Transit Lounge Suddenly Closed This Weekend

• Wow such passion. Definitely more than just a bar. Transit and Swenalo started something special by providing a focus for local music for local people. Ironical that it ended with a bounced check for Swenalo. Artistic that we now have PAX & the Stage. This vibe is bigger than both and will continue to flourish as long as local people care. They do!

• Hey, Will, this is Carlos from Suenalo. You still owe us the payment for the July 2011 show. The check bounced and your staff played games with us for months, and you did too. You promised payment and it never happened. We packed Transit Lounge solid for 4 years. It's not worth suing you or insulting you. It's just sad that you won't take responsibility and chose to go out lying and owning money to so many people.

• After Kiki the place was never the same and that is the bottom line. Will treated the place like another cash cow and milked it while he could. He has never had, and will never have a true appreciation for live music or the artists behind it.  He has no idea the hard work it took to build that place. Good riddens and thank God for PAX down the street, a real live music venue with an owner that is passionate, honest and truly supports the arts.

• Transit will be missed.

• Uhm.. Ricardo Guerrero's piece- http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2011/08/ricardo_guerrero_thinks_miami_venues_suck_dick_moving_death_to_the_sun_to_lake_worth.php 

• Further evidence that Will is a douche, he couldn't even hire someone to make a webpage for the place? I mean SERIOUSLY? A supposed high end wine and cheese shop has a free flash webpage? So bush league man, c'mon you can at least pretend to be a real businessman.

• People are losing there jobs all over America everyday.  It's a horrible economy right now & it SUCKS what happend to you all.  Instead of crying about it, get up & out & find yourselves a better place to work.  If you all are a family as you state than your friendships will continue no matter where you are.  You will get nothing from bashing the owner & wasting your time writing all this.  Seems like a lot energy has been put into all this, If your family & bills are what matters then move on . . . Just saying!! 

• Keep Jesse out of this? She was one of the main reasons why transit went down the crapper! She constantly failed to promote transit, her choice in music was horrible, she got rid of all the good bands at transit and put her friends in the lineup instead and when bussiness started going down instead of investing in good bookings she got rid of bands completely and hired dj's and when the good dj's got sick of her shit she had to hire crappy dj's. Transit used to be the place where girls would go and not feel as though they had to dress up or watch out for scumbags, where people didn't judge you for how u looked and where everyone generally had a fantastic time. When she started booking the downward spiral began and instead of a fun atmosphere you walked into a ghetto place. That's not because brickell changed Will it's because you and your star player changed the vibe. Let's not get in to her changing the karaoke to a live band of her cronies and besties including her alcoholic father and friends who snuck in alcohol time and time again. The staff might not have seen it but the regulars knew. And who picked up those tabs? I bet it was all free. And ladies night was an excuse for her to give her friends free champagne. Funny how she was there on weeknights when the bar was empty with the exception of her friends but most weekends she was nowhere to be found. What kind of person is the marketing director of a bar and does the bookings that doesn't even k kw what's going on there? Ohh wait sounds very familiar doesn't it? Very much like the big boss himself. Who was never around. Kiki was always there. When transit was at its peak it just felt right being there. It brought a smile to my face just enjoying the night and the vibe and the music. Yes Will people actually like the local musc scene. You should know a thing or two about music seeing that you have a couple of grammy's under your belt. Oh wait maybe not. Who was it again that you got that Grammy for? Some Mexican artist nobody over here knows about? You think you are high and mighty but you are a Phony. You used mommy's money to get you through life and sucked transit dry to make her happy. Transit was your cash cow so that you could create a place like Kork and avenue d for your snobby friends to visit. Well Will YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS! Good luck buddy, and keep Jesse around. She'll run those places to the ground with you too.

• It wasn't just a bar, it was our bar. Get your facts straight Demstre27.

• Transit was destroyed by will. I cant speak for Maria, but leave Jesse out of this.

• well did you read their name? They are Exceptional Garbage. 

• Elena, you are absolutely right. Thank you for voicing the people and the patrons. You've helped maintain control in the midst of chaos on countless shifts at Transit. You and most of the staff I've had the pleasure of getting to know over the past couple of years have been nothing short of amazing. I really wish you find a place that can appreciate the business you bring (you and the awesome other employees).                             - Ralph (The "Jameson" Guy)

• Very mature, threatening people over the internet with the 'barrel of a gun' or the 'smashing in of teeth' how old are you? Twelve?

