Miami Restaurants Hang Tough In Recession (so far)

Miami restaurants continue to hang tough. Excepting the closings we've already reported on, between January 1st and March 15th of this year mostly C-list places have thus far gone down. Such as:Deco Drive Cigars 414 Lincoln Rd., Miami BeachFritanga Los Robles 3622 W...

By Lee Klein

April 8, 2009

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Miami restaurants continue to hang tough. Excepting the closings we've already reported on, between January 1st and March 15th of this year mostly C-list places have thus far gone down. Such as:

Deco Drive Cigars                    414 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach
Fritanga Los Robles                 3622 W. Flagler St., Miami
Angelo Italian Restaurant       14629 SW 42nd. St., Miami
Ferreiro Cafe                           9636 Coral Way, Miami
Nikki Coconut Grove                2889 McFarlane Rd., Coconut Grove
Ruby Tuesday                         18801 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

On the more pessimistic side, a struggling restaurant tends to go through a December-May relationship before failing. December, like opening day for the Marlins, means season begins and hope springs eternal. Shaky numbers for the month lead to an anxious January, then much tinkering and worrying through February. March comes in like a lion and brings with it an onset of panic; it goes out like a lamb in denial. April is hail-mary-two-for-one-specials time, but sometime in May, reality takes a seat at the dining establishment and gently informs the owner that to continue through summer is neither wise or feasible. The CLOSED signs generally begin to appear around Memorial Day.

Anyone around here have a bugle?

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