Palace Bar fun continues at Clevelander for now

Iconic venue plans reopening party at new location later this year

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – LePaige, Missy Meyakie, Tiffany Fantasia and Melissa Hilton were among the queens who shined at the Palace in South Beach. 

The iconic Palace Bar attracted drag queens and admirers from all over the world. For about three decades, beloved queens with their glitter eye shadow, shiny wigs and glossy high boots turned the corner of Ocean Drive and 12th Street into a cat walk. 

The dive bar, which is only a few blocks away from the World Erotic Art Museum, was a haven not just for the LGBTQ community, but also for the locals and tourists who supported them. The building sold to Steve Kassin's Infinity Real Estate for $15.25 billion. They are renovating. 

Thomas Donall decided he was going to stay positive and view their order to vacate as an opportunity to expand. He will be opening a temporary location at the Clevelander South Beach Hotel and Bar at 1020 Ocean Drive.

Donall also said that he is planning on hosting a grand reopening party at another location no later than November. 


About the Authors:

Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando and Panama City Beach.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.