As Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley expands its growing empire, it creates economic pathways in each neighborhood it touches, employing over 100 in each location. Founder Kevin Kelley and his team are intentional about the areas they serve, building diverse teams of local chefs, managers, and team members in major cities such as Dallas, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, D.C. and most recently Miami. A popular destination in each city it reaches, Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley joins Miami’s booming hospitality industry, which reached a total of $21.3 billion in total visitor spending in 2025, according to the Greater Miami Conventions and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB).
“As a minority-owned company, it is important to acknowledge the opportunities that our customers have given us and to circulate those opportunities back into the communities that support us. One way we do that is by creating pathways for people to see themselves represented within our restaurants, especially in leadership,” Kelley stated.
Leading through service and care are core tenets to Kelley’s approach and vision, from his personal injury law practice to his hospitality business, and other entrepreneurial endeavors under Kelley Koncepts. Connection is central to Kelley’s expansion, making a strategic effort to pay respect to the pillars of the city, hosting a community night prior to the restaurant’s official opening to welcome and recognize those who make a difference.
“Kitchen + Kocktails strengthens Miami’s tourism economy by offering a destination dining experience that complements Wynwood’s arts scene while supporting Allapattah’s growing hospitality and small-business ecosystem,” stated City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins.
Kelley is no stranger to the power of the network. As a member of the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., and as of recently, a member of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, he already collaborates with other businesses and leaders in South Florida.
On the topic of Kelley’s involvement with the chamber, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Gordon Eric Knowles stated, “Rick Beasley, executive director of Career Source South Florida, introduced Kevin to several key individuals, and he immediately began to engage, becoming a member of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce and engaging members of the Chamber to do business together.”
Building relationships with key stakeholders, including government leaders, chambers of commerce, and other community partners, elevates Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley’s brand, amplifying its impact through effective outreach.
“We define community impact by first looking at economic impact. In our restaurants, that starts with jobs,” stated Kelley. “The more people we are able to hire, the more we support the local economy. That support reaches homes, families, and children. It creates stability and opportunity within the community. Everything begins with our ability to hire, but that ability does not rest with us alone. It depends on the guests who walk through our doors, support the restaurant, and choose to make reservations. Their support allows opportunity to circulate back into the surrounding community, and that is exactly what we hope to see happen in Miami.”
Supporting Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley is not only an amazing meal or memory, it is a chance to pour into the local economy and visions of a thriving community and culture. When Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley opened its doors on Jan. 17, it brought a fresh new flavor to the Southern scene, connecting the community while creating opportunity, one dish at a time.
