Rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated

I got a letter from Nick, managing partner at Anokha. I want to apologize for the story I published saying they were out of business. Nick didn't ask me to to this, but I need to say that. Rumors were circulating and I could not reach Nick by phone, kitchen equipment was moved out in the middle of the night, Jobie was asked to come get his art and lots of other things transpried. I learned a lesson about checking and double checking. I love Anokha and am very happy that they are here to stay.

Here is Nick's letter:

Truth is, YES, we are looking to move out of our new location and get into a smaller space. My aunt & uncle (Meena & Rohit Patel) had a very successful restaurant on Commodore Plaza and tried very hard to expand in that location. As a matter of fact, they even tried to acquire the space next to them (the now defunct gym), however, the landlord of that building (with the influence of a certain cafe owner) opted for the gym and hair salon over expanding a successful restaurant. With that came a decision, stay in the Grove or not?

Because they had been so successful on Commodore and because they felt like they had established roots in the Grove, they decided to stay in the neighborhood instead of moving to areas that are more vibrant and attract more people like South Miami or Brickell. It seems to me, and I've only been here a bit over a year, that the Grove is having an identity crisis. All the written history of the Grove (and from the many Grovites I've spoken too) says that the area was a funky artist colony that went against the grain of the general public.

There was a general consensus among its residents that being different and eclectic was something to be celebrated not shunned. Artists, art, and music were the backbone of the Grove. The things that helped make the area popular and that brought it to the forefront and compared it to SoHo, Greenwich Village, and other neighborhoods that shaped American pop culture. What happened?

In the midst of everything that went on at Anokha last night and with all the rumors flying about, what hasn't been mentioned is that we had one of our most successful nights. The South Dade Connection poetry troupe came in 100 people strong and had a fantastic event. I am very proud that 100 people that DO NOT COME TO THE GROVE, came to Anokha last night and helped create an atmosphere and vibe that is not the norm of what you find here.

The evening was a seamless blending of poetry, live music, djs, great food, and cheap drinks. Sounds like something the Grove could use these days. Whats shameful is that I didn't see ONE local Grovite. We will be having the same event EVERY Friday. I urge all those who enjoys art, music, culture, and fun to stop by on Fridays.We will be revamping our kitchen over the next few days and will reopen on Wednesday May 6th at 6pm.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 305-795-0456.

Warmest Regards,
Nick Patel
Managing PartnerAnokha