Mover, Shaker, Multimillion Dollar Home Remaker: CYInterview Sits Down with Miami Entrepreneur Michael Capponi
It was a house he always wanted to remodel. For Miami entrepreneur Michael Capponi, his dream came true when MC Dean CEO William H. Dean bought Terra Veritatis. The Miami Beach mansion formerly belonged to S.S. Kresge, who was the original founder of Kmart.
Earlier this week we posted photos of Terra Veritatis, taken during Mr. Dean’s birthday bash [see here]. Now we bring you our CYInterview with Michael Capponi, who lent a hand renovating the luxury home. In fact, it is one of Miami Beach’s most expensive properties. Terra Veritatis reportedly went through a 40 million dollar plus remodeling process.
Besides his work with the Capponi Construction Group, Micael Capponi has also been involved with a variety of charitable causes, as well as being a regular on Miami’s nightlife scene. You can read the highlights or listen to our entire CYInterview below:
Listen to the entire Michael Capponi CYInterview:
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Before William H. Dean became the owner of Terra Veritatis, Michael wanted to remodel the Miami Beach home. He speaks about the home and its renovation process:
“This is one of the most important historical assets that Miami Beach has. This is the home of former Kmart founder S.S. Kresge and you know we worked really hard to instead of knocking it down, revitalized it and kind of bring it back to its origins but modernize it and add a lot of different buildings around it and make it a much more, you know, suitable estate for what’s going on today. …
I wanted to renovate it before he bought it for the other owner, so it was, you know, I’ve always wanted to be able to renovate this house. So it was a dream come true kind of job as a builder. So I’m very happy that we were rewarded this job. … It’s bringing Miami Beach to a completely different level of buyer, you know, people that are just moving here, very powerful people from all over the world and it’s really become a real international destination.”
In addition to his business, Michael has been involved in the philanthropic world. He is working to make a difference here in the U.S., as well as Haiti, through various humanitarian causes:
“It’s very dear to my heart. I’ve definitely, have a lot of ups and downs in my life and these times around in the last decade I’ve really put my efforts into trying to do great things for the world and trying to make, you know, the earth a better place. And so on every front you try to always help where you can. You know whether it’s homeless shelters here or whether it’s in Haiti when there’s an earthquake or whether you know hurricanes locally and helping out your neighbors or whether you’re throwing you know big events for Make-A-Wish or, you know, whatever it is, I think if you have the means to be able to contribute somehow to great causes that, you know, help people, people should do it.”
Mr. Capponi has also been involved in the Miami entertainment and nightlife scene for more than 20 years. He talks about the history and current state of what he believes is the best place in the country for nightlife:
“It’s an interesting transition with what’s going on now. You know we started off as an eccentric, you know almost gay trendy village that became a fashion village and that became you know kind of a Euro, you know, jet set kind of popular place and then, you know it, every couple years it really transforms. It’s definitely reached its peak of, you know, we’re definitely by far, hands down, the nightlife capital of the United States, Miami is.
And there’s nowhere in America you can find nightlife like we have here I don’t think. Certainly not L.A., certainly not New York and Vegas, you know maybe on a weekend a year. … So I think it brings an element to Miami and you know brings a lot of fun and brings a lot of enthusiasm, brings a lot of international people that want to, you know, come experience that and I’ve been a part of it for 20 years.”
Over the years, Michael has had an opportunity to spend time with everyone from former President Bill Clinton to Michael Jackson to past CYInterview guests Mya [see here] and Elaine Lancaster [see here]. He reflects on some great experiences with President Clinton:
“President Clinton I really respect, very involved in Haiti. You know I’ve had a couple times that I got to spend with him. That particular picture was I think I rode in a motorcade with him, you know, up to Palm Beach and, you know, had a private dinner I think right when the Iraq War started. So that was some interesting conversations that took place that night, very great person. Definitely someone that I admire a lot.”
You can find more information about Michael Capponi at his official website here.
You can follow Michael Capponi on Twitter here.
You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com Chris is available for interviews to comment on anything featured on CYInterview.
You can follow Chris Yandek on Twitter here.
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