
Memphis Garrett
Founder & CEO
Hospitality powerhouse Memphis Garrett has opened close to 40 restaurants and nightclubs throughout his career and is responsible for launching some of South Florida’s most acclaimed food and beverage concepts.
After placing as the runner-up in the CBS competition Big Brother in 2008, Garrett decided that his passion was in hospitality. He started as a busser at Sam Nazarian’s first club in Los Angeles and worked his way up the ranks, ultimately becoming Nazarian’s go-to operator for all new projects. Under the SBE and SLS flags, Garrett has developed, opened, and managed over 18 venues in L.A., Las Vegas, and South Florida.
In 2016, Garrett assembled an all-star roster of professionals to open The Poke House; one of Fort Lauderdale’s first eateries to focus solely on the traditional Hawaiian dish. Known for its casual surfing vibe, fresh ingredients and affordable price point, The Poke House quickly became a go-to destination for locals and visitors alike.
With his exceptional business acumen and a keen eye for neighborhood development, in 2018, Garrett opened JB&C juice bar and café in Flagler Village – once a dilapidated warehouse district that was being redeveloped into a dining and entertainment district. Once again Garrett’s hospitality savvy served him well and the wellness-oriented restaurant became a hit.
A year later, Garrett was tapped to open The Dalmar, a Tribute Portfolio hotel in downtown Fort Lauderdale. As Director of Food & Beverage, he was responsible for opening the property’s five culinary and entertainment concepts, as well as overseeing all operations and hiring. From there, Garrett was sought after to open Joia Beach, a stunning European-inspired restaurant and beach club on Watson Island in Miami, where he once again assembled a talented team of lauded Chefs and bartenders to open what quickly became a celebrity and foodie magnet.
During the 2020 pandemic, Garrett returned to the small screen for Big Brother: All Stars where he spent three months filming. Upon returning to South Florida, Garrett conceptualized three new dining and entertainment concepts: No Man’s Land and Ya Mas! Taverna, both slated to open in Fall 2021, and Blue Wave Sushi with two locations that opened this summer. Never content to rest on his laurels, Garrett continues to redefine South Florida’s hospitality landscape and has no plans of slowing down.