The Opium Group is one of the country’s most successful hospitality conglomerates, operating Miami’s top four nightclubs; Opium Garden, Privé, Mansion and SET. A driving force behind South Beach’s ongoing cultural renaissance, The Opium Group has been heralded by Harpers’s Bazaar, Travel & Leisure, People, Time, The Miami Herald, and numerous other publications for drawing A-list celebrities and the international jet-set to Miami Beach.
Three visionaries with unique perspectives and expertise, owners Eric Milon, Roman Jones and Francis Milon create a tour de force of hospitality, design and ambiance. Together they have made an indelible mark on Miami Beach’s landscape, enjoying enduring success in an industry where longevity is rare.
A top model gracing the cover of GQ and the runways for Giorgio Armani, Paris-native Eric Milon moved to Miami in the early 1990’s. Lured by South Beach’s burgeoning modeling scene, Eric soon realized the need for a chic eatery to entertain the international photographers, fashionistas and gliteratti seeking South Beach’s idyllic Deco backdrop. In 1991, he opened The Strand restaurant to unprecedented enthusiasm, creating a buzz that Miami had not experienced in decades. The celebrity elite soon flocked to The Strand, and Eric was dubbed one of the original pioneers of The American Riviera’s rebirth.
Eric’s brother Francis Milon joined him in 1996, bringing the skills he honed working at Paris and New York’s top nightclubs. One of the fashion
world’s foremost photographers by trade, Francis’s business know-how, coupled with his eye for beauty created the ideal partnership. Their newest venture, The Living Room quickly became an icon, inspiring the numerous bars and nightclubs that now populate South Beach.
Shortly thereafter, The Milons joined forces with Roman Jones, a young entrepreneur who cut his teeth in the corporate hospitality market,
overseeing the expansion of the Taco Bell, Burger King and Domino’s Pizza brands. British-born and rock and roll bred, Roman completed the trifecta. Son of rocker Mick Jones, Roman used his business acumen to parlay this experience into a career as one of the leading nightclub operators in the country.
Mansion’s state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems feature the industry’s top compilation of systems and advanced technology in the nightlife arena.
Lighting technology features a full-scale lighting rig and control desk including five multiple High End techno beams with moving mirrors, sixteen High End trackspots with moving mirrors, sixteen High End Dataflash strobes, two Martin pro400 color changers, 2 Martin 812 with moving mirrors, fourteen Martin Mac 250 and 500 moving heads, eight Elation Vision 575 with moving mirrors, four Coemar I-Spot 150 moving heads, eight Leko 50 and 36’s, two Molfey 9-light 3-circuit crowd blinders, two confetti three-shot barrel cannons, one truck horn array with six trumpets, four large red and blue police beacons, and four sirens, a Martin Light jockey DMX computer-based lighting controller with four outputs, one Martin Fingers controller connected to the light jockey with one touch screen monitor and one high end strobe controller.
Six plexiglass video screens are available throughout the venue for transposing branded images, visual presentations, and movie premieres via a variety of corresponding 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 lumen projectors, as well as a Panasonic MX-70 4-input video mixer, one Ederol V4 4-input video mixer, two Pioneer VDJ-I000 DVD players, two Numark DVD players, and one Sony ux1 camera with remote, pan/tilt, focus and zoom.
Mansion’s sound system is a one-of-a-kind Funktion One powerhouse designed by Dan Agne specifically catered to Mansion’s grand scale. Utilizing twelve Funktion-one Res 4’s, twelve Funktion One 218 Sub cabinets and two RL SUB cabinets, the main room pushes 50,000 watts of class A/B power through twenty eight 18” subs, and twelve high output mid/high cabinets ideal for live concerts or DJ playback systems. Mansion’s main floor periphery and various VIP areas utilize large format EAW Avalon loudspeakers, including 5 EAW DC1’s, two Phazon Subs, six EAW DC 6’s, a total of four Mach Subs, four Mid/High EAW AS 660E’s, two EAW DCS2’s and two EV Sx300’s.
With two DJ locations using pro grade equipment like Pioneer DJM800’s, CDJ1000’s, Technics 1200 turntables, and the ability to fly in different table tops for hip hop and house music formats, Mansion’s sound system meets every DJ and special event need.
Mansion, named “Miami’s hottest club” by People magazine, has played host to some of the entertainment world’s most glamorous events, from Diddy’s MTV Video Music Awards celebration party and Britney Spears’ Miami performance, to live performances by Prince and Velvet Revolver. Grand and majestic, and easily configured to accommodate events of any size, Mansion’s “residence-meets-nightlife” concept features multiple floors of design and architectural decadence. Heralded design elements include sweeping staircases, ornate fireplaces, Venetian glass mirrors, dramatic crystal chandeliers, exposed brick walls, towering keystone arches and cozy seating areas that mix modern Lucite pieces with the luxurious banquets.
THE LOBBY
Mansion’s grand lobby entrance sets the scene for the venue’s glamorous interior. Featuring an original 1936 chandelier from the space’s historic beginnings as a theatre, Mansion’s lobby also features modern South Beach design elements like it’s towering bar with mirrored glass panels and colorful LED lit archways.
THE BACK IVY ROOM
Inspired by the cozy libraries of The Ivy League world, Mansion’s Back Ivy Room takes a playful twist on the literary concept featuring warm wood paneled walls, plush banquets, sleek pine floors, creeping Ivy accents, and grand curved bar featuring two sexy stripper poles for guests or Mansion’s school-girl uniformed waitresses who want to take a whirl on the bar.
THE MIDDLE IVY ROOM
Situated in the heart of Mansion’s ground floor, Mansion’s Middle Ivy Room boasts towering keystone arches, authentic brass lanterns, warm red exposed brick walls, a colorful backlit bar which changes colors to suit guest’s moods, and comfortable seating on high-backed suede banquets, The Middle Ivy Room is ideally located between the dramatic dance floor and the cozy Back Ivy library space.
THE FLOOR
Grand and decadent, Mansion’s famed dance floor features a towering ceiling, beautiful leather and suede seating and South Beach’s only performance stage where acts like The Bravery, Macy Gray, Jon Legend and many others have all played for the masses. With full scale A/V capabilities, Mansion’s floor is the heart of the venue, where guests can watch the action from the mezzanine above or sit comfortably on the floor itself surrounded by ornate fireplaces, elegant crystal chandeliers, projection screens for branded images or presentations.
THE MEZZANINE
Located on Mansion’s second floor, Mansion’s open mezzanine section provides a birds eye view of the grand dance floor and an elegant retreat from the action, where guests can recline on sexy beds, glamorous suede and leather sofas and cozy seating areas surrounding Mansion’s second floor bar. Elegant and distinctive, Mansion’s mezzanine features an ethereal heaven-and-hell themed ceiling mural, original brass railings and high-walled booths for VIPs seeking privacy.
