After producing a series of successful parties during Miami Music Week, Heart Nightclub in Downtown Miami has abruptly closed its doors. The news was first reported by Miami New Times.
“During this past year, the clubs in our 24-hour entertainment district have been constantly attacked by new condo developers, residents and the City of Miami,” wrote CFO Michael Slyder in a statement sent to New Times. “We have fought a good fight and spent a great deal of money on lawyers but now it’s time for us to throw in the towel. It is quite obvious that our neighbors don’t want to compromise to resolve the issue, that real estate agents and developers want clubs closed as they think by doing so property values will increase, and that the City is less interested in protecting nightlife and its businesses than in the past.”
Heart opened in the former Nocturnal space in 2015. It regularly presented events featuring superstar DJs and rising local talent. However, the club sparred with city officials and residents over noise from the get-go.
In November, Heart filed suit against the City of Miami, claiming the city has illegally enforced its noise ordinance in an effort to shut down the club. Slyder, who is also president of the Miami Entertainment District Association, believed the club had been unfairly “vilified and demonized.”
One resident interviewed last year by the Miami Herald contradicted Slyder’s statement, saying the club hadn’t done everything in its power to respect its neighbors.
“The idea that our goal is to shut them down is nonsense,” said Mark Kirby, who has lived at 900 Biscayne since 2010. “Two of the clubs are cooperating, but Heart is doing nothing. Heart is the outlier, and is almost spiteful and vindictive in the way it blasts us out.”
So for now a massive space in Downtown Miami is available. Will it be gobbled up by condo developers? Will another investor take control of the space and open another club? We’ll keep you posted.
April 4 update: Heart has announced it will open for one last party on April 13 with Paul van Dyk on the decks. He will be supported by DJ Adam Scott and Luccio.