WELCOME TO BROWNIE’S TAVERN

  If  you’re looking for fancy ferns surrounded by 
artificial antiques and fruity drinks filled with tiny
 paper umbrellas, Brownie’s is not the place for you.
 However, if you’re looking for something besides those
 trendy hot spots where people go to see and be seen,
 head for Brownie’s. An independent bar with
 character and characters. It‘s the oldest bar in
 Broward County and the second oldest in South
 Florida (title of the oldest goes to Miami‘s
Tobacco Road established in 1912).
 Brownie Robertson opened the doors in 1935.
 Prohibition had ended and the big band sound was
 in  its heyday. Back then the bar was the entrance to
the Trianon Ballroom where Brownie promoted the
first black entertainers to perform in the county. Ella
Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Duke
Ellington, Earl “Fatha” Heinz, Tommy Dorsey, and
Kay Kyser all performed here and their photos line the
wooden wall opposite the bar. No doubt, at that time,
this was the place to be in South Florida. The bar and
package store has changed very little since Brownie’s
50 year ownership and the 15 year ownership of Lee
and Maria Cruz. neighborhood tavern where everyone is welcome. Stop
off for a cold one and you may find yourself sitting next
to journalists, judges, lawyers, nurses, doctors, marine
mechanics, building contractors, old time regulars,
tourists, bartenders from other establishments, or
yuppies escaping the corporate sameness and high price
of parking at the stylish downtown saloons. Tuxedo
clad ushers from the Broward Performing Arts Center
stop by to enjoy a pint or two of Guinness. Like many
areas of Fort Lauderdale, changes are coming to
Andrews Avenue. Brownie’s is one of the founding
members of the South Andrews Business Association,
which plans to bring more mixed use businesses and
condos to the avenue.  Broward’s oldest bar will continue to offer pool tables, darts, a juke box, free parking, cheap drinks, food and interesting conversation with an interesting cast of characters.