This Little Havana bar was a favorite hangout spot for Miami locals. Now it’s closing
After seven years, a craft beer dream is ending.
Union Beer Store, a bar-and-bottle shop known for its craft beer, relaxed vibe and delicious dining pop-ups, is closing on Eighth Street in Little Havana.
Founded by husband-and-wife team David and CiCi Rodriguez, the bar opened in 2017 and swiftly became a favorite of thirsty, laid-back customers seeking conversation and good beer (or natural wines).
The hungry showed up, too, for pop-ups like Adrian Castro’s Panolo, just so they could try his pan con bistec of legend. The bar’s inviting atmosphere did not go unnoticed: In 2022, Yelp named Union Beer the best place to drink in Miami.
Now, though, as Miami’s craft beer movement has changed, things are different at 1547 SW Eighth St. In an emotional, heartfelt Instagram post, Rodriguez, who before Union Beer’s opening managed the beverage program at Lokal and Kush restaurants, wrote that Union Beer was shutting down for good.
“Too many obstacles looming have us waving the white flag,” he wrote.
In a text, Rodriguez said that a perfect storm of factors made continuing at Union Beer too difficult.
“We had a good run,” he texted.
Rodriguez and his wife also operate Far Out Pizza next door to Union Beer, which opened in 2023. Even then, he had noted that changes in Miami’s craft beer world were troubling.
“Craft beer is not what it was years ago,” he told the Miami Herald. “I feel like over the last three or four years, there are so many breweries opening up. It’s saturated the market. That’s why we started getting into food.”
It’s unclear if the closure is affecting Far Out Pizza, though the website reports the restaurant is “taking a quick pause and will be back soon.” Delivery is also unavailable on DoorDash and UberEats.
On Instagram, he thanked his customers profusely for their support and all the good memories made over these last six years.
“You allowed us behind the bar to be ourselves. This was never a job for us. . . . We weren’t going to work. We were going to union to hang out with everyone who came in through our doors that wanted to drink some beer and talk some s---.”
“You all went from being our regulars to our friends, family.”
No official closing date has been set, but the bar is hosting a farewell party on April 13 and 14 with pop-ups from chefs Shaggy and Gian Luca of Haochi and the team from Tacos and Tattoos.
Miami restaurant and Little Havana bar were just named among the best in the U.S.
