Lunch landscape changes again

Another power lunch spot is no more.

Manny’s Steakhouse is gone, and Miami’s Chophouse is in. The change comes on the heels of the sudden closure of Prime Blue Grille just across the street.

The name change is the result of a partnership split.

Gone is Minnesota-based Parasole Restaurant Holdings, which took the restaurant’s name with it. Partner Premier Restaurant Management — also of Minnesota — stayed put at 300 Biscayne Blvd. and renamed the upscale eatery Miami’s Chophouse. The name change is still under way, but the logo remains essentially unchanged with the word "Miami’s" replacing "Manny’s" and "Chophouse" replacing "Steakhouse." Without a close look, the change would probably go unnoticed, especially since the phone is still answered: "Manny’s Steakhouse."

Manny’s opened last year on the ground floor of the newly built Met 1 condominium.

Both parties agreed to the name change about five months ago, when Parasole sold its interest in the business to Premier, said Kip Clayton, Parasole vice president of business development.

"We just decided to focus our energies elsewhere, and the partner wanted to continue with the concept," Clayton said.

Restaurateurs Korey Bannerman and Robert Carlson now own Miami’s Chophouse.

For years Parasole has developed and grown restaurants in partnerships to later sell its interest and move on to a next venture, Clayton said.

Parasole, founded about 30 years ago, has become one of the nation’s largest restaurant concept generators, operators and developers, according to its Web site. Two restaurant chains that Parasole spun off are the Oceanaire Seafood Room and Buca di Beppo, Clayton said. Parasole still owns Manny’s Steakhouse in downtown Minneapolis, which opened in the mid-1980s.