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RIP: the ones the Drive lost

Every great gay strip is built on the ghosts of the bars and diners that came before. Wilton Manors is no exception — rents rise, leases end, owners retire — and the town's memory deserves better than a shrugged "didn't that used to be…?" This page remembers the fallen, tells you what actually happened, and points to who's carrying the torch at each address now.

Kept current as closures happen · Corrections welcome at hello@homotown.com

Hamburger Mary's 2426 Wilton Dr

The national chain's Wilton Manors outpost was for years the Drive's burgers-and-drag institution — the room where a first-timer's "what is this town?" evening usually started, mimosa in hand, queen on the mic. When it closed, the address didn't stay dark long, and the succession was kind: The Well, LGBTQ-owned, took over the space and kept the spirit — drag brunch included. Different name, same Sunday religion.

Now at this address: The Well — drag brunch lives on as 'Sunday Service.'

The Wilton Creamery 2301 Wilton Dr

The little ice cream shop that half the town treated as the official end of every night out. The Creamery didn't fail — it was priced out, one of the Drive's clearest casualties of rising rents, and its farewell was genuinely mourned. The space stayed in the family business, so to speak: in February 2026 a new shop moved in with 52 flavors and higher butterfat, run by a producer from the local nightlife scene.

Now at this address: Jazzberry Creamery — the scoop is dead, long live the scoop.

Shawn & Nick's Courtyard Cafe 2211 Wilton Dr

The beloved LGBTQ+ diner where the Drive had its hangover breakfasts, its post-church brunches, and its first dates that pretended to be casual. Its original home at 2211 Wilton Dr went dark — but this one is the rare resurrection story: in 2026 the concept came back to life up the street, reborn as a diner-by-day inside Dom Caruso's Cucina.

Reborn at 2468 Wilton Dr: Courtyard Cafe — same comfort, new courtyard.

Island Sands Inn 2409 NE 7th Ave

One of the classic clothing-optional guesthouses just off the Drive. The property never actually stopped hosting — it rebranded, and the old name quietly died (Yelp made it official in 2026). Same pools, same address, new sign: the operation continues as Inn On The Drive, which has been running strong under that flag since 2014.

Now at this address: Inn On The Drive — three pools, steps from the strip.

Help us remember

This list only includes closures we can document — dates, addresses, and successors verified before anything gets written. If you know one we're missing (or ran one of these places and want the record set straight), write us: hello@homotown.com. The Drive's history is worth keeping.

For who's alive and pouring tonight, see what's open now and the bar rankings.