Legendary South Beach Bar Closes After 25 Years, Cites Spring Break Crackdown

After more than two decades of pouring pints and building community on Lincoln Road, Finnegan's Road has called last call — for good. The beloved neighborhood bar, known for its loyal regulars and laid-back vibe, shuttered its doors this past Friday, March 28, after 25 years in business. Winner of New Times Best Sports Bar in 2016, its owner Jason DeCastro says the decision didn't come lightly, but in the end, the writing was on the barricade.

DeCastro told WSVN 7News that March has been the worst-performing month in the bar's 25-year history. "The city breaking up with spring break has really crippled the food and beverage industry on South Beach," he says. A Finnegan's Road employee, Marija Aksentijevic, told 7News the closure was heartbreaking, especially since it's the only job she's had since moving to the United States over a decade ago. "This is my second home. I’ve met a lot of people here. I’m going to cry," she says.

The Finnegan's Closure Comes After Yardhouse And Other Lincoln Road Spots Shuttered

South Beach locals, many of whom have frequented Finnegan's for years, were gutted by the news. Many took to the popular Miami Beach Facebook group "Miami Beach Community" to share their grievances. "Oh no, my favorite spot. I love that bar. Sad, sad, sad," one local resident writes. Others echoed the sentiment, calling the closure another blow to the community. "Oh, wow. They were a fixture on Lincoln Road. I can't believe how many long-time businesses are folding lately."

In recent years, Miami Beach officials have rolled out increasingly strict measures to rein in the chaos of spring break: $100 parking fees, curfews, increased police patrols, and security checkpoints. The city even launched a $425,000 ad campaign this year, warning rowdy visitors that things will not be business as usual. Those efforts may have brought calm to the streets, but they also seemed to drain foot traffic from businesses that depend on seasonal crowds. For DeCastro, the final straw was the latest wave of restrictions — and the physical barricades that now block access to many local establishments.

While city officials, including Mayor Steven Meiner, have praised the transformation of "chaos into calm," some in the business community, including DeCastro, say the cost has been too high, especially amid rising rents and dwindling foot traffic. "They alienated far too many people," he tells 7News. "They're blocking everyone’s way."

Finnegan's has left behind more than an empty bar stool. It marks the end of an era for Lincoln Road and a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of sweeping city mandates. Plus, time will tell whether affected businesses in South Beach team up together to do a class action lawsuit against the city.