Retail Follows Rooftops: An Interview With Jose Almirall and Laura Salom of Luxury Builder Porta Negra

In this episode of Between Two Chairs: Demystifying Commercial Real Estate, hosts Fernando Arencibia Jr. and Jennifer Wollmann sit down with Jose Almirall and Laura Salom, the husband-and-wife team behind Porta Negra Design and Build, to explore how luxury residential development shapes the future of Miami commercial real estate. From South Miami and Coral Gables to Pinecrest and the City of Miami, the conversation connects rooftops, retail demand, permitting complexity, construction costs, buyer psychology, and the relationship-driven mindset required to succeed in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country.Why Miami Commercial Real Estate Brokers Should ListenTop Miami commercial real estate brokers know that retail follows rooftops. This episode offers an inside look at how high-end residential construction, luxury homebuyer demand, local permitting, and neighborhood transformation influence commercial property opportunities across South Florida. Jose and Laura share how they built a data-driven, relationship-centered design-build company over 10 years, evolving from South Miami flips into large-scale custom homes and ultra-luxury new construction.