife destinations.

Rechter is witnessing the same dramatic improvements taking place in downtown Fort Lauderdale and FAT Village with the efforts of his own Integra, other developers and city officials.

On the new buildings along Northeast Second Avenue in FAT Village, Integra worked very closely with the city to create an especially attractive and inviting streetscape. The storefronts feature ultra-modern glass garage doors, as well as wide and welcoming front patio and pedestrian areas.

Tenants of these new buildings include the innovatve, upscale Sol Yoga studio.

The gritty-to-great transformation of FAT Village has drawn many comparisons to Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, booming with art, tech and other creative start-up businesses. Rechter is comfortable with those assessments, and believes FAT Village can be even better. The area is much closer to the core city center than Wynwood is to downtown Miami, and Integra already has built a public parking lot “to get in front of this problem.”

“Wynwood is a huge success story in becomingan art and entrepreneurial hub,” said Rechter, a member of South Florida’s Entrepreneurs’ Organization chapter since 2017. “But we have the benefit of learning from any mistakes they made along the way.”

“Our group’s mission is to foster South Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and boost the overall economy with vision and innovation,” said Jerry Katz, president of EO SOFLO and Premier Protection Insurance in Fort Lauderdale.

EO SOFLO is one of the world’s largest EO chapters, with member businesses accounting for more than $2 billion in yearly revenues and 10,000 jobs in this region.

“Michael’s work here in FAT Village is a fantastic example of this effort,” Katz said. My home and offices are nearby, as well, so everyday I see and enjoy this exciting transformation.”

For details about EO SOFLO, visit www.eosoflo.com. For more information on Integra Corporations, go to www.integracorps.com or visit www.americaniconbrewery.com.