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Note: A reprint from this year’s Community Guide, we have updated the information to include the newly opened whiskey-tasting room and ax-throwing lanes. Along with the new phone number to the Flats: 480-594-8030
Miami Flats, a family-owned, family-friendly tavern at 406 Sullivan Street, opened its doors on October 14, 2023. The community response exceeded everyone’s expectations, most of all, their local distributor.
“We sold out that day and night, and we weren’t able to open the next day,” says one of the proprietors, Robin Wilson.
They are now open every Friday at 2 p.m. and noon on Saturday and Sunday. Next door to the iron gates of the Last Stand, Miami Flats lounge boasts a huge outdoor patio, a cool dark interior loaded with custom masonry and woodwork and a dance floor that opens to the street. Ceilings have been removed to expose the high beams of the old structure. Copper fixings pay homage to the region’s riches.
And this month the whiskey-tasting room and ax-throwing lanes have opened, with the pizza kitchen expected to open later this fall.
Small Business as a Family Affair
“There’s not much entertainment here, so we thought it’d be fun,” Robin says.
The building, built in 1915, is the former home of Pearson Pontiac car dealership, a machine shop, and apartments for short-term rental.
Robin’s son, Gary Wilson III, owns Dacite Audio, which offers vehicle detailing and custom audio and lighting systems for big trucks and boats. He’s currently converting a retired police car into the new code enforcement vehicle for the City of Miami. Gary had been leasing space at 400 W Sullivan Street for his shop and office. Then the opportunity presented. The owner, Peter Beasley, was ready to sell.
The Wilson family has owned small businesses, primarily construction-related. Miami Flats is their first venture in hospitality. The inspiration came from the building itself.
“My husband thought it looked like a place for a cold beer, ” says Robin.
That started the family running to learn everything they could. They hired a liquor consultant to help with licenses and laws. They watched YouTube videos. Two of them attended bartending school and all four adults got their liquor certification. Gary III worked as a compliance officer at larger venues like the Phoenix Open to hone his knowledge of liquor laws and skills as a bartender and barback.
“We jumped in,” says Gary, smiling broadly.
Robin and her husband, Gary Wilson, bought the building and rented space back to their son, Gary Wilson III, to run his business.
“I see it as a long-term investment,” says Robin, “and Miami Flats, a family affair.”
The roof is good. The space is big. Interior masonry was crafted by Gary Vessels, a cotton broker who lived here for several years. The Wilsons kept everything they could as it was and only redid the kitchen to create the bar. In the shop, they fixed the floor, the foundation and the wiring. Gary is currently constructing cages for the ax-throwing lanes.
“When it comes to construction, we can do most anything,” says Robin.
They all have full-time professions outside of Miami Flats. Robin is a nurse director at CVRMC; she works in the ICU. She earned her nursing degree alongside her daughter, Cayla, who also worked at CVRMC. Robin spent some time at a bigger hospital but prefers the connections she has here.
“You can’t take the small town out of a person,” says Robin. “I like the family feel.”
On a quiet Saturday afternoon in June, Cayla tends the bar. A full-time nurse and mother, she drives up from Maricopa to help out at Miami Flats. Her youngsters are there, watching the adults work. A few local customers come in.
The building, with a view of the mine’s main shaft up the hill, stands on a strip once called Miami Flats, which is how the business got its name.
“We wanted something connected to the history of Miami,” says Robin.
Robin grew up in Miami. Her father was a miner. She graduated from Miami High. So did her husband and son.
“We moved for work but I always knew I’d come home,” says Robin.
Miami Flats is attracting a local clientele and folks stumble in from the valley. The Loners motorcycle club made Miami Flats an official stop on a recent ride through the region. It was a hot day, so the Wilsons opened up the shop and pulled all the motorcycles into the shade. Word is getting out.
“We’re excited that we’re here to see the development of the town,” says Robin.
The town of Miami has been very welcoming and encouraging to the Wilsons. Both Gary and Robin are excited about the new businesses opening in Miami. Ski-doo. The Wilton. Lyric Cafe sandwich shop. Sweet Memories is a weekend favorite.
They are excited about other developments underway — the old Elks building under renovation and the pool is coming back. They are excited to live in a place where the town manager, Alexis Rivera, spends time on the street, and drops by to check on their progress.
“We didn’t expect any of it,” laughs Gary, then adds, “We plan to keep it. We plan to keep expanding.”
Robin concurs that the family has a lot of visions for their new venture.
“Mine is that my husband and I can go float at Roosevelt,” she says, “and the kids can take over.”
A traveler, Patti Daley came to Globe in 2016 to face the heat, follow love, and find desert treasure. She writes in many formats and records travel scraps and other musings at daleywriting.com.
