User:Capponigroup
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Michael Capponi-Founder of The Capponi Group.
Since entering the nightclub business 18 years ago, Michael has been recognized as one of the driving creative forces behind South Beach’s emergence as an international destination. From his enfant terrible days of the late ‘80s to being given the key to the city by former Mayor Niesin Kasdin, Michael’s rise is inextricably linked to the growth and prominence of South Beach itself. But his influence is not limited to South Florida. New York Congressman Tom Reynolds named Michael Businessman of the year, and he has hosted exclusive, star-studded hotel and restaurant launches, nightclub debuts, charity functions and private house parties around the world.
Michael's family has been involved in the entertainment and fashion worlds for almost a century, stretching back to the era of Josephine Baker, Gunther Sachs, Brigitte Bardot and Regine: Michael’s father and grandfather owned nightclubs throughout Europe and the French Riviera from the 20’s to the 80’s, including The Scotch Club, The Golden Gate, and the celebrated Le Boeuf sur le Toit in Cannes, France.
Born in Belgium with a Florentine heritage, Michael grew up in Miami where his family owned several restaurants. A veteran waiter by age 15, he sensed that amidst the crumbling Art Deco buildings that made up South Beach in those days, something was happening that he had to be a part of. Taking a job first as busboy at the Palace restaurant on Ocean Drive and then the soon-to-be-legendary hotspot Club Nu, Michael became a part of the community of models, photographers, fashion designers and club kids who were revitalizing the Beach. Waiting tables gave way to promoting and quickly Michael Capponi Events appeared in magazines from New York to Europe as the most creative and eclectic on South Beach.
Michael’s flair for throwing great parties soon attracted a long line of nightclub owners seeking help rejuvenating their businesses. Over the next ten years he worked with most major nightclubs, restaurants and hotels on South Beach, promoting opening-night parties and hosting weekly soirees. The names of these establishments read like a history of Miami Beach nightlife: Avenue A parties, Warsaw and The Spot (with Gary James), Boomerang, Cassis, Stars, Les Bains, The Strand, Amnesia, Lua, Bang, Dune, The Cave, Mickey’s, Risk, 1235, Paragon, Glam Slam, Penrod’s, Liquid, Bar Room, The Forge, Liquid Palm Beach, 320, Flute and Grass.
Six years ago, Capponi began promoting a Wednesday night party on South Beach at B.E.D., a supper club-cum-lounge that quickly became South Beach’s hottest event. In 2002, he launched Privé, an exclusive lounge within the Opium Garden complex, followed by Mansion in early 2004. In 2005 The Hotel Victor, 2006 Glass and for 2007, SET. Today, Capponi commands a guest-list that spans Hollywood celebrities, rock and rap stars, supermodels, international jetsetters and the cream of Miami’s society. Superstars passing through South Beach feel compelled to attend a Capponi soiree.
Michael is on the committee for a number of charitable events, including Miami’s Starlight Gala (benefiting Bay Point schools) and the inaugural Red Cross Dance Ball (at which he was the recipient of the Trailblazer Award and given the key to the city by then-mayor Niesen Kasdin for his efforts after the September 11 tragedy), The Fashion Art Ball (benefiting The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) and the Bvlgari Ball (benefiting the Jackson Memorial Foundation). He has served as a vice chair for the New Yorkers for Children Gala and co-chairs the Best Buddies Jobs Gala with Anthony Kennedy Shriver. He is also on the committee for the Bare Foot on the Beach Gala supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach. Michael currently works with various drug rehabilitation facilities to aid young people suffering drug addiction. In 1999 he also launched a city-wide food drive for victims of the war in Kosovo, which raised over $500,000 and 15,000 pounds of donated food and clothing, which was distributed throughout the region. Michael and the Red Cross of Miami have worked on fund raisers for every major hurricane that has recently struck our nation. On Thanksgiving 2006 Michael along with Miami Rescue Mission fed over 1,500 homeless people in the Miami area and in 2007 2,500 people. Most recently, Michael and elite nightclubs have joined forces to raise money for United Way of Miami-Dade. The four-night event, “A Toast to United Way” was set to improve the lives of those less fortunate. Michael accepted the 2007 Community Achievement award from Chairman Bruno A. Barrerio and Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
Throughout the past two decades the name Michael Capponi has become synonymous with cutting-edge nightlife, luxury living and quality entertaining. In the process he has earned a reputation as one of Miami’s most respected and well-known entrepreneurs. His success helping define Miami’s nightlife is a direct result of this experience. Now it serves as the inspiration for his latest venture, the creation of the Capponi Group of companies, which together market a complete luxury lifestyle. Over the course of several years Michael purchased a series of homes for himself that he then renovated until they met his standards for elegance. He quickly realized that if he streamlined the projects so that all aspects of construction were under central control, the jobs were completed much faster. Thus was born the Capponi Building Company, which specializes in building and renovating luxury homes. To date Capponi Building has remodeled some of the finest homes in South Florida, in each case doubling the home’s value.
Capponi Properties, Michael’s development arm, seeks out high-end commercial projects. It launched in 2002 when he partnered with Gregg Covin, Chad Oppenheim and Armin Mattli to create Ten Museum Park, a grand high-rise of shimmering glass overlooking Biscayne Bay in the heart of Downtown Miami. Ten Museum Park is being hailed by civic leaders as an integral part of the resurgence of downtown Miami. Capponi again partnered with Covin to create the boutique Anglers Resort in South Beach, in conjunction with internationally-renowned designer Wallace Tutt, the architect behind Gianni Versace’s Casa Casuarina* The exclusive Anglers Resort is now a hotel, as well as a restaurant, all set amid the privacy of the resort’s intimate grounds.
Meanwhile, a full-service luxury home construction and renovation company under Michael’s command is tastefully and efficiently turning million dollar homes into multi-million dollar homes throughout South Florida. With the launch of Capponi Casa, Partnering with the renowned custom furniture maker and refinisher Johanni Noesi, Michael has boldly expanded into the world of interior design and home furnishings, offering a line of high-end sofas, chairs, dining tables, bedroom sets, as well as custom furniture to meet the need of any client.
