WRE News: Remembering Karim Masri

Photography by on June 6th, 2024 in News

Stacy Robbins, Nicola Siervo, Karim Massri, & Dora Puig at The Astor Hotel’s 10 Year Anniversary on February 16th, 2006

Miami Beach, FL – June 6, 2024 – Remembering Karim Masri — a Founder of KNR Nightlife Group and KNR Hospitality Group, longtime restauranteur and visionary in SoBe’s early days.

To most, Karim was regarded as a hospitality icon and legend in the South Beach scene, but to a few individuals who were lucky to work closely alongside him for years, he was a dear friend.

“I first met Karim in 1992 when I was managing a restaurant in South Beach called Bang. Karim was a regular and we became friends,” shares Nicola Siervo of KNR Hospitality Group. “My first partnership with Karim was at the Astor where we opened Metro Kitchen and Bar and in 2005 we created KNR, which first launched Quattro in Miami Beach and then expanded to Mexico City and New York.”

KNR Hospitality then went onto open Mokai and take over food and beverage programming at Trump Soho, the Thompson Hotel, and W South Beach where they later launched Wall — an iconic, former South Beach club known to many locals in the early 2000s.

KNR Hospitality Group’s Navin Chatani shares, “He was an expert in hospitality, from budgeting to both back and front of house. Watching the W open from scratch and see it blossom in to the food and beverage powerhouse it became was both educational and inspirational for me.”

“He touched so many people over the years and had relationships across the globe.  Karim will not only be missed by me but so many others.”

Swipe through to view some of Karim’s moments alongside family and friends in Miami over the years.

Navin Chatani, Nicola Siervo, & Karim Masri at The Dutch at the W South Beach on October 21st, 2014

Annie Gustafsson, David Grutman, Moe Garcia, Antonio Martucci, Joe Lahoud, Navin Chatani, Nicola Siervo, Karim Masri, & Cedric Gervais at The Dutch at the W South Beach on October 21st, 2014

Behrouz & Karim Masri at Mokai on March 26th, 2008

Brandon Cauff, David Edelstein, & Karim Masri at Solea at W South on December 4th, 2009

David Martinez, Michelle Bernstein, Karim Masri, Brett Orlando, & Nicola Siervo at Thompson Miami Beach Grand Reveal on November 21st, 2014

Israel Cancel, Navin Chatani, Seth Browarnik, DJ Irie, & Karim Masri at Michael Mina 74 on July 3rd, 2015

John Turchin, Karim Masri, & Antonio Martucci at World Red Eye Cultural Exchanges Speaker Series Inaugural Installment on October 21st, 2015

Bruce McQuiston, Craig Robins, Marita Stavrou, & Karim Masri at Design Miami/ Preview & Vernissage 2013 on December 3rd, 2013

Karim Masri & Ben Pundole at MYNT on October 10th, 2003

Karim Masri & Eva Chow at Mr. Chow Soft Opening at W South Beach on August 2nd, 2009

Karim Masri & Jovar Andrews at Mokai on December 1st, 2006

Karim Masri & Juan Carlos at the Travel+Leisure Design Awards at LIV at Fontainebleau on February 18th, 2009

Karim Masri & Mario Garnero at Mokai Alessandra Ambrosio’s Very Sexy Birhday Celebration at Mokai on April 11th, 2007

Karim Masri & Michael Comras at Wall at W South Beach on August 1st, 2009

Karim Masri & Miky Grendene at Jason Binn’s Birthday at Bianca at Delano on January 16th, 2012

Karim Masri & Navin Chatani at Lacoste Lincoln Road Store Opening on August 23rd, 2012

Karim Masri & Nicola Siervo at Favela Beach at Wall at the W South Beach on October 23, 2012

Karim Masri, Brett Orlando, Michelle Bernstein, Nicola Siervo, Rick Colangelo & John Pritzker at Thompson Miami Beach Grand Reveal on November 21st, 2014

Gianni Nunnari, Marita Stavrou, & Karim Masri at Dom Pérignon Luminous Rosé on December 6th, 2012

Karim Masri, Michael Ridard, Mathieu Massa, & Eric Milon at the World Red Eye Cultural Exchanges Speaker Series Inaugural Installment on October 21st, 2015

Karim Masri, Navin Chatani, David Grutman, & Seth Browarnik at Michael Mina 74 on July 3rd, 2015

