Nora District: New York bagel, ice cream shops plus Boston taco joint coming to West Palm

A popular tacos and tequila restaurant from Boston and two iconic New York eateries are among the first named tenants coming to the Nora district in West Palm Beach.

The $1 billion dining, business and residential district is the largest planned redevelopment in the city's history since CityPlace, now known as The Square. Nora is short for North Railroad Avenue, the district's western boundary.

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar will take 4,650 square feet of indoor/outdoor space at Nora, in a prime spot at 840 N. Railroad Avenue that will serve as part of the project's "front door," said Francis X. Scire, Nora's head of leasing.

Loco is a self-described funky, neighborhood joint that specializes in creative tacos and fresh seafood, including oysters and ceviche. Expect a fun atmosphere and one of the largest selections of tequila in the state, said Loco partner Mike Shaw.

This is Loco's first location outside of Boston, where it has spots in South Boston and near Fenway Park.

Also coming to Nora are two New York brands: H&H Bagels, an artisan bagel shop, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

The pending bagel arrival is something that Scire said will satisfy public demand for "real New York City bagels in West Palm Beach. It's something I've been hearing about for the eight years I've worked in this marketplace."

H&H is not only a bagel place, it's also a landmark New York brand and has been featured in several TV shows and films, including "Seinfeld," "Sex and the City," "The Office," "Entourage," and "How I Met Your Mother."

The Nora location marks H&H's second planned Palm Beach County site. A suburban Boca Raton store also is set to open this year.

But Nora is the first Florida location for the growing Van Leeuwen Ice Cream company.

What began as a food truck in New York City now has expanded to 55 locations in eight states plus Washington D.C.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is known for its fresh ingredients and creative flavors. It is popular for another reason: its roster of non-diary/vegan ice cream choices.

Nora's first wave of tenants underscores the developers' desire to appeal to a range of customers and offerings, from casual eateries to fine dining, for this new neighborhood in an old warehouse section of the city.

"We've carefuly curated the tenant mix," Scire said. The goal is to create a district with an identity blending style, sophistication and culture, he said.

Work has begun on Nora's first phase, the transformation of old warehouses along North Railroad Avenue into restaurants, offices, stores and gyms. This part of the project is known as Nora's Main Street, and completion is slated for the end of 2024.

The Nora district encompasses 40 acres, 13 to 15 of which the Nora development group owns. The project is being developed by West Palm Beach-based NDT Development in conjunction with Miami's Place Projects and Wheelock Street Capital of Greenwich, Connecticut.

The venture to transform a gritty part of the city into a lively center of dining, living and working follows the city's explosive growth in demand for offices and residences.

Much of the growth is a result of migration from the Northeast, leading to interest in bringing several well-known and popular eateries to Nora.

More: Nora news: Five things to know about West Palm Beach's newest neighborhood

More: Nora update: When will construction start on this new dining district in West Palm Beach?

Loco's restaurant owner: West Palm Beach's Nora's vibe reminds us of Boston

Scire singled out Loco as being an innovator in breathing new life into aged locations.

Loco's parent, Broadway Restaurant Group, revitalized the Broadway area in South Boston with five different restaurant concepts, creating a dining district that has attracted other restaurants to the neighborhood.

Broadway Restaurant partner Mike Shaw said the Nora warehouse space is reminiscent of South Boston.

"It's an old building, which we like," Shaw said. "And everyone is so enthusiastic about the community that they're in. This reminds us of Boston. People who are there love being there, and we dug that."

"We're believers in the vision that those guys have with Nora," Shaw added. "We’ve seen over the years if you can perform and give people something they desire in an up-and-coming area, there's real longevity."

Two premier fitness studios also coming to Nora in West Palm

Scire said Nora has been intentional about its selection of other tenants, including boutique fitness brands Rumble and Solidcore.

Rumble offers classes that feature boxing, weights and a high-intensity workout. The growing company has more than two dozen locations nationwide, including in downtown Boca Raton.

Solidcore offers a high-intensity, low-impact full-body workout that uses the brand’s Pilates-inspired reformer. The popular studio has more than 100 locations throughout the country, including one in suburban Boca Raton.

Scire said both companies were selected because they offer fitness classes that mix up the standard routine and offer high-intensity, high-energy workouts.

What other new tenants will join Nora?

More tenant announcements are expected during the next couple of months.

Scire said another eight restaurants will be added to the project and another fitness studio, too. Retailers and office tenants also will be announced.

Nora will also be home to a 201-key hotel developed in partnership with BD Hotels and Sean MacPherson, behind some of New York City’s most iconic hotels like The Bowery, Chelsea Hotel and others.

Alexandra Clough is a business writer and columnist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. X: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coming to West Palm's Nora: Mexican restaurant; bagel, ice cream shop