Miami's favorite place for every day happy hour, the News Lounge, has closed.
The restaurant and bar closed this past Sunday, posting a heartfelt message on its Facebook page:
Juan Diasgranados, marketing director for the News Lounge, confirmed the closing, saying that, although the space had a good run, it was time for something new.
From the Staff at ?#?TheNewsLounge?: "Friends and Family, the rumors are true. After six years of bringing you the best ?#?HappyHour? in town, we will be closing for business. Sunday was our last day open. We will be going through extreme renovations; a new name, new menu, new concept. We're excited! And you should be too! So from the bottom of our hearts —- Thanks for the memories, and thank you for your patronage..." Stay tuned for updates!
The news isn't all doom and gloom. The News Lounge owner, Cesare Mazzoli, has partnered with the owners of El Patio to revamp the restaurant and bar and give it a fresh new identity and feel.
According to Diasgranados, the space will be closed for about two months to undergo "extreme renovations", including moving the bar from the center of the outdoor courtyard to the back. It will reopen with a new name, a new theme, and a new menu — all to be announced at a later date.
Diasgranados, who has been with the restaurant for about a year, said that the closing is a bittersweet one. "It's one of the few places where there was a nightly happy hour. It was a cool spot. We pride ourselves on the outdoor ambiance."
The lounge was also a long-standing neighborhood hangout, with some locals coming in daily for their happy hour fix, according to Diasgranados. Indeed, the bar was named best neighborhood bar/central in 2009 by Miami New Times and also made our list of the city's ten best happy hours.
The marketing director, however, is looking toward the future. "We're excited for what's to come."
