Miami Lakes' Favorite Dive Bar Celebrates 10 Years

Miami Lakes' beloved watering hole, the Bend Liquor Lounge, celebrates its tenth anniversary this month. That's a significant milestone for any dive bar in Miami, where establishments tend to open and close in the blink of a gimlet eye.

It all started in February 2015, when longtime friends and business partners Mo Lacayo and Landy Lamas transformed the former Our Place Lounge and Liquors at 6844 NW 169th St. into what would become a neighborhood staple. Lacayo and Lamas, both architects who run Fortis Lamas Architects and Three County Construction, saw potential in the rundown space they had frequented in their youth.

Lacayo and Lamas discovered the opportunity to take over the space after, in very Miami style, seeing news of the previous bar being raided. After brief negotiations with the landlord, they quickly signed a lease, eager to transform the troubled spot into something new. The pair named their new venture after the big bend on the Palmetto Expressway located behind the lounge. Shortly after opening, New Times readers named the Bend "Best Bar–West" in our annual Best of Miami™ readers' poll. Even more impressive? More than a decade later, in 2023, New Times editors honored the Bend as "Best Suburban Bar."

"It's been our mission since the day we opened our doors to create a space that felt like their own — a part of the community," says Lacayo, who co-owns the Bend with Lamas. "Where people could come and let their hair down and just be themselves. We kept the old 70s vibe but made it a little nicer.  No cigarettes anymore. It was cleaner. We actually had a working toilet."

A Commitment to Affordable Fun and Retro Vibes 10 Years Later

When COVID-19 forced many local establishments to close permanently, the Bend adapted to stay afloat. The team began canning cocktails for takeout, offering refillable growlers for draft beer, and selling craft beer and wine to go.
"Like so many, we were tested during the pandemic, but it was the strength and love from the community that we remained resilient," Lacayo says.

Today, the Bend continues its commitment to affordability with specialty cocktails at $11 and beer-and-shot combos for $10. "Our price point is still at a place that's below many places in the rest of Miami and our parking is free," notes Lacayo. "People tell me all the time you've got to raise prices, but I don't like raising prices because I feel like it's still a neighborhood bar."

While maintaining its authentic 70s ambiance, the Bend has added pop culture elements over the years. Guests can play on a classic Pac-Man/Galaga arcade machine, try their luck at a Star Wars pinball machine, or challenge friends to Nintendo 64 games like Mario Kart and GoldenEye 007 on an old-school TV. A life-size Yoda statue serves as the bar's focal point.

"The Bend is a special place for many people in our community. Here, everyone is a local," says General Manager Sarah Konops. "This is the kind of place where anyone, no matter what their background is, can drop their problems at the door, meet new friends, and dance the night away."
The bar's programming has evolved significantly. "When we first opened, we couldn't get a DJ in there," Lacayo explains. "We didn't have enough people to support the DJ. We started with karaoke and built it up a bit. Eventually, a year later, we got the DJs, and now we have music and entertainment multiple times a week."

Today, the Bend hosts weekly and monthly themed events, including a new monthly Hialeah Hoedown/Country Night, Bender's Only Rock Night, Karaoke Thursdays, Ladies' Night on Saturdays, and trivia every Sunday. "Our first emo night was one of the most memorable events," Konops shares. "I didn't expect emo to be really popular in that area. I was convinced by our regulars it would work, and when it did, stepping back and seeing everybody, I was just like, 'Oh my goodness, what an amazing community.'"

Years of Cocktails, Themed Nights, and Courtyard Hangs to Come

The bar has expanded beyond its main space to include a bottle shop next door that serves as a lounge area. This space features an N64 console, a large projector for watching TV, and a full liquor bar. The room hosts around 40 people comfortably and is a popular spot for private events, offering guests a more intimate setting while still maintaining the dive bar atmosphere.

Behind the bar, the menu includes more than 16 signature cocktails, with fan favorites like "You're Killin' Me Smalls," "Purple Rain," "Bada Bing," and "Don Francisco."

After ten years of serving drinks and building community, the Bend shows no signs of slowing down. With a new 20-year lease extension recently signed, Lacayo and the team are planning improvements to the outdoor courtyard and considering new themes for the bottle shop space, possibly incorporating more country music elements while maintaining the bottle shop's core identity.

"We've really seen everybody come together just as employees, staff, regulars — everybody really come together," Konops reflects. "Every day, I'm kind of blown away by it."

The Bend Liquor Lounge. 6844 NW 169th St., Miami Lakes; thebendmiami.com.