Bernie's L.A. Cafe Has Closed: Is Alton Road Construction to Blame?

Bernie's L.A. Cafe, the casual South Beach restaurant dedicated to healthful pan-Latin eats, has closed. Last night, a representative from the restaurant confirmed Bernie's was serving its last dinner service. This closure does not come as a surprise, though. In June, owner Bernie Matz told Short Order that Alton Road...

By Emily Codik

July 29, 2013

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Bernie's L.A. Cafe, the casual South Beach restaurant dedicated to healthful pan-Latin eats, has closed.

Last night, a representative from the restaurant confirmed Bernie's was serving its last dinner service.

This closure does not come as a surprise, though. In June, owner Bernie Matz told Short Order that Alton Road construction had taken a serious toll on his business.

See also:

- Alton Road Construction: Restaurant Killer

- The Meatball Joint Closes

"For a small business like us during the off-season... when you add this into the equation, it's very concerning," Matz told Short Order. "I've seen a huge decline in the last month."

The construction affected more than just parking. The restaurant relied heavily on deliveries, and heavy traffic caused by road closures made transport very slow.

It's been a difficult year for Matz, who has closed two restaurants in the past few months. The restaurateur, who is also behind the Café at Books & Books on Lincoln Road, shuttered the Meatball Joint -- which operated next to Bernie's -- in January.

Matz has not yet responded to requests for comment, but Short Order will update this post as soon as we hear back.

Follow Emily on Twitter @EmilyCodik.

Follow Short Order on Facebook, on Twitter @Short_Order, and Instagram @ShortOrder.

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