Buccan expands to Coral Gables, a first for the Palm Beach restaurant

Buccan, a Palm Beach restaurant known for its small-plates American cuisine, will open its first location outside Palm Beach in Coral Gables on May 22. Led by chef-owner Clay Conley, a seven-time James Beard Award nominee, the restaurant will occupy 9,600 square feet of ground-floor space in a newly developed four-story mixed-use building at 100 Miracle Mile. The Coral Gables location will include an exhibition kitchen, chef’s table, bar with high-top seating, lounge, and semi-private dining areas. The expansion is part of a broader growth strategy by the Palm Beach-based Ember Group, which also owns Imoto, an Asian hotspot, and Buccan Sandwich Shop. Imoto will open its second location in Coral Gables on June 8, while Buccan Sandwich Shop already opened a second location on May 9 at the same address. This marks the third location for Buccan Sandwich Shop, following its 2023 opening in West Palm Beach. Conley attributed the expansion to the loyalty of the Palm Beach community, stating that the team is grateful for the support and eager to bring the same quality of food and hospitality to Coral Gables. Ember Group partners include investor Piper Quinn and restaurateur Sam Slattery, who expressed excitement about the new market. The three restaurants will collectively occupy 9,600 square feet within a 40,000-square-foot building, reinforcing their presence in the affluent Miami-area city. Buccan’s debut in Palm Beach in 2011 was followed by Imoto in 2012 and Buccan Sandwich Shop in 2014, all operating under Ember Group’s ownership.