• So to recap:  Transit was destroyed by satan and his minions- Jesse and Maria- who will do a fine job making sure Kork goes down in flames with them - ROFL @ "gentlemens night"  these cock hungry girls dont know that theres a reason why the bars have ladies nights!? Someone please write a book. Theres enough drama here to fill up a couple hundred pages.

• Will you are a douche, you always have been a douche, and will always be a douche which is why you let one of the most successful bars in downtown history go to shit. Your 'historic' story and your 'building owner' stories are rooted in fiction, as any casual researcher can find out, as I did on my toilet with my iPad. Bye Will, I hope those deep pockets of yours a lined with money as you are going to need it. Ave D and Kork'd will go the way of Transit. Its just the way you run things, why don't you go back to being a pretty boy and play with your toys, you were always good at that.

• ...and why was she gone? Because Will convinced her that it was the best thing to do. He filled her mind with nonsense and made her feel inadequate or as is she needed to change something within when in reality she was doing just fine. Then he fucked her over and fucked her staff over and fucked up everything she ever worked for. I hope she learned her lesson after this and never goes into business with a conniving fuck like him again!

• Demstre27 it wasn't JUST a bar. It was where people came to enjoy the night kick back and relax and feel normal and at home. More importantly what has happened here is that several people have been put on the street. From the bouncers to the bar backs to the bartenders and even management. Will shows no compassion. He thinks this is no big deal, but he doesn't get this is how people in the real world pay their bills, feed their children, and get through life. People move on and his excellent staff will find new places however so much of what was the MAGIC of transit was lost when Will took over and ran it to the ground. They were truly a family that he destroyed from the top to the bottom. If you don't get that then you don't understand what transit was OR how the biz works, AND you should not be chiming in on this forum. 

• This place was never the same after Kiki was gone...

• Wow!! I use to work for someone like this, too!

• I mean, this honestly doesn't come as a surprise, does it? The place has seemed dead ever since they first announced their closing several months back. Then, you'd go in there on a Thursday night for $1 PBRs, have one PBR and then they'd run out of stock. Could have been a cool place but was obviously managed poorly.

• What a bunch of pathetic people you all are.  Get a life, it was just a bar & not even a good one at that.

• Your right. The empty bottles would be filled with the appropriate liquor.   If Will was doing the liquor store "shopping" im sure he would have come back with the cheapest money could buy. This is probably why the manager and some of the employees had to use their own money for these Gato Tuerto purchases.

• everything is true except for the refilling bottles of Grey Goose, Jameson and Stoli with cheap liquor. If it was up to Will then maybe that would be the case but the employees WOULD NEVER ALLOW that to happen. EVER! Our standards were WAY higher than his unfortunately.

• I hate Britto!

• you to can kiss my ass... Funny how it took you all losing your jobs to grow a pair and stand up for yourselves.. Till now it was chill that fellow employees lost their jobs without cause, but now that it's collectively all of you now it's unjust?... Morals and values, right guys? Yeah... I can see you all are packed full of em.. I stood up for all of you when lacy lost her job, and even took action against Will, with no action or support from the very people in a position to benefit. Jokers and clowns, best of luck to you all.

• i can't remember the last time so many angry messages were posted after an article that wasn't about britto!  lol!!!

