'There needs to be sacrifices.' South Beach businesses trade spring break sales for safety

Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald on Mar 15, 2025

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MIAMI — Ocean Drive and much of South Beach was again devoid of signs that spring break was in full swing Saturday — no large party crowds, a minimum of loud music and families galore.

Visitors to Miami Beach lauded the changes. But business people say they noticed a drop in sales.

Despite the quieter commerce, they were more than happy to trade cash flow for safer environment.

Crackdowns this year include extra police officers, DUI checkpoints, closed garages, limited beach access and causeway license tag scans. The city released a video warning spring breakers of all the rules.

The manager of the La Trattoria in the Leslie and The Birdcage Cafe in The Carlyle, both on Ocean Drive, remembers how scary things became in years past when shootings and violence plagued Miami Beach during spring break. He watched families dive on the floor, ducking for cover, and looked back on how he saved a woman in a wheelchair from the chaos.

“I’m a Miami Beach resident and I’m happy to see the changes that have come, but there needs to be sacrifices,” said Jefferson, who didn’t disclose his last name.

A father of two children, the manager welcomed the increased number of police officers, barricades and strict enforcement that has come with spring break the last two years. He admitted there is a difference in sales now, but he said he didn’t see a significant hit to business last year when many of the restrictions began and doesn’t expect sales to suffer this year.

“We have to lose something to get families back to Miami Beach again and have a safe community.”

Claudia Morales, who manages Cafe Americano near Hotel Victor, is hoping that something will change with the city’s enforcement — because while it’s good for safety, it’s also taking a toll on her business by bottling up money-spending crowds.

“It has been very very slow. We’re hoping that in two or three years, business will pick back up again,” Morales said. “If it doesn’t, I don’t know what will happen.”

Morales says she’s grateful that the law enforcement has resulted in calmer crowds and a safer atmosphere, but is hoping that the city will eventually loosen its grip to allow business to flow again. Compared to this time last year, the restaurant is already seeing thousands of dollars less in sales, she said.

Nikola Rutovic, manager of Montana’s Speakeasy in the Colony Hotel, also noted a dip in sales. The restaurant opened last year so he can’t compare the decrease to past spring break periods.

“Everything ... is great so far,” he said of the safety measure, “but we would really like to see the sidewalk cafes open next year.”

Next door, Havana Beach Cuban Restaurant in the Boulevard Hotel was booming with business, with almost every table occupied.

Manager Magela Ramos confirmed that business has been great and that they aren’t seeing any significant effects from the stricter restrictions this year or last.

“We are doing great and enjoying the crowds this year,” she said.