Karim Masri, Nicola Siervo & Romain Zago at Mokai on July 10th, 2007

Karim Masri, Nicola Siervo, & DJ Ross One at Favela Beach at Wall at the W South Beach on October 23, 2012

Karim Masri, Nicola Siervo, Tony Shafrazi, & Jona Cerwinske at Mokai on December 8, 2006

Karim Masri, Paulo Cardoso, & Ruckus at Favela Beach Wall at the W South Beach on December 30th, 2014

Karim Masri, Ben Pundole, & Ric Pipino at Mynt on February 16th, 2003

Lilly Zanardi, Karim Masri, & Nicole Kirigin at Jason Binn’s Birthday at Bianca at Delano on January 16th, 2012

Peri Callimanopulos, Michael Capponi, & Karim Masri at Ruckus’ Birthday at Scarpetta on October 10th, 2013

Navin Chatani, David Grutman, Nicola Siervo, David Farcy, & Karim Masri at the World Red Eye Cultural Exchanges Speaker Series Inaugural Installment on October 21st, 2015

Navin Chatani, Karim Masri, & Tatanka at Favela Beach at Wall at the W South Beach on January 15th, 2013

Navin Chatani, David Grutman, Karim Masri, & Valerio Morabito at LIV on February 23rd, 2011

Navin Chatani, Karim Masri, & Sky Farrell at Mokai on July 10th, 2007

Nicola Siervo & Karim Masri at Sea Salt & Pepper Dinner for GM of Swire Hotel Group on April 10th, 2014

Nicola Siervo, Wayne Boich, & Karim Masri at TAO at Wall at W South Beach on February 5th, 2010

Seth Troxler, Navin Chatani, Nicola Siervo, Karim Masri, & Antonio Martucci at Wall at the W South Beach on March 24th, 2014

Tommy Pooch & Karim Masri at Karim Masri’s Birthday at Wall on February 27th, 2010

Karim Masri & Dallas Austin at Mokai on March 23rd, 2007

Karim Masri & Paul Oakenfold at Mokai on March 23rd, 2007

Karim Masri, Sam Nazarian, & Nicola Siervo at Wall at W South Beach on February 7th, 2010

Karim Masri, Miky Grendene, & Jason Binn at Jason Binn’s Birthday at Bianca at Delano on January 16th, 2012

DJ Irie, Stevie J, & Karim Masri at LIV on January 12th, 2012

Karim Masri, Arash Azarbarzin, & Brandon Cauff at the Grand Opening of SLS South Beach on November 13th, 2012

Karim Masri & Dorah Puig at Sierra Mist Ruby Splash Launch After Party at LIV at Fontainebleau on March 21st, 2009

Karim Masri & Navin Chatani at Selita Ebanks Hosts O.D. party at Wall at W South Beach on March 20th, 2010

Moe Garcia, Alex, Aubrey, & Karim Masri at Sierra Mist Ruby Splash Launch After Party at LIV at Fontainebleau on March 21st, 2009

Jeff Soffer, David Grutman, Nicola Siervo, Michael Capponi, Karim Masri, & Ugo Colombo at Jason Binn’s Birthday at Bianca at Delano on January 16th, 2012

Jason Odio, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Roman Jones, Karim Masri, & Richie Akiva at Wall at W South Beach on February 7th, 2010

Roy Donahue “Don” Peebles, Dorah Puig, & Karim Masri at the Jackson Memorial Benefit on March 12th, 2004

Karim Masri, Sam Nazarian, Kristin Cavallari, & Nicola Siervo at Wall at W South Beach on February 7th, 2010

Valentina Zelyaeva, Helli, Richie Akiva, Karim Masri, & Jason Binn at the Grutman Wedding  on April30th, 2016

Karim Masri & Seth Browarnik at the Grutman Wedding  on April 30th, 2016

JP Perez, Karim Masri, & Valerio Morabito at Wall at W South Beach on July 18th, 2013

Tara Redi, Karim Masri, & Nicola Siervo at STUDIO 23 on September 27, 2003

Karim Masri, Anna Kournikova, & Nicola Siervo at Rokbar on September 28th, 2004

Karim Masri at Snatch on October 28th, 2005

Karim Masri, Marita Stavrou, & Gerard Butler at Wall at W South Beach December 3rd, 2010

David Edelstein, Karim Massri, Sam Keller, Aby Rosen, & Ed Scheetz at W South Beach Party at Mokai on December 7th, 2006

Carson Daly, Ric Pipino, & Karim Masri at W South Beach Party at Mokai on December 7th, 2006