• This is what will Edwards did at Transit •buying liqour at El Gato Tuerto illegally. *refilling Bottles of Gray Goose, Jamison, Stoli with Cheap liqour. *paying undocumented workers under the table. *illegal, unregistered plumming throughout Transit Lounge. That's why the sewage kept backing up into the bathroom hallways on busy nights. *Letting go employees because of appearance (not good looking enough) *Bouncing every check to every band and every DJ. Isn't accounting an essential part of business? Dont write a check that you can't cash. It's an insult to the artist/DJ's in the phenomenal Miami local music scene. Will Edwards is a failure at Buisness. Everything he touches turns to shit. The midus touch but just in reverse. I dealt w/ the man on a close basis. He has no sense in the words of loyalty, trust, courage, and leadership. Buisness owners are leaders and pioneers, not some self absorbed asshole who's paranoid of being stolen from at every moment. He's stupid to think an measly Wine & Cheese will make more than 15,000 a week there. That's the place he choose over Miami Transit who would do 15,000 on a slow Friday. Oh I get it. It's because Transit Lpunge was something he didn't create. His money just happened to land on a cash cow. A cash Cow built on the backs of the great people who've worked there and the patrons who have been loyal through out. That's why he doesn't care about Transit bc it wasn't his creation, his idea. Will is a social misfit, he couldn't grasp the concept of being successful in the Food, beverage, and hospitality industry. This guy had a 2.8 million dollar a year venue basically fall into his lap and ran it into the ground. He runs around with a team of assistants who are a bunch of "yes people" and culture his ego. He will never be successful at Kork. The wine knowledge of the GM is putrid, the cheese monger... Doesn't know the difference between Polly-O string Cheese and ass cheese. The positions of Sommelier and Cheese monger are well paid and respected positions. You can't cut corners. You can't hire a person with absolutely no wine and cheese experience to run your venue. She's an idiot. I've had people with in the Wine community tell me how much of a joke Kork is. Good buisness is an art. A artist you are not. P.S. Your in trouble when those pictures hit the media. Nothing good is in the horizon for You. The best thing is that somewhere in your head you see all this biting you in the ass. It's a slow Industry death. * *

• Gentlemen: we are here for a cause and you are redirecting towards some tiresome hogwash. Please continue your disagreement elsewhere. 

• AND LIAR.

• LOSER!!!

• Undercover Pictures and all.......3 years running.

• Totally right, local music fans can't forget how the first year of the "Miami" Music Festival, everything was clearly set up deliberately to financially benefit Transit lounge. Then, after that first year was a bust, this past year, during the second edition, he mysteriously disappeared as the local face of the festival he supposedly helped create. Lame.

• I got your back Stephen!

• Because of Kork, the #8 bus stop was moved and there is no longer a bench to wait for the bus. Everyone that takes the bus with me that walks by the old bus stop mentions how Kork is always empty and nobody has ever seen anyone in there. Bad karma.

• Elena you are amazing!!!! So glad that someone had the balls to stand up to him. It's sad to know Transit will never exist the way it once was, but at least you all can leave with your head held high knowing you tried. You're an amazing soul and I'm so lucky that we got to meet inside of Transit the way it used to be...a round of Jameson please:)

• Hey Stephen this is his girlfriend...you need to get your facts straight. Will only fired me after someone went out of their way to put stories in his head. That someone being an illegal immigrant who gets paid under the table. I know he's your friend Stephen...I thought he was once mine too. A month before I got fired I was told by several co workers that he was trying to find a way to fire me because i had knowledge of his true legal status and thought I was going to turn him in.

• Our single first hand experience with Will was all we needed to understand his character. He lies to the band in front of the camera and behind the scenes talks crap. Who does that? So, while its a shame to lose a venue with a great staff - they deserve better, and the bands/musicians do too. Oh, and let's look on the bright side too, this may mean the Transit Music Fe...I mean Miami Music Festival will be canceled this year too! :)

• Ready New Times??? Theres a story here about what Downtown Miami REALLY Has Coming.   I think were all ready to talk! Running a bar? Even a Caveman can do it!  Apparantly not...

• Nah...your pretty major.

• Elena that was perfect...100% honest truth.  You are so beautiful inside and out. Im so happy we are friends.  The one thing i happily take away from here is that from the staff and regulars i met in the begining. Years ago. To the ones there on the final days. I found a home, a place where i belonged and friends i will take with me till the end. =))) 

• Well put. I never was one of the major Transit employees but I could always tell you gave a shit and worked as hard as possible. Could I have a soda water and lime but don't fill it up all the way?

• No response Will?? Of course not. You have nothing to say.

• Love you Elena! You are always one of the highest selling bartenders, and the one who cared the most about the bar. I saw personally you cleaning and doing dirty jobs that you didnt have to. You are always super nice to customers even when they were mad that we had nothing to sell. love our transit family!

