"Save the Monkey" has nothing to do with "Save the Whales" or any other humanitarian cause, unless you consider people relaxing with a cold one in a comfortable place the essence of humanity.
“You can do a lot of things in the Florida Keys but don’t try to shut down a bar,” is a quote that's been heard up and down the Keys lately as residents rally to save the Brass Monkey Lounge.
“The Monkey” is a local Marathon hang out that caters to the locals who can nurse a drink day and night and still be there to welcome an after-hours crowd that pours through the doors when all the other Middle Keys watering holes shut down.
The Monkey was set to be hustled out of its present location because Winn-Dixie Stores, which controls the shopping center that houses the Lounge, wanted the space and wanted to buy the liquor license which includes the ability to sell package liquor.
Owner Ginger Snead did not want to sell and she wanted to renew her lease. Winn-Dixie had given her 30 days to move out. That seemed awful quick for a business that had been in the same storefront location for 37 years.
“Hell, it's a historical landmark,” crowed one veteran barfly.
The Monkey’s hardcore customers printed flyers and posted them all over town, “Save the Monkey,” was the simple message. An organized effort to boycott Winn-Dixie was brewing, and the Marathon Mayor got involved.
Local
According to the local Keynoter newspaper, “at Mayor Ginger Snead’s previously scheduled town-hall meeting…nearly 100 people showed up to support the Monkey and protest its eviction."
“You can slap the Monkey but you better not shut it down,” was a classic line.
The plight of the Monkey was the talk of the town, the local radio stations were beating the drum for some type of resolution, the local paper was all over the story, down the line things were getting ugly for Winn-Dixie.
The place was packed on Thursday morning around 11 a.m. A good 25 or so locals hunkered over beers and an amazing selection of cocktails.
Owner Judy Sorenson, a tall, bubbly blond lady came out of the back office. She was thrilled to see an NBCMiami reporter at first, but then said, “It’s over, we have extended the lease with Winn-Dixie! We did it last night. And, the Winn-Dixie folks are over in the corner right now, you want to meet ‘em?"
The Winn-Dixie delegation did not look all that happy to see a reporter, but introductions were pleasant. After all, now there was no story.
The atmosphere became noticeably warmer and smile broke out on the faces of the Winn-Dixie brass.
“Want some breakfast?” someone asked. “Wanna drink?”
Likely the Winn-Dixie folks were relieved that they’d made a deal, and for sure they did not need a Miami TV station jumping into the what was a rapidly escalating public relations nightmare.
The Florida Keys sunlight practically tears your eyes out after the leaving the ultra dark lounge, but few of the regulars care.
Yep, you can do a lot of things in the Florida Keys but don’t try to close a bar, especially the Monkey.
Hank Tester has been covering news and politics in South Florida since 1992.
