Both Soyka and Onur, with their strong visions and tolerances for high risk, played critical roles at defining moments in the evolution of South Beach. Nexxt Cafe on Lincoln Road Onur came to the U.S. nine years ago at the age of 21. Although he had already earned a management degree from his national university, he went on to attend the University of Hartford in Connecticut, where he earned another degree in marketing and business administration. After refining his basic idea, he faced the biggest challenge for any retail business. After inspecting 15 spaces on South Beach, he settled on his present location.
South Beach is a very eclectic market.
It has qualities other places don't have. Onur's role as one of the first major independent operators to come in from outside South Beach and open in a high-profile location marked a critical turning point in the evolution of Lincoln Road. The success of Nexxt Cafe helped accelerate the development frenzy that has transformed the fabled street in less than two years. From its opening day 17 months ago, Nexxt Cafe met or exceeded Onur's expectations. Just a few months after he opened the place, he faced the urgent need for expansion.