• As someone who has worked for Will Edwards as well as someone who has worked for a deli in Philadelphia, a painting company owned by my father, as a security officer for FP&L and as a soldier in the United States Army (4 years) I think I know a little bit about employers.I only worked for Transit for 7 or 8 months. In that short time, I saw an owner who was constantly AWOL and gave next to nothing about how Transit performed. Will has lived off his family's teet for his entire life and done nothing on his own. I spent a year in Iraq, I've seen men and I've seen boys. Will is the type of man who runs and cowers at the first sound of gunfire or explosions. He is not a man at all. He is a whiny, spoiled little girl who has never suffered or been through anything tough in his entire life. I thank God I never served with a 'man' like him because he is the kind of person that would only look out for himself and get good people killed. Will, you are pathetic.

• very well put Elena, I am honored to call you one of my best friends. I love you. 

• Will,   You speak of your battle with the developers as if you are a hero.  During that battle, the staff was not kept informed of what was going on.  We would have been more than willing to advocate for the place, but we were purposely kept in the dark.  The little information we did receive was through our own research, the media, and our customers who found out information through their business contacts.  Your choice to create a gap between yourself and your staff resulted in a general air of mistrust and did not help you garner any loyalty.  The fact that you barely ever made a physical appearance at the building during actual business hours speaks volumes for your true feelings about the business you say you loved.  In my life before Transit Lounge, I was an Account Manager at a corporation service company assisting many new businesses get off the ground.  During my 7 years there, I met many people who truly cared about their businesses and worked at getting others excited about them as well.  In comparison, you did little to motivate a staff that was excited about their place of employment before you ever became a part of it.  Instead, you made us feel that you didn't care.  You made us feel that way through your actions.  Besides the fact that we hardly ever even saw you, many times we were not given the basic tools to do our jobs.  Some nights, I had not a single cube of ice in my well because the icemaker had not been fixed and fellow employees had to go buy emergency ice using their own cars in the middle of a busy night. Other times, I had to ask patrons if I could pour their new drink in their old glass, as we had nowhere near enough glassware to keep up with the crowds.  If it weren't for me and a few of our barbacks collecting, washing/bleaching, and hanging up bar towels to dry in the storage room, we would have had no towels to keep the place sanitary because new towels were seldom ordered.  Of course, if we didn't have any bleach that week, as was often the case, they were gray, stringy, pieces of cloth that I was embarrassed for patrons to see. Just last week, our rubber band supply was wiped clean.  The biggest issue, however, was the lack of liquor and beer.  I cannot begin to explain how many times I had to say, "Sorry, we're out of that."  It is impossible to sell something that is not there.  More importantly, as a patron if you go to a bar and they do not have the type of alcohol you like (or second favorite, or third, etc.), it is likely that you will move onto another nearby bar that does have it.  If this occurs more than once, you may not return at all.  If you had actually shown up every once in a while, you may have seen how much this made people upset.  I had people curse at me and tell me how much the place has gone down based solely on the lack of alcohol.   I hear your new venture is fully stocked, so you may not have this problem there.  A bartender cannot sell liquor that is not available to sell, but we had to be on the front line while you were hiding away in a cellar somewhere.  I took many insults graciously, because like you I too have a thick skin, when what I truly wanted to do was give angry patrons your personal phone number so they could reach the responsible party.  The virtual elimination of live music from one of Miami's premier live music venues was another a huge blow.  For example, on September 17th Locos Por Juana was suppose to play at Transit, according to our own website.  We had a large group of people who had driven several hours to catch the show only to be told it wasn't happening.  In fact, the show is still listed on Transit's website, although it never happened which just goes to show how much of an effort has been made as far as marketing is concerned.  People showed up every weekend expecting to hear good, live music, but there was none to be heard.  Our DJs, our last musical saviors, even walked out last month on a weekend and left us with just our pandora for the night, because of issues over payment for the services they rendered.  I used to love serving people from all over the US and the World who would tell me how they made it a point to make Transit Lounge part of their vacation, because they had heard about the great music.  Instead of conversing about our mutual love for music, I was left just offering apologies over and over and over.     Will, perhaps the reason why we do not care to acknowledge your loss is because you were not concerned with ours.  On Friday when we lost our jobs, we were explicitly told that you were NOT taking phone calls.  We waited for you to contact us, but it never happened.  It wasn't until I contacted the media that you decided it was time to address your staff.  I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish by stating that I was "fired (from Transit) a long time ago."  Perhaps I can refresh your memory as to what occurred, because I don't recall that you ever addressed that matter even when it was happening.  I was working two separate positions at Transit Lounge as the Marketing Coordinator and as a server.  I resigned my position as Marketing Coordinator in late July 2009 by way of email.  Through the email, which I still have, I explain the reasons why I no longer sought to be employed as the Marketing Coordinator.  Ultimately, I was being far underpaid for the amount of time I was putting into the job.  I addressed each of the issues in detail at the time even quoting fair market value for some of the services I was rendering.  I also, however, sought to retain my position as a server.  I was, in turn, fired from that position by our then general manager (we have had 4 or 5 during my 3 year tenure).  He explained to me that he could not trust that I would be loyal to Transit Lounge since I had quit my marketing job, so he had to let me go.  I left in tears knowing the exact opposite was and remains to be true.  I remained in the lives of my coworkers, who were and continue to be among my closest friends.  After traveling the country with said brother for a month, I returned to Miami and eventually went back to Transit as a patron.  By December, I had been offered my server job back by the same man that had let me go from it to begin with.  I will not speak for my brother, however, we have discussed the situation and his conversations were with the former manager.  My brother only spoke up for my character and vouched that my loyalty to Transit would not be strained should I return.  He was right.  When I did return, a mere 3.5 months later, I was a server briefly before becoming a bartender.  Over the next two years, I consistently had high sales.  On the weekends, when I worked with 3 to 6 other bartenders I was more often than not the one with the highest sales.  My chunk of the pie chart on the POS system showing sales was pretty much always blue (the color assigned to the largest percentage of the pie).  I was also the only bartender that had two shifts where I closed the bar alone.  Besides my efforts in selling as much as I possibly could, I put a lot of effort into making people feel at home.  I had many customers who would come see me week after week, some even night after night.  Furthermore, I took pride in making an effort to keep the place clean and doing things that even the cleaning crew neglected to do.  I helped train new staff in a patient and attentive manner.  I have maintained high standards for my own work ethic and spread my enthusiasm throughout the staff even in the toughest of times. We have had each other’s backs while you just turned your back to us.     With regards to your new business venture, you decided to use some of the same staff members at both locations.  We were asked on several occasions in the last few months to accept delayed paychecks.  I allowed you to use my hourly wages to help keep your business going.  Yet, a payroll sheet was left for all to see on the desk at Transit showing several Kork employees on Transit Lounge’s payroll.  I saw it with my own eyes.  People, who like you, were never around.  One of these employees actually came in to Transit after attending your recent wedding celebration and exclaimed how must she hated Transit and could not understand how we could stand to work there.  Our shared bookkeeper has also chosen to ignore an email I sent her on October 7th regarding vacation compensation that I am owed and another sent today asking when and how I should expect to receive my last paycheck. To add insult to injury, several Kork employees also worked at Transit on Thursday, which unbeknownst to us was our last night.  They had no problem setting up separate bar serving wine, which was not available at the two Transit bars.  So on our last night of employment, we were barred from selling a specific product thus moving customers away from us and straight to the satellite Kork on Transit’s patio.  I hope they made money that night, because we barely did.   My intention is not now nor has ever been to hurt you or anyone else.  I just wanted a chance to tell our side of the story,  we being the people who actually spent their time inside of Transit.  You are absolutely right, Will, I am not a multinational corporation.  I am an actual person with a beating heart, pulse, brain, and voice.  Maybe you are better suited to dealing with entities that do not have those things. You may continue to see yourself as a hero for the little guy, but in reality you have just be a champion for yourself.  I’m glad the sign exclaiming your victory that stated, “TRANSIT LOUNGE SAVED NEVER CLOSING DOWN” has been removed from the building considering it was a little piece of fiction written for the sole purpose of getting us and the public to believe the fairy tale starring you as the hero.I truly wish you the best as well. Sincerely,Elena

• Oh I ALMOST forgot.   Lets have a Charity event on the on the final night BUT jack up the prices 3 dollars a drink...DISGUSTING.

• Shut up Will.  Your the most Hated man in Miami. You treat everyone like garbage when you in fact are the scum of the earth. no one was stealing from you Asshole. You just ran the business into the ground.   ANY "gossip" was started by those closest to you. Your "team". Because no one has any loyalty to you and even they hate you.They just have no choice but to kiss your ugly evil ass.  Your greedy AND cheap. AND im sure the public and the folks at Southern, Premier, Gold coast etc. would love to hear about how you were to stingy to spend a dime on beer and liquor and had management buy liquor at the liquor store with their own money and fill up empty bottles. NICE work Will. ILLEGAL too.  In fact it is you that is the thief and you should be ashamed of yourself for decieving the public.  i guess thats the kind of service and treatment miami should expect from your future "projects".  Im sure 99 percent of your staff would rather be homeless than to EVER work or be associated with anything that has your name attatched to it EVER again. Your greed and utter lack of morals ruin everything it touches.  Be careful you are going to find yourself a lonely old man having burnt every bridge you have at the rate your going you will die alone and hopefully BROKE. Oh yeah and im pretty sure not legal either to fire people for not being pretty enough or being to PLAIN.  Isnt that the pot calling the kettel (Or is it Skol this week?) black? Or saying sexually suggestive comments to one of your bar staff.  Keep it Classy Will. Peace!

• I agree with everything you said except about Jonathan. Don't be bitter because Will made him fire your girlfriend. He had no idea and he was more upset than any other employee I saw. Get your facts straight.

• Ex employee here. and I agree with Helen all the way, the regulars from happy hour would have to bring toliet paper for everybody to use. Will is a D**k that doesn't know nothing about running a bar. And that's my opinion and hope others post more comments and let the public know. And by the way ONE of the BEST MANAGERS at TRANSIT was GIA.

• i mistakingly liked your comment, how could you be so happy about people loosing their jobs?

• Douche....  

• Kork Wine and Cheese- Overpriced schmutz and cacá, served by the devil's cronies and sold as delicacies. Watch out for this total stay away place!!!! Not to mention it's owned by the equivelant of Hitler and Satan's lovechild

• It only takes a person who can read to see what kind of dispicable rat Will Edwards really is. He took a great bar with wonderful employees, like Elena and many others, and purposely siphoned its profits into a soon to be failure of a business. Bad business practices, poor morals, no values, and being an overall selfish spinelss punk; will bring you nothing but a bad karma and failed attempts at being decent. I wish nothing bad on this pitiful man's head, as i know this can be a just world and his life sucks enough living a shallow and worthless existence. He has screwed alot of good people over in many ways, and doesnt even deserve to be associated with a place like transit and the good people who occupied it. The only thief in this story, is Will (Satan) who robbed miami of a genuine locals' place and a spot for good live music. And the only employee to go to Kork, would be his trusted illegal immigrant puppit, Jonothan, who equally lacks any values and morals; not mention lacking the neccessary parts to try being a man.. One day Will, you really will get to write a factual book on what it's really like to be homeless scum. Till that day... 

• It only takes a person who can read to see what kind of dispicable rat Will Edwards really is. He took a great bar with wonderful employees, like Elena and many others, and purposely siphoned its profits into a soon to be failure of a business. Bad business practices, poor morals, no values, and being an overall selfish spinelss punk; will bring you nothing but a bad karma and failed attempts at being decent. I wish nothing bad on this pitiful man's head, as i know this can be a just world and his life sucks enough living a shallow and worthless existence. He has screwed alot of good people over in many ways, and doesnt even deserve to be associated with a place like transit and the good people who occupied it. The only thief in this story, is Will (Satan) who robbed miami of a genuine locals' place and a spot for good live music. And the only employee to go to Kork, would be his trusted illegal immigrant puppit, Jonothan, who equally lacks any values and morals; not mention lacking the neccessary parts to try being a man.. One day Will, you really will get to write a factual book on what it's really like to be homeless scum. Till that day...

• Also please note: Will is mentioning Elena's 'firing' which occurred close to 2 years ago, when she was simply a cocktail waitress and long before she became a high selling bartender. Ipso facto, Wills morals are simply based around money and not any sense of 'morals.'

• And if you can find 3 TRANSIT employees (obviously Kork Wine & Cheese employees will defend him as their jobs depend on it) that are ready to defend Will Edwards (aside from Jessie Allen and Maria who are his overpaid pawns) I will gladly apologize.

• Elena was consistently Will Edwards top bartender in regards to sales without a doubt. She knows what she is talking about. Will is simply a bad person who did not have the the manhood, to confront employees he consistently time and again called 'family' about the shuttering of his doors. He uses morally wrong tactics such as underpaying immigrants to construct his businesses (Avenue D and Kork). His employees generally felt mistreated and lied to by him time and again. By shuttering his doors without any notice he left military veterans, dedicated people and his quote unquote family unemployed. He is not a man in any sense of the word and the majority of employees I have talked to have not heard any sense of a job offer, merely making him a liar and an all around bad person.

• I hear that the purdylounge/thebar people bought it up, so look forward to a great new start for an already well known hotspot.

• Dear Miami New Times and Elena,Firstly to the New Times, thank you for all that you have done for us at Transit Lounge over the years. I have personally thanked many of your reporters for your wonderful coverage and support, especially during our most difficult times. Of all the articles you have covered, I have never commented, regardless of others' comments or incorrect allegations. This time, however, is different. The situation at Transit has been difficult for many years not only because of the economy but mostly because of the large development of the property behind Transit that began in 2008 as a multinational developer pushed very hard to take the Transit property away from us. I fought a massive battle that cost me an ungodly amount of money and stress to save a building that I didn't even own. The Transit staff and patrons rallied as I put together a petition to designate Transit Lounge a historic building which we ultimately won at a somewhat famous hearing which is still being used by some professors around the country as a David vs Goliath story when it comes to historic designations. As I stated, I did not own the building during the time that I worked hard to save it. As I found out recently, the owners of the building were not paying their mortgage and foreclosure was imminent. I did everything in my power to save Transit, but it was too late. I made the public announcement and let the staff know the end was near. During the final month our sales plummeted, as I gave it one last push to be able to buy the building in the eleventh hour, which I did with help from some wonderful people only six days before the foreclosure auction. I was shocked and amazed that the three year battle was finally over. Unfortunately there were still a few battles brewing: the battle of the economy that has affected many of the neighboring bars, the immense changes that have come to Brickell, and the disappointing battles of employee theft and childish gossip. These battles are the reasons I have chosen to close Transit.Transit had its day. I am very proud of what we have done and I am more satisfied with knowing that the Transit building will be with us long into the future and not become another part of some massive parking structure as was planned. Truthfully, Transits days could have ended nearly three years ago when most other people would have taken the money and run, but I fought in a very public and expensive way. Its all in the court records for anyone who would take only a few minutes to research. I am satisfied knowing that something new is coming to the Transit space and it will be a wonderful addition to the Brickell area. I understand the anger of the staff, and I apologize that it was done abruptly and without notice. Anyone in the bar business (a heavy cash business) knows that rumors and employee theft are serious concerns when it comes to closing a bar, and sadly, because of the rumors surrounding Transit there was no other choice but to close, and to close quickly. I have received many calls from people asking me what happened and to express their concerns and for that I am grateful. What some people don't realize, or are too selfish to even consider is my loss. I lost a business that I loved and have sacrificed for both emotionally and financially for many years.Now, on to Elena. I find it interesting that the one person that sent the New Times an unsolicited email was fired from Transit a long time ago. It was only at her brothers request that I gave Elena another chance. To bring up other businesses such as Kork is truly unfortunate. If you want to criticize me go ahead. Have your best shot and believe me you are nothing compared to the multinational developers and their teams of lawyers that I have fought and beat. I have thick skin and will deal with it well, however, when you start criticizing a new business in one of the most difficult economic climates ever, you are hurting people that you don't even know. It's immature, selfish and, frankly, borderline libelous. Lastly, I have hired several of the Transit staff to come over to my new ventures and have already given several letters of reccomendation. I will call more this week but clearly there are some that I will not call. Yes Elena your are one that I will not be calling but I sincerely do wish you the best.Will Edwards, OwnerMiami Transit Lounge

• no, bring it back!

• :)))))))))) yay!!!!!!!!

• :)

• good riddance, place blew

TotalComments: 64