Abe dropped by the pod with a couple of bottles of saki in hand. He grew up in a restaurant family, studied at Cornell’s prestigious hospitality school, and came out of the gates swinging—with a fast-casual wrap concept that flopped.

But instead of giving up, he zoomed out. He realized the real estate under that failed concept was too good to waste—so he pivoted. Enter Sushi Maki.

In this episode, Abe shares how he turned early failure into a foundation for long-term success and built one of South Florida’s most recognizable sushi brands. We talk about:

• Why sushi made sense (and how he made it approachable)
• How location—and staying power—shaped his strategy
• Lessons from scaling across grocery stores, universities, and airports
•  Growing up in a restaurant family—and what he’s doing differently
• The mindset shift from operator to long-term brand builder

Abe blends hospitality, strategy, and a deep sense of purpose. Whether you're in food, real estate, or just trying to figure out your next move, this one will leave you inspired.

Connect with us

Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?
It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at [email protected] or give us a call at 305.498.9410.

Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation.

Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn
Felipe Azenha: LinkedIn

We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.