This is it. The end of an era.
Van Dyke Cafe will officially close on Sunday, January 26.
The restaurant, which opened in the historic Van Dyke Building in the center of Lincoln Road in 1994, served as an oasis for locals and tourists alike to sit al fresco and enjoy a mimosa, a chat with friends, and a meal. It is also the only place left on Lincoln Road with live nightly music.
See also: Van Dyke Cafe to Close
Some people have commented about the food not being "on par" with other South Beach restaurants. But Van Dyke was, and is, about so much more than just having a meal. It's about meshing culture, music, food, drink, and community together with grace. And now it's closing.
The restaurant team behind Van Dyke, Graspa Group, has issued the following statement:
After 20 years of serving South Florida, Van Dyke Café will be closing on Sunday, January 26, 2014 with a celebration in honor of the memories we have created together. We thank all our loyal customers, staff, music directors and musicians that made both Van Dyke Café and Upstairs at Van Dyke one of the most special places on Lincoln Road.We first opened our café in the historic Van Dyke building in 1994 and have been proudly serving Miami residents for nearly two decades. When Van Dyke Café opened its doors, Lincoln Road was just becoming the travel destination it is today, bustling with outdoor eateries -- perfect for people watching and enjoying the South Florida weather.
In the spirit of Van Dyke Café, Soyka Restaurant will continue with a similar live music program on weekends. We hope you will consider Soyka not only for a great meal but also to enjoy great live music by some of South Florida's best.
To celebrate our history and honor our loyal patrons, we will be hosting a celebration on January 26 from 5 to closing. Please come by and enjoy a complimentary toast and let's reminisce the good times! We would like to extend a deep and heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff and our loyal patrons.
A major retail establishment, possibly Lululemon, will take the cafe's spot, serving up overpriced yoga pants instead of live jazz and cold beer.
There is one small silver lining to this gray cloud. Graspa Group has mentioned that it's working with the current owners of the Van Dyke building to find a smaller space in which to open an abridged version of the popular spot as early as this Spring.
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