Three operations closing; 327 to lose jobs

March 16--Three South Florida business operations recently announced plans to shut down, forcing 327 people out of work.

EmblemHealth, a New York-based health insurance company, notified the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity of plans to close its offices at 3251 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood as part of the company's "effort to reduce its real estate footprint and address underutilized properties."

The company plans to lay off 168 workers and convert 53 into telecommuters, the notice said. The company is registered at the Hollywood address as EmblemHealth Administrators, according to the Florida Division of Corporation's online database.

It was originally established in 1994 at 300 S. Park Road as HIP Administrators of Florida. HIP, an acronym for Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York, merged with Group Health Incorporated in 2006 and the combined company was renamed EmblemHealth.

EmblemHealth primarily serves members in the state of New York.

Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails, a joint venture of The Related Group, one of Florida's largest condominium developers, and Los Angeles-based hospitality and real estate firm sbe, will close its operation at 111 S. Surf Road in Hallandale Beach. The move will result in the layoff of 101 employees, including 22 server positions and 18 line cooks, the company reported in its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice.

In the layoff notice, Denise Valdez, area director of Human Resources for sbe Miami said the restaurant "is closing permanently as the ownership is changing operators for the establishment and the venue will undergo renovations."

Expected date of the first separation is May 7, the notice said.

In an email statement, Matt Allen, COO and Executive Vice President of The Related Group, said the renovation will take four to six weeks. The company is inviting the restaurant's displaced employees to apply at other sbe properties and will be given an opportunity to apply at the new iteration as well, Allen said.

Meanwhile, amenities at The Beach Club at Hyde Resort & Residences will remain available through the transition, including a beach chair and umbrella operation; beach bar; volleyball court; restrooms; spa, gym, third floor deck, he said.

Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails opened in 2015. Jorge Perez, The Related Group's CEO and chairman, told the Sun Sentinel he invested more than $15 million to create a vibrant oceanfront destination similar to those in St. Tropez, the Hamptons, Greece and Turkey.

American Tower Corporation reported that its ATC Operations LLC subsidiary at 750 Park of Commerce Blvd., Suite 300, Boca Raton, will release 58 workers permanently beginning May 1.

The company said it is transitioning employee roles and responsibilities from Boca Raton to offices in Cary, N.C., and Woburn, Mass.

"Employees who do not relocate to Carry or Woburn will receive a severance package," said spokesman Matt Peterson.

Staff writer Marcia Pounds contributed to this report.

[email protected], 954-356-4071, twitter: twitter.com/ronhurtibise

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