Sublime to Promote Wellness, Longevity

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—A new restaurant and retail experience hopes to bring together business, ethics and mission in a new way that will benefit animals everywhere.

Natural foods retailing and food-service veteran Terry Dalton, founder of south Florida’s legendary Unicorn Village natural foods store and restaurant (which was sold to Whole Foods Market [WFMI] in 1995), has teamed up with Nanci Alexander, a principal benefactor to the global animal-rights cause, to form Sublime, a new vegan restaurant and self-described “lifestyle emporium,” which is scheduled to open its first location in Fort Lauderdale in spring 2002.

The 150-seat “world vegetarian cuisine,” full-service restaurant, healthy take-out café (loosely based on the Dallas-based Eatzi’s concept), and retail shop—all housed in an “environmentally sensitive,” 7,000-sq.-ft. building—is currently under construction on 1.5 acres along Federal Hwy., the main thoroughfare through Fort Lauderdale.

Dalton calls the company-owned site “one of the best locations in the nation,” as it is sandwiched between a Wild Oats Markets- (OATS) and Borders-anchored center and a new 34,000 sq.-ft. Whole Foods Market store with neighboring Barnes & Noble on its other side. The site features a public recycling center and a composting facility for the business, as well as a fresh-water lake, which is part of a community wildlife sanctuary and home to iguanas, tropical birds and a variety of fish.

Dalton says the new venture, proceeds from which will be donated to animal rights groups, is an extension of the mission of the natural foods industry. “The very sophisticated customer base that has embraced longevity, prevention and wellness as an evolution will continue, and that market is growing geometrically,” he says. “Yet our industry is seeing negative growth in key categories. Businesses need to service that trend as well as feed some life into an industry where the models are replicated and redundant.”

Dalton calls the $4.5 million project “the nation’s premiere vegan restaurant in terms of commitment and resources.”

Alexander is the founder and president of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) and a prominent contributor to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. She and her husband Leslie own the NBA’s Houston Rockets and the Houston Comets, a four-time world champion WNBA team.

“This is a way for her to get the word out about animal rights,” Dalton says.

The 1,000-sq.-ft. lifestyle emporium will feature organic clothing as well as dietary supplements, herbs and personal care items, books, tapes, CDs, and other fair-traded, sustainable goods and gifts. Information about animal rights issues, vegan eating and natural living will be a prominent part of the offerings.

One of the first nonretail projects for the business is the Sublime Mobile Sterilization Clinic, which will travel south Florida performing no-cost spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.

“If we can shine some light on alternatives, we think we can find some niches as a way to compete with the larger stores.”

For more information, contact Terry Dalton, 954.615.1431, twd@sublimeveggie.com, or Nanci Alexander, nanci@sublimeveggie.com.