No, the Broken Shaker Is Not Closing — It’s Just Changing Ownership

Don’t rush to the Broken Shaker bar for a final cocktail just yet. The bar isn’t closing, it’s simply changing ownership. Earlier this week, Bar Lab, the team behind Broken Shaker, announced on Instagram that they sold the bar concept to Generator Hotel, the hotel chain that owns the Freehand Miami where Broken Shaker is located. The sale also included the neighboring 27 Restaurant and their Los Angeles-based restaurant, the Exchange.

“We had a great relationship with Generator,” said Bar Lab co-founder Gabriel Orta. “They bought the Freehand from Sydell during COVID, and we were running the brand together. It came to a point where it was time to move on and pursue bigger things. It was a hard decision, but we feel good about it. We knew Generator would take the baton and make us proud.”

There was some confusion online that this change in ownership meant closing the beloved cocktail bar. However, despite the change in ownership, Orta assured that Broken Shaker and 27 Restaurant would continue to operate as usual. “Nothing is changing,” he confirmed. “We built this iconic brand, and we chose the right partners to take it forward. They have invested a lot into improving the brand, and we feel good about it. They are going to take our legacy and take it to the next level.”

The Instagram post announcing the sale echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude to the staff and customers who made Broken Shaker special. “The friendships, the memories, and the parties will live on in our hearts and continue to shape everything that we do,” the post read.

Broken Shaker started as a pop-up bar in early 2012 at the Sydell Group’s Indian Creek Hotel in Miami Beach, now known as Freehand Miami. Founded by Orta and Elad Zvi, the bar quickly gained a reputation for its innovative cocktail program and laid-back, bohemian atmosphere, contrasting with the expensive and stuffy hotel bars that dominated Miami at the time. The success of the original Miami location led to additional Broken Shaker bars in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City, all within Freehand Hotels. Each location reflected its city’s unique culture and vibe, with Orta and Zvi spending months in each new city to immerse themselves in the local scene.

As for what’s next, Orta revealed new ventures are in the works, including expanding their popular Downtown Miami wine bar Margot to Miami Beach this fall with a new, full-service location.

“It will be like going back to old times, having fun, and we’ll get to see our friends and host them. We’re focusing on a neighborhood bar with great cocktails, great wine, amazing food, and excellent service,” added Orta. “We’re returning to what we fell in love with in this industry because we just love people.”