If you didn’t hear last week, one of Miami’s oldest dive bars serves its last beer, before locking its doors this Sunday.
Tavern In The Grove announced the sad news on Instagram, and an outpouring of love for the bar has commenced online. [Main Image: @taverninthegrove, Instagram]
The Tavern has been open in its current guise since 1987. However, the space is thought to have been used as a bar since the 1920s, giving us even more reason to celebrate the spot’s history – not that we need any excuse – as one of Miami’s longest-standing saloons.
More recently, Tavern has gathered a crowd of loyal locals, including those that have been there since 1987 and beyond. Its great prices – including free drinks for those with University of Miami sports ticket stubs – dingy-but-charming dive bar vibe, and fantastic staff will see Tavern live long in all our memories.
Here’s how you can properly say goodbye to our Tavern on the Grove:
The Bar Crawl (7 pm-3 am, January 18)
This final hurrah will celebrate the life of Coconut Grove’s finest. And, of course, we wouldn’t be doing our duty as Miamians if we contribute to a real send-off.
So, in true tavern fashion, the definitive way to achieve this is to drink all the cheap brews that money can buy into the early hours. On Saturday, a bar crawl of the Coconut Grove neighborhood has been organized by the local community. Everybody from Miami and beyond is implored to raise a glass to the bar that gave some special memories.
Here’s the order of play on Saturday:
View this post on Instagram
Last Call on Sunday at 3 am (19 January)
Quite simply, a night jam-packed with regular old drinking. Shots ’till the last call, music on the jukebox, dancing shoes on. This will be the last time you can do this, so nurse your hangover from the night before and see off the Tavern in the style of the last 100 years.
In an interview with Miami New Times, co-owner Lee Kessler confirmed that many old customers would be flying into Florida to get their final taste, before giving their final goodbye.
So, however you decide to celebrate its life, ensure you get down early, empty the beer barrels, and fill the room right up until the door slams shut. We’ll see you at the front.