Photo by Marta Xochilt Perez
Audio By Carbonatix
The local music scene was shaken last month by the announcement that Gramps, one of Wynwood’s most iconic venues, would be closing its doors after 13 years. The news came via Instagram with a heartfelt post: “After 13 years, hundreds of bands, thousands of events, hundreds of thousands of back-and-forth emails, Gramps in Wynwood is closing.”
While the closure didn’t come as a total surprise, skyrocketing rent prices and Wynwood’s ongoing pivot toward tourism have long hinted at such a shift, the disappointment across the community was noticeable.
In the days following the announcement, speculation ran loose: Is Gramps relocating to Allapattah? Will Little Haiti be its next home? Could its sister venue, Gramps Getaway, carry the torch? And what does this mean for the future of live music in Miami?
To get some answers, we called up Adam Gersten, Gramps’ founder and owner.
For those unfamiliar, Gramps Getaway is a waterfront bar at the Rickenbacker Marina, offering an entirely different scenery: mangroves, boats, and open skies instead of murals and crowded sidewalks.
“It’s a relaxing place,” Gersten says. “You look outside and you see the mangroves, it’s special.”
The ambiance might be more laid-back, but Gersten is quick to point out that Getaway is evolving too.
“We’ve improved our stage at Gramps Getaway,” he tells us. “Around December, we’ll start booking more bands.” The programming, he explains, will reflect the venue’s unique character: “More DJs, funk, esoteric stuff outdoors, industrial and New Wave in the indoor room.”
Photo by Monica McGivern
In many ways, he sees Getaway as the natural evolution of the Gramps ethos. “Gramps started simple, and it evolved into many things,” he reflects. “Gramps Getaway is really Gramps in its final form.”
The venue already offers a solid Happy Hour and “reasonably priced” drinks, and the plan is to gradually transition the energy of the original Gramps to this new space. “There’s no mourning here,” Gersten adds. “We’re just moving forward.”
Still, fans of Gramps’ Wynwood location haven’t been left behind, at least not yet. “Gramps is going to have a bunch of programming before closing,” Gersten assures. Expect a strong lineup of shows and events in the final stretch before the January 2026 shutdown.
And what about the rumors of a move to Allapattah?
“We’re working on something in Allapattah,” Gersten confirms, though he keeps the details vague for now. Whether it’s another iteration of Gramps or something entirely new remains to be seen, but the possibility is clearly on the table.
When asked about Wynwood’s future for locals, Gersten is philosophical: “I think it’s up to everyone that has a place in Wynwood to keep giving people a reason to go there.”
“Gramps started as a destination,” he says. “Now it’s not anymore.”
But he’s not bitter, if anything, he sees hope in the resurgence of other local institutions. “The reopening of Rosa’s and Churchill’s, it’s a sign of a healthy music community.”
As the countdown to Gramps’ final night in Wynwood begins, it’s clear the story isn’t ending. It’s just relocating, maybe to the water, maybe deeper into the city. Either way, Gersten is staying busy.
“I’m working on a couple of things,” he says, with a familiar tone of quiet determination.
