You didn’t really see Wynwood start to become a nightlife destination until late 2014. How has the neighborhood changed since you first opened?īack then you had Joey’s, Panther Coffee and the Electric Pickle Company, but that was really it. There were no assurances that more would be happening. It was an abandoned space owned by someone in the garment industry who had other warehouses, including one where Coyo Taco now sits. We opened our doors in 2012, but I selected the site in early 2011. I just had a short checklist of requirements: indoor/outdoor space, parking and a central location. Gramps was the first bar you ever opened. Fans of the bar will also be giddy to learn that Gersten has plans to expand beyond Wynwood with three new concepts, which he shared in a conversation with us. Gersten was among the first nightlife venues to invest in Wynwood and in just over four years Gramps has grown into a music, comedy and drag venue that also functions as a chill happy hour spot and more-than-proficient cocktail bar. Gramps balances its lazy, tropical vibe with a whirling events schedule that guarantees something fun is happening just about seven days a week. Adam Gersten's bar is young-under five years old-but it already feels like one of those classic drinking establishments that have been around for generations. Give us enough time for two, three, eight more cocktails-and chances are we're still staying put at Gramps. What are three local meals you can't live without?Įnriqueta's breakfast (the special breakfast with bacon), a colon-cleansing vegan lunch at Honey Tree, and then a burger and 5 million drinks at Magnum.Plop us in Wynwood with just enough time for one drink, and we know where we're going: Gramps. We need younger, stronger, more visionary leaders in our community, who actually see what is happening everywhere else in the country that works and is good, and who will actually move this city into the 21st century properly. Why do you hate Miami? Why do you love Miami? I only hate Miami temporarily and usually it is related to shortsighted politicians. Upcoming projects you're working on: Getting our operations-side right at Gramps and opening a small record-pressing plant in Opa-Locka. ![]() Last big project you did: Graduate law school My friends in this business who I admire, they work their asses off and create the environment for people to create their best memories. I always heard that Mac from Deuce is like 99 years old and still sits in the back office. People say we have this shitty fuck-it attitude about time and work. In my eyes, it is no reflection on the city or the arts here.ĭoing your job right and working hard aren't things Miami is necessarily known for. I know some people made some weird big deal about Alvaro and Jen leaving, or Pres, or whoever, to LA, but they still have this place in their blood. How have you seen Miami change over your own lifetime? Then we had this genius epoxy guy come pour the tables. Basically, I just handed out tables to some talented buddies and let them do their thing. I know other states have bars with stuff in clear epoxy in their tables, but I feel like it is so much a part of my fondest drinking binges in this great state. Basically, I wanted to pay homage to Flannigan's and other similar types of joints with that seaside/roadside tavern vibe. Long, me, the fellas at Rakontur (Billy, Alfred, and Dave), and Mike Del Marmol. We hear the booths at Gramps are custom-designed by some talented Miami locals. Oh, and he could also toss back a few cold ones in his heyday. He's also taught me the most important lessons in my life and seems to approve of the trajectory I'm on. He is a sharp guy, a hard worker (85+ and still goes to work at his real estate office), he is an avid beer stein collector, loves Westerns and WWII movies, is a vet, a lady-killer, and an all-around smooth guy. He has a complexity of character that is pretty much unparalleled. Tell us about the namesake gramps, Irving Miller. When I want to feel Miami coursing through my veins, I decide I have an errand to do at 4 a.m., hop in the car, and blast "Crockett's Theme" by Jan Hammer as I fly over the Julia Tuttle, I stare out over the water, see Miami Beach, and say to myself "the world is mine." Then, usually, I realize that I left my wallet at home or locked myself out of the apartment. ![]() If I have a tourist friend from out of town and they want to look at the cruise ships, then 395. Well, every day is filled with magic, but I have a certain tingle every time me or one of my friends has a Yngwie Malmsteen sighting and shares it online.ġ95 gets you there faster. Current gig: Catastrophe mitigator/facilitator at Gramps
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