Hello, Coral Gables!

And so, we begin anew. A new Chamber year, a new Chamber chairman, a new Chamber home, a new Chamber ranking (No. 1 in all of South Florida) and a new Chamber brand.

This has been an incredibly challenging year for the businesses in The City Beautiful, as well as for our leaders, residents, coworkers and neighbors.

As we embrace the “New Normal” in our community, our downtown is cautiously reopening and businesses are embracing both rapid change and significant trials. A recovering economy is ripe for opportunity, and I am proud of our local businesses for their ability to pivot in the face of an unforgiving pandemic.

Through it all, our engaging storefronts continue to compliment the Miracle Mile streetscape, with in-store shopping augmented by beautifully curated online inventory, contactless curbside delivery and free shipping. Social distancing and mask wearing have become the norm, with restaurants and retailers leading the way to a healthier community. And a multitude of new and exciting restaurants and retail shops are scheduled to open as the pandemic eases, continuing to raise our profile in South Florida.

With our Chamber’s centennial less than five years away, the time is perfect to think about our future as a Chamber and a city. This latest edition of The City Beautiful contemplates just that, and also features a new publishing partner, Coral Gables Magazine, supported by our City’s Economic Development Department, to help us navigate and amplify doing business here.

Since our founding by the visionary George E. Merrick in 1925, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce has been dedicated to making our community an epicenter for business, including a significant nod to the global marketplace, while diligently serving our residents, employees and visitors.

Each fall we publish The City Beautiful and this year our partners at Coral Gables Magazine have pumped up the volume on content, providing a guide to all the business resources the city has to offer. And, of course, if you need the phone numbers or emails for our elected officials, demographic information on the city, or a guide to all the points of interest, it’s here.

Most importantly, you will find detailed information on each of our GEM Level Investors, Trustees and Business Members – the companies that have made a significant investment in our great Chamber and amazing city and have led with fearlessness in the face of COVID-19. We hope you will recognize and honor their commitment by supporting their establishments throughout the coming year and trusting them with your business.

To businesses seeking a new market to expand into, we say join us as we help you make Coral Gables your new home! No time like the present to invest in a Coral Gables address. And to our business community, we salute your enduring commitment to making Coral Gables the very best neighborhood in all South Florida to shop, dine and invest.

Warmly, Mark A. Trowbridge President & CEO Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce