The Short Version: From the 1930s toward 1950s, Ball & Chain was actually a well-established jazz nightclub in Miami’s tiny Havana community. In 2014, three pals re-established the dance club, planning to recapture the exact same heart just like the initial. Now, baseball & Chain provides once more become certainly one of Miami’s most widely used hangouts. Partners head with the music place and cafe to listen to live music every night in the week, take part in unique activities, and consume genuine Cuban food. The approach behind the institution is the fact that original baseball & Chain never closed; it has merely been upgraded for present crowd.
In 1935, baseball & Chain ended up being a saloon that opened as to what’s today Miami’s tiny Havana area. It actually was well-liked by music fans, exactly who flocked towards the institution to be controlled by live jazz. During the nightclub’s heyday, renowned artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, amount Basie, and Billie vacation sang here.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the club became popular hangout for casino players â which resulted in authorities raids â and was actually one of many just clubs when you look at the racially-segregated urban area to welcome black colored artists.
Later within the 1950s, Cuban immigrants fleeing Fulgencio Batista and Fidel Castro came into the city, generating the area the nickname it continues to have these days. In 1957,Ball & Chain closed and surfaced as an equivalent pub known as Copa. Based on the eatery’s website, that version “was a distant cry from baseball & Chain bar and lounge, because of it lacked the colour and real time entertainment of their precursor.”
Still, the legend of these initial baseball & Chain lived on â until it was re-established in 2014.
For decades, Miamians remembered the grade of the nightclub and its particular artists. In the early 2000s, Bill Fuller, a Miami native of Cuban lineage, learned all about the historical past from the innocuous building in the neighborhood that had as soon as been the radiant institution.
“the guy said towards world-famous Ball & Chain, and his awesome fantasy would be to bring it back once again to existence,” said Zack Bush, certainly three co-owners from the new baseball & Chain.
In the beginning, none associated with the Co-Owners â Bill, Zack, or Zack’s brother Ben â encountered the business know-how to start an organization of their own. However the dream had been rooted, and after numerous years of doing the idea, the three pals officially reopened Ball & Chain in 2014.
Jazz, Salsa, Mambo, and various other occasions Perfect for a Date Night
As the lovers regarded the concept for the present version of Ball & Chain is actually, they requested on their own: What if the original nightclub had been current for a 21st-century clients?
“We modeled Ball & Chain as though it stayed available since 1935 together with never ever closed,” Zack mentioned.
That means that the dance club supplies real time songs and occasions every day on the week. Musicians play within dance club everyday, beginning at noon and keep executing in to the early hours associated with the evening.
The majority of nights, baseball & Chain pays homage into community’s Cuban history by internet hosting Latin jazz ensembles. For instance salsa afternoons, Mambo Mondays, and Bacha Tuesdays that enable singles and partners to concentrate and dance to these vibrant musical designs.

“We have the most incredible Latin jazz at night,” Zack notes.
In the same manner the nightclub has a whole lot songs as a honor to its predecessor, in addition desires function as many well-known designers because performed the very last version of Ball & Chain.
“we could haven’t merely jazz but in addition Grammy winners and nominees that bring baseball & Chain full circle,” Zack mentioned. “it once was great jazz, but now we simply have actually great songs.”
Those musical choices draw in crowds composed of singles, lovers, tourists, and natives. From noon to 6 p.m., baseball & Chain clients are usually visitors, looking at the initial place. After 6 p.m., though, the group is generally regional, additionally a throwback towards place’s early days.
How can the tourists know to come to Ball & Chain? Perhaps due to its large rankings on TripAdvisor also internet based overview web sites. Shining critiques praise it to be the kind of conventional, energetic Miami knowledge that individuals look for whenever they go to the area.
“For those who haven’t been to baseball & Chain, you have not really gone to Miami,” Zack said.
Providing Authentic Cuban Food and Drinks with a major international Flair
While the original Ball & Chain concentrated much more about the music than it did on food and drinks, the newest version concentrates just as on both. The cafe the main institution delivers authentic Cuban food and yummy cocktails.
The selection offers both classic Cuban food and blend cooking. Some classics include Mariquitas de Maduros, Cuban plantain potato chips, and Medianoche, a sandwich of ham, mojo chicken, swiss mozzarella cheese, pickles, and mustard aioli on cooking pan suave loaves of bread.
Eventually, Ball & Chain will include a lot more conventional offerings.
“We’re getting ready to roll out a fresh selection,” mentioned Zack. “we are maintaining the favorites, but we are on the point of introduce brand-new Cuban classics, including Ropa Vieja and Chicken Fricassee.”
Ropa Vieja is a shredded steak meal fashioned with tomato sauce, sweet peppers, and cumin, while Chicken Fricassee is a marinated poultry plate served with olives and carrots.
Foods choices defintely won’t be completely conventional, nonetheless. Some Cuban-with-a-twist options through the Cuban Spring Roll, where ingredients for the preferred sandwich tend to be folded into a rice wrap. And its Congi Fritters contain rice, beans, and parmesan cheese breaded and deep-fried and served with mustard aioli.
“We’re happy with all our tapas products and foodstuffs,” Zack stated.
The products at Ball & Chain also provide followers. Zack’s leading beverage suggestion is the mojito, a traditional Cuban cocktail created using Bacardi rum, lime juices, sugar, and perfect.
“It’s been named the greatest mojito in Miami,” the guy contributes.
For daring drinkers, he reveals the Calle Ocho Old-Fashioned, created using rum, sugar, and an unexpected ingredient.
“It has got cigarette bitters and a tobacco leaf garnish,” Zack stated.
Ball & Chain: developing minimal Havana as a favorite Miami city for a Generation
As Ball & Chain re-emerges among Miami’s top clubs, so does the house neighbor hood, Little Havana. The nightclub provides helped the area once again be among top places observe during the urban area.
“When we launched five years before, we had been the only places around delivering conventional night life to your neighbor hood. We aided draw in another demographic because people could see what tiny Havana had become,” Zack said.
Ball & Chain will continue to highlight exactly what tiny Havana is offering, at the same time. As an example, Tuesday evenings host Noche de Domino, or domino tournaments featuring professional users from Domino Park, which is across the street through the club.
“you simply can’t switch on a travel show about Miami without witnessing Domino Park,” stated Zack with fun. “On Tuesday mid-day, we invite the popular players through the playground to a domino contest where anybody can have fun with professionals through the playground. And there tend to be money rewards.”
Like any other occasion at baseball & Chain, Domino Tuesdays tend to be free of charge. Which probably the most attractive plan Ball & Chain used from original club: no covers and no minimums.
“this is the same motto they had back then,” Zack stated.
With so many tasks and thus much great meals, Ball & Chain is the best destination to bring a romantic date. High-energy couples can figure out how to salsa, while lower-key sets may want to perform dominoes. Whatever they decide to perform, they’ll feel welcome.
“We love all of our individuals. It’s a Little Havana knowledge which is inexpensive, accessible, and real,” Zack said.