{"id":1148,"date":"2012-10-26T10:44:33","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T14:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=1148"},"modified":"2012-10-26T10:50:08","modified_gmt":"2012-10-26T14:50:08","slug":"south-miamis-sunset-place-draws-visitors-with-shopping-entertainment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=1148","title":{"rendered":"South Miami’s Sunset Place draws visitors with shopping, entertainment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted Oct. 25, 2012<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By BRITTANY WEINER<\/p>\n

SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. — Rompe-muellas<\/em>. Johanna Casas spent her day thinking of that word.\u00a0 What did it mean?\u00a0 Why were people asking her if they carried it at the store she worked at?<\/p>\n

\u201cRompe-muellas<\/em>\u201d is the Spanish word for jawbreakers, the American candy that consumers have been going crazy over for years, and just one of the types of candy that foreign customers shop for at Sugar Heaven in Sunset Place.<\/p>\n

Travelers come from all over to frequent The Shops at Sunset Place. Sugar Heaven and all the other retail stores draw a large crowd of, not just locals, but masses of European and Latin American tourists.<\/p>\n

Sunset Place is not your typical shopping mall.\u00a0 It is an open-air center with entertainment, food and tons of retail stores, located just off U.S. 1, south of downtown Miami.<\/p>\n

A candy store that opened in December of last year, Sugar Heaven has been flourishing as they offer a wide assortment of candy and candy-related items such as apparel, games and toys. Many tourists frequent the candy store to buy items not offered in their native countries and bring them back for their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see a lot of Europeans, and people from Chile and Argentina,\u201d said Jesse Steward, one of the supervisors at the store. \u201cThey come in and buy huge things for their families, sometimes spending up to $500.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides jawbreakers, another type of candy that people come to the store for specifically is Willy Wonka candy, a staple in the U.S.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings that we normally buy in convenience stores, consumers come here for,\u201d Casas said. \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t think twice about popping into a CVS to buy a Wonka bar, but the foreign consumers don\u2019t have these brands back at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another part of Sunset that attracts a large amount of people is Splitsville, a bowling alley located on the upper level of the plaza. This bowling alley is not your average alley, but a boutique alley that turns into nightclub after 8 p.m., and only allows customers who are 21 and over to enter.<\/p>\n

Splitsville has been in Sunset Place since 2008, and is one of the places that a traveler should absolutely go to. Priding themselves on their service, Splitsville is known for their charismatic staff, amazing happy hours and unbelievable food.<\/p>\n

Monday through Friday, Splitsville has a happy hour which offers $3 wine, cocktails, Miller Lite draft, selected beers, and, above all, their cheese burger sliders.<\/p>\n

Gelina Lemus, a Miami native comes just for the happy hour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sliders are so juicy, and pretty big,\u201d Lemus said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd their happy hour starts early!\u201d<\/p>\n

Another favorite on the menu is sushi. On Thursday it is $5 for any roll.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople like to come to us because you get everything all in one,\u201d said Stacy Maderal, the events coordinator.\u00a0 \u201cAnd they love the sushi!\u201d<\/p>\n

Some waiters are also bowlers on the side and have their own ball. They have even been known to bowl with the people they are serving.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s different than you\u2019re normal restaurant,\u201d Maderal said. \u201cWhere else can your waiter give you tips on bowling?\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the best things about Sunset Place is its state-of-the-art IMAX theatre, located right next to the alley. Many travelers come to shop during the day, then go bowling and to a movie at night. On weekends, Splitsville is open until 2 a.m. so it makes this combination possible.<\/p>\n

Fior Guerrero, a Miami native always brings her visitors to Sunset Place because of this convenience that it offers for both shopping and entertainment.\u00a0 Guerrero and her friend were shopping, and planned on returning for the entertainment at night.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a nice place, they can find different things they can do,\u201d Guerrero said.<\/p>\n

Guerrero\u2019s visitors, Francesca Hernandez and Jose Rivera were busy running from store to store.\u00a0 One store in particular that the two loved was American Eagle Outfitters, a retailer that is not present in their country, the Dominican Republic.\u00a0 They were pleasantly surprised with the service of the store.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe quality of the clothes is so much better, and the staff is so helpful,\u201d Rivera said. \u201cThe way they treat you in their store makes you feel like you are receiving special treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hernandez also enjoyed shopping at the rest of the stores, and picked up things from Aeropostale and Hollister. She especially liked the mall because the stores were extremely close together, making it easy to shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was much different than the other malls we went to in the area,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cMuch easier and less overwhelming. I also like that it\u2019s outside so you get some fresh air.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other stores found in Sunset Place are the Gap\/Gap Kids, Armani Exchange, Victoria\u2019s Secret, Urban Outfitters, among other popular American brands. The complex also has other entertainment options such as GameTime, an arcade on the second floor; Color Me Mine, a pottery-painting store; and a brand new wing spot Buffalo Wild Wings.<\/p>\n

IF YOU GO<\/strong><\/p>\n