From a Dinner Introduction to a Brickell Power Partnership
Miami hospitality mogul David Grutman says his restaurant partnership with global superstar Bad Bunny didn’t happen overnight—it was the result of timing, trust, and years of relationship-building. In his new book, Take It Personal: How to Succeed by Building Relationships and Playing the Long Game (publishing April 14), Grutman shares how a simple question from Drake helped spark a chain of events that eventually led to their shared ownership of Gekkō, a Japanese steakhouse in Miami’s upscale Brickell neighborhood.
Grutman, known for shaping Miami nightlife through venues like LIV and an expanding portfolio of high-profile restaurants, recalls an early moment of conviction: in 2017, Drake asked him who he believed was the best reggaeton artist.
“I said it was Bad Bunny,” Grutman writes, emphasizing that this was at the very beginning of the artist’s career. The next day, Drake invited Bad Bunny to dinner at Grutman’s Komodo Miami, setting the stage for a personal connection that would soon become a cultural and business collaboration.
The Relationship That Helped Shape a Global Moment
The dinner meeting didn’t just create a social connection—it helped strengthen an artistic bond. Drake and Bad Bunny later teamed up on “MÍA,” the 2018 hit that has amassed nearly 1.7 billion views on YouTube, becoming one of the most recognizable cross-genre collaborations of the era.
For Grutman, the story underscores a central theme of his book: success is often less about quick wins and more about being consistent, helpful, and present long before there’s an obvious payoff.
Gekkō: Where Japanese Steakhouse Meets Miami Celebrity Culture
Grutman and Bad Bunny’s partnership ultimately moved from friendship into formal business with Gekkō, a concept designed to merge high-end dining with the kind of atmosphere that naturally attracts artists, athletes, and tastemakers. Positioned in Brickell—one of Miami’s most competitive luxury dining corridors—the restaurant has become a frequent gathering spot for high-profile events and industry celebrations.
According to Grutman, Bad Bunny isn’t a passive investor. He’s actively engaged in the brand, the energy, and the guest experience.
- Visibility: Bad Bunny uses opportunities to spotlight the restaurant, including hosting a major Billboard Music Awards after-party there.
- Hospitality mindset: He regularly invites guests to dine at Gekkō and promotes it organically through his network.
- Menu curiosity: Grutman says the artist enjoys tasting dishes and keeping up with changes as the menu evolves.
“He’s a great partner,” Grutman notes, adding that Bad Bunny “likes the whole experience,” a key ingredient in any celebrity-driven hospitality venture that aims to feel authentic rather than transactional.
Bad Bunny in the Classroom: A Different Kind of Guest Appearance
One of the more surprising parts of the story is where Grutman says the “long game” with Bad Bunny truly began: Florida International University. Grutman has taught a hospitality course at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management for five years, and Bad Bunny appeared as a guest speaker—an appearance that mirrored the values behind their eventual restaurant deal.
Grutman says the conversation with students focused on long-term partnerships and the idea of giving without expecting immediate returns. In his telling, it was a rare moment where celebrity influence translated into a practical lesson for future hospitality leaders.
A Super Bowl “Casita” Cameo With Real Meaning
Grutman’s connection to Bad Bunny also surfaced in a highly visible way when Bad Bunny performed at the Super Bowl halftime show this year. Grutman appears in the production during a sequence built around a “casita” set piece—an element with roots in Bad Bunny’s 2025 Puerto Rico residency, No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí (“I Don’t Want To Leave Here”).
Grutman says he attended the residency and spent time in the “casita” experience, which functioned like an on-stage house party honoring Puerto Rican community and culture. When the Super Bowl performance brought the “casita” concept back, Grutman was invited to participate—an inclusion he describes as intentional rather than coincidental.
Why Grutman Says Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican Pride Sets Him Apart
Beyond business and entertainment, Grutman highlights Bad Bunny’s identity and civic engagement as defining forces in his global influence. He points to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, when Puerto Rico faced widespread devastation and intense scrutiny over the government’s response.
Grutman notes that Bad Bunny became deeply involved in recovery efforts and later played a visible role in the 2019 “Ricky Renuncia” movement, returning from his European tour to join protests calling for Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s resignation—a resignation that ultimately happened.
For Grutman, that decision elevated Bad Bunny in a way that transcended music charts, especially for Puerto Ricans who saw a global star leverage his platform on behalf of his homeland.
“He’s the most-proud Puerto Rican I’ve ever met before in my life,” Grutman says, describing Bad Bunny’s pride as “on another level.”
The Takeaway Behind the Miami Restaurant Deal
Grutman’s story of building a restaurant with Bad Bunny offers a broader lesson about the modern hospitality business: the strongest partnerships often start with genuine connection, shared values, and long-term commitment. In an era when celebrity restaurant deals can feel like marketing shortcuts, Grutman frames Gekkō as the result of consistent trust-building—spanning dinners, classroom conversations, cultural moments, and mutual respect.
For Miami’s dining scene, the collaboration is another sign of the city’s growing influence at the intersection of food, nightlife, music, and global celebrity culture. For Grutman, it’s also proof that the “long game” can pay off—especially when the relationship comes first.
Source: Bad Bunny friend David Grutman talks Miami restaurant collab
