However, don't panic: This isn't a goodbye; think of it as an intermission. New Times spoke to Kuscher directly to get answers.
"Stephen's will be joining Abre Camino Collective, the makers of the Amparo Experience, to bring an experience called 'Stephen's: A Love Story,'" Kuscher says. "Not much I can say right now about Stephen's except it's not permanently closed. We're keeping the space and the lease, and for now, it's temporarily closed for the season with this intent."
"[Kush] Wynwood is in the middle of construction," he adds. "We plan on reopening in the fall of 2025.”
Kush by Stephen's in Hialeah and Kush Wynwood Hit Pause For Now
Often described as "LoKal's scrappy little brother," Kush Wynwood, also known as Kush by LoKal in Wynwood, opened in 2014 with a more rebellious take on the familiar beer-and-burger concept in Coconut Grove, LoKal, that helped establish Matt Kuscher's Coconut Grove original. Although Kush in Wynwood has now closed for renovations, it's expected to return in fall 2025.Meanwhile, over in Hialeah, Kush by Stephen's is temporarily closed — but something much bigger is in the works. Since taking over the historic Stephen's Deli in 2017, Kuscher has made it his mission to turn Florida's oldest Jewish-style deli into a cultural landmark. Since then, Stephen's has become a place where pastrami meets croquetas and where dishes like the "Newman's Jewban" sandwich — recently ranked third in Time Out's list of the Best Sandwiches in the World — celebrate Hialeah's blend of Jewish and Cuban heritage.
Now, that legacy is becoming the foundation for what appears to be a new immersive dining experience.
In collaboration with Abre Camino Collective, the team behind the acclaimed Amparo Experience, Kuscher is launching "Stephen’s: A Love Story." Expected to premiere on October 14 and 21, 2025, the show will follow a narrative about a Jewish boy and a Cuban girl who fall in love at the deli counter, according to Abre Camino's website.
While Kush Wynwood and Kush by Stephens are on hiatus, Kush Hospitality still operates LoKal and Victoria's in Coconut Grove, Tobacco Road by Kush in Brickell, and Kush at the Clevelander.
Kush Wynwood.. 2003 N. Miami Ave., Miami; kushhospitality.com/locations/kush-wynwood. Closed for renovations until further notice.
Kush by Stephen's Hialeah. 1000 E. 16th St, Hialeah; 305-887-8863; kushhospitality.com/locations/stephens. Closed until further notice.
