What went on behind the scenes at South Beach landmark the Clevelander? See the pictures

By Jeff Kleinman

Updated September 7, 2023 3:18 PM

The Clevelander is South Beach.

Poolside parties. DJs and music. Drinking. More drinking. Sports celebrations. Spring break wet T-shirt contests. Dan Le Batard’s radio show. Oh, and somewhere amid all that fun, there’s a hotel in there, too.

It’s a place to take your visiting friends along Ocean Drive. Or your friends on college break.

And for five Cuban migrants 20 years ago, the Clevelander was their first taste of America. Fresh out of the ocean across the street, they bellied up to the bar and asked the manager for asylum.

Instead, they got beers, T-shirts and a round of applause. Then they were turned over to the Border Patrol.

The Clevelander is so iconic that an offshoot popped up in the Marlins outfield, of all places, and was open for about eight years. Like the South Beach landmark at 10th Street and Ocean Drive, the ballpark Clevelander had a swimming pool, DJs and drinks, along with fans in bikinis who might have been paying more attention to the action around the bar than the baseball team on the field.

Now, could it be true?

The Clevelander and bar hotel on South Beach being replaced with affordable housing?

That’s the plan, according to the owners.

“Since purchasing the Clevelander Hotel and Bar a few years ago, we have been proud to operate this legendary and iconic establishment in South Beach. Although we are happy to continue operating as we have, some have expressed a desire that we change our business model at the property,” Jesta Group senior managing director Anthony O’Brien said in a statement. “

Before the Clevelander makes changes, let us look at the Art Deco Ocean Drive property from its 1938 start through the party palace of the ‘80s and ‘90s that helped lead the revival of South Beach.

Here are photos from the archives of the Miami Herald:

THE HOTEL