Fort Lauderdale area clubs and bars of the 1980s

 

By Jane Feehan

Clubs, bars and other nightlife venues went up all over Fort Lauderdale and Broward County in the 1980s.  A few places straddled several decades; nightlife expanded exponentially in the 80s with its growing population and elevated interest in South Florida tourism and other business.

Below sits a long, but not inclusive list, of clubs and bars in Fort Lauderdale and  surrounds of the 1980s.

Candy Store, A1A Fort Lauderdale

Club Atlantic at the Ocean Manor on Galt Ocean Drive in Fort Lauderdale (it’s been so many places)

City Limits, South Miami Road, Fort Lauderdale

Coconuts, Seabreeze (still there and good)

Confetti, E. Commercial, Fort Lauderdale

Crockett’s, N. Federal, Pompano

Durty Harry’s, North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Durty Nelly’s, NE 32^nd Avenue on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale

Frankie and Johnny on SE 17^th Street, Fort Lauderdale

Flanigan’s Excalibur, East Atlantic

Boulevard, Pompano

Frankie’s on the Intracoastal near the Oakland Park Bridge, Fort Lauderdale

Hemingway’s, Dixie Highway, Hollywood

Houlihan’s Old Place, W. Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

House of Rock, N. Federal Lighthouse Point

Ireland’s Edgewater Lounge on N. Atlantic Avenue

Mai Kai, N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale (still operating, new owners)

Mirage at the Holiday Inn on University in Plantation

Mr. Laff’s, N. Federal Highway in, Fort Lauderdale

One Up Lounge at Yesterday’s, Fort Lauderdale

Park Avenue East, N. Federal Highway, Pompano

Penrod’s Sheraton Yankee Trader Fort Lauderdale

Pickle’s Pub, N.  Federal Highway, Pompano

Pier Sixty-Six, Pier Top Lounge, Fort Lauderdale

Pierce Street Annex, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Play Pen, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Poet’s, Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Port Bar, Sheraton Yankee Clipper, Fort Lauderdale

Rathskeller, Best Western Inn, North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Riverwatch Lounge, Marriott on 17^th Street

Rosebud’s, East Oakland Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Sausalito Restaurant, Federal Highway, Pompano

Sea Garden Beach and Tennis Resort on A1A, Pompano

September on Federal near Oakland Park Boulevard, Pompano

Shaker’s, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Shirttail Charlie’s, SW 3^rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale

Shooter’s, 32^nd Avenue on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale

Siron’s II, West Sample Road, Pompano

Stained Glass Pub, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Stan’s Lounge, off Commercial at the Intracoastal Fort Lauderdale

Sonny’s Stardust Lounge and Restaurant, Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale

Studebaker’s, W. Oakland Park Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Summers, So. Atlantic, Pompano

Tack Room, Diplomat East in Hollywood

The Button, A1A near Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale

The Best Seller, N. Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point

The Ramada Pastel’s Lounge, State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale

Tags:

 Fort Lauderdale nightspots, Fort Lauderdale in the 1980s, Fort Lauderdale clubs in the 1980s

An inspired Mai-Kai bartender creates some Fort Lauderdale history

Founder Bob Thornton, at Mai-Kai with Mai-Kai servers
State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

The Mai-Kai has been closed since October 2020 when a pipe or pipes broke after a tropical storm, flooding the Polynesian restaurant. Bob and brother Jack Thornton opened the Mai-Kai in 1956, launching one of Fort Lauderdale's (actually in Oakland Park) most popular dining and entertainment venues for decades. The landmark restaurant was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

The Thornton family, along with two Miami-based partners, have been renovating the Polynesian-themed structure since 2022* and aim to re-open October 2024. Because of the Mai-Kai's historical status, renovations must meet requirements worthy of its preservation as set by the Register and reviewed by the city of Oakland Park.

Many hope traditions will remain when it opens, including its Derby Daiquiri.

Below is a recipe for the Derby Daiquiri, tapped as the official drink of the Florida Derby in March, 1962. 

How to Make a perfect Derby Daiquiri

½ oz Daiquiri Mix

1 ½ oz fresh orange juice

1 ½ oz white Puerto Rican rum

1 cup crushed ice

15-20 seconds in Waring Blender. Serve unstrained

_____

As claimed in an ad from the Fort Lauderdale News, for Daiquiri Mix in 1962, “The Derby Daiquiri is the invention of an inspired bartender at the Mai-Kai.” 

And the Mystery Drink .... will that return?

Additional sources:

*It was announced Sept. 28, 2021 that the Mai Kai had partnered with Miami-based investors to repair and reopen the restaurant. Check back for more  For more on the announcement, see Sun Sentinel.

Sun-Sentinel, Feb. 18, 2023

For more on Gulfstream Park use search box.

Copyright © 2021, 2024. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan

Tags: Fort Lauderdale nightspot, Mai-Kai, Polynesian review, Fort Lauderdale history Polynesian restaurant