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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami Area RESTAURANTS, Drive-Ins, Bars, Lounges, Liquor Stores, Clubs, Strip Joints, etc. Gallery - All Years - click to view >> Bonfire Restaurant Image Gallery - click on image to view the gallery > 1950's - the sign for the Bonfire Restaurant on the 79th Street Causeway
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1950's Courtesy of Jeff Levine

1950's - the sign for the Bonfire Restaurant on the 79th Street Causeway

79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village, Florida


Thank you to Jeff Levine for contributing this old image.


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Guest 03-Dec-2020 19:46
mack.royal@hotmail.com When I was around 15 years old, I went with my parents, Dick Fincher and Gloria DeHaven to eat at the bonfire. I was impressed by the guns. We met the owner and went to his office. It was full of the guns that wouldn't fit on the wall. When our family got back to Austin, Texas we received a box from the Bonfire. It contained a wooden box. I opened it to find two matching six shooters. I was impressed until I studied them. The barrels were stamped "SMILL and WELSSON" and I'd seen better knockoffs in the toy stores.
Guest 31-Mar-2020 17:49
The Old Bonfire Restaurant was a Mob fronted business with a wonderful old bar inside. It had a Texas motif and I bought the longhorns that were over the bar when it went out of business. I worked across the street at what was then WCKT, now WSVN. One of the mobsters, Big Tony Esperti, was convicted of Killing Tommy Altamura in North Bay Village in the late 60's, There was also a bombing in the Village about the same time.
Leighton 09-Sep-2017 01:07
Was located at 1700 79th Street Causeway - now the site of a high-rise. Found a 1983 review of the restaurant "under new ownership."
larry 15-Jan-2014 00:27
When we would go there as a kid on the way out they had a chest and you got to pick a toy out of it. What a gun collection on the walls.
Don Boyd19-Feb-2013 19:25
Thank you, Hugo, for posting those links. History is history, regardless of how sordid it might be. I had forgotten about the Bonfire's reputation and I thank you for adding the additional information.

Don
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Guest 19-Feb-2013 17:38
apparently you can get Hookers and blow at the Bonfire :)

http://www.miamisao.com/publications/grand_jury/1960s/gj1967f4.pdf
Guest 19-Feb-2013 17:34
Interesting Story on the restaurant

http://howardyasgarstories.blogspot.com/2012/05/bonfire-restaurantstory.html
Don Boyd01-Jun-2012 05:25
Thank you to all of you who have added comments with more information about the restaurant. I appreciate it and perhaps others will recognize the names, etc.

Don
Vance Garnett 31-May-2012 19:09
I loved the Bonfire. A grea duo, Tony & Maria, performed there. He an excellent jazz pianist, she and excellent singer. I used to sit in with them and sing "Who Can I Turn To?" Got so, when I walked in, Tony would arppegio into the song and they would hand me the roving mic over the bar. One should allow for the black and white photo here. In reality, the light part was bright neon red. A real eye-grabber as you came off the 79th St. Causeway.
Stan Pierce 31-Jan-2012 19:38
I used to park cars there while attending Edison. We had to dress like cowboys. We had some regulars in convertibles. I used to take my time parking them. ha
Guest 23-Oct-2010 11:54
In 1957, the Bonfire's doorman was none other than Johnny, the Phillip Morris cigarette announcer: "Call for Phillip Morrrreees!" I was surprised to see him at the door as a greeter in his uniform, and pleased that he was the friendly greeter.
Frank Fucci 21-Dec-2009 17:51
Best hickory chicken in town. Fantastic deserts and marvelous weapons display on the restaurant's walls... What happened to Tony's Fish Market???
Ruth B. 18-Dec-2009 17:36
Wonderful babyback ribs