It's goodbye for now at Miami's legendary Tobacco Road.
"Tobacco Road is about the customers," said Patrick Gleber, co-owner of the famous hot spot. "Tobacco Road is about the space, the employees, the musicians, and it's okay. We'll move on, we'll grow."
But many long-time customers are sad to say goodbye.
"Too much hurt, too much pain, too much love," said patron Lymuel Jones. "It's very hurtful."
Both the beer and the memories didn't stop flowing all night.
"We met here 16 years ago, 16 and a half actually," reminisced Robert Garcia. "Six months later we got married."
"I remember back in 1982 i was sitting about right here," Jones said. "I had a girlfriend right out of college and I brought her here."
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Miamians of all ages stopped by the iconic establishment to bid a final farewell, many wishing "the Road" would have been deemed a historic site by government officials.
"The city shouldve came in and made this a historical site," Jones said. "It should've stayed."
"I mean, condos, condos, condos," Garcia agreed. "A little harsh."
Mayor Tomas Regalado said they could not stop the closing of Tobacco Road after property owners sold the land.
"Progress cannot be stopped, it's driven by the private sector," Regalado said. "But us in the city, we want to do our part, so this is why we're fighting for the small pieces of history that we have in the city of Miami."
From bakery to speakeasy to gambling den, Tobacco Road has survived the test of time. Generation after generation, the bar has also been one of Miami's most popular live music venues.
The historic bar had their final "last call" at 5 a.m., but the Tobacco Road name will live on. Plans are already in the works to remodel an electric supply store less than 1 block away. The current owners sold the name and assets to longtime employee Joel Rivera and his partners.
"I've been working here for 15 years and I didn't want it to go down in history," Rivera said. "I wanted it to continue on and carry the Miami history with Tobacco Road."
Rivera expects the new location to open in about eight months, and plans to keep the same look and feel. There will also be a Tobacco Road inspired bar aboard Norwegian Cruise Line.
