SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. – The Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern in South Miami had been facing a threat of eviction as the bar’s lease ends on Nov. 30. But after a social media campaign, there was hope for the staple of the Miami-Dade County bar scene.
A small wooden cottage at 7221 SW 58 Ave. has been the home of the quaint Bougie’s bar for about two decades. As the coronavirus pandemic hit South Florida in mid-March, the bar closed and reopened on Oct. 16 at limited capacity.
Recommended Videos
About 20 people feared they could be unemployed. That was until the bar’s fans supported the Save Bougie’s campaign on social media this week.
Miami-Dade County Property records show the property owner is Remseaolive, which is managed by Ruby Bacardi, who could not be reached for comment.
Cesar Rincon, a managing partner of the bar, said Bacardi had refused to negotiate after an alleged verbal agreement that rent would not be charged while the business remained closed.
Rincon and other members of the Bougie’s family were grateful and hopeful on Thursday night that Bacardi was going to allow them to renew their lease in December.
The bar’s announcement: “Thanks to the power of social media and your unwavering love #savebougies, a representative of the @bacardi family has begun a conversation with us. We are grateful that the Bacardi family has opened their hearts & ears.”