The blocks around the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier have added several new restaurants recently. At 123 NE 20th Avenue, Permit Express LLC permitted the entire renovation for two of them: Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar and Sauce ‘Em. Here is a look at both restaurants, at how a change in the city’s building department provider affected the job, and at what restaurant renovation permitting typically involves.
About the project
Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar is about a block from the beach and the pier. It describes itself as Deerfield Beach’s coastal sports bar, with fresh oysters and seafood, burgers and wings, 20 TVs, weekday live music and happy hour. It is operated by LM Restaurants, the family-owned group led by Lou Moshakos, which also runs The Cove, Oceanic and Lucky Fish. It opened to the public on October 15, 2025, in the former Bru’s Room space.
Opening coverage describes a “raw” coastal design with an exposed ceiling, brick walls, cement floors and blue tile accents, anchored by a 35-seat central bar with a raw bar display. Local reporting describes it as a 6,000-square-foot restaurant with a covered 80-seat patio.
Sauce ‘Em, which shares the 123 NE 20th Avenue address, calls itself “the original baked wing co.” Its menu centers on baked wings, sliders and craft cocktails.
When the building department changed providers mid-project
Deerfield Beach contracts out its building department services. For years those services were provided by Calvin, Giordano & Associates (CGA). After a public procurement, the city selected CAP Government, and partway through the permitting process for this renovation, CAP took over plan review, permitting and inspections.
A change like that is a normal part of how cities manage contracts, but it affects anyone with permits in progress. In Deerfield Beach, the city announced that active permits not yet approved would need to be resubmitted through the new provider’s online system. In general, a provider change can mean:
- New reviewers, who may look at plans with fresh eyes and raise new comments.
- A new portal and submission process, with different file requirements, accounts and contact emails.
- Re-review of open comments, so work already discussed may need to be explained again.
- Changes to inspection scheduling and to who shows up on site.
On this project, the switch happened during permitting. In a transition like this, an expediter’s job is to keep applications moving: resubmitting in the new system when required, making sure new reviewers understand where each permit stands, and keeping the design team and contractor informed so construction doesn’t stall.
[Optional: add one specific step that kept this project on track during the transition]
What restaurant renovation permitting typically involves
When a restaurant goes into an existing building, the work is usually permitted as an alteration or renovation, not new construction. A full-service restaurant with a large bar and patio typically involves:
- Building: interior demolition and construction, accessibility, egress and occupant load.
- Mechanical and plumbing: kitchen hood and exhaust, HVAC, grease interceptor, bar and kitchen fixtures, and gas piping.
- Electrical: kitchen and bar equipment, lighting, TVs and audio, and outdoor power.
- Fire: hood suppression, sprinklers, alarms and life-safety review.
- Outdoor dining: covered patios and outdoor seating typically involve added building, zoning and fire review.
- State restaurant approval: plan review from the Florida DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
Why restaurant groups use a commercial permit expediter in Broward
Since 2004, Permit Express LLC has helped contractors, designers and owners permit restaurant projects across Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, including work for brands like The Cheesecake Factory, Wawa and Shake Shack. When a city changes its processes midstream, knowing how each building department works is what keeps a project moving.
Opening or renovating a restaurant in Deerfield Beach?
We can help you plan the permits your project will need before you submit. Browse our common permitting questions, then call Permit Express LLC at 954-632-0353 or contact us online. We are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.