Penrod’s Beach Club Returns for a One-Day-Only Celebration on July 4th at Nikki Beach Miami

Source: Nikki Beach Hospitality Group

Reported By: Caroline Dalal

This Fourth of July, one of Miami Beach’s most storied institutions is making a highly anticipated return—if only for a day. Penrod’s Beach Club, the landmark venue that helped define South Beach in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, is coming home to 1 Ocean Drive for a special one-day tribute hosted by Nikki Beach Miami. The event will celebrate the legacy of founder Jack Penrod, whose vision helped turn a declining shoreline into one of the world’s most iconic luxury destinations.

Running from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 4th, the event promises an exuberant blend of nostalgia and contemporary beach club energy, with everything from vintage-inspired entertainment and beach volleyball to dishes from the original Penrod’s menu and DJ sets spinning throwback anthems.

When Jack Penrod opened Penrod’s Beach Club in 1989, the area around 1 Ocean Drive was far from the glamorous hub it is today. With Miami Beach struggling through a period of urban decay, Penrod—already a seasoned hospitality entrepreneur—was tapped by city leaders to help breathe life back into the waterfront. The result was a game-changer.

Penrod’s wasn’t just a beach club; it was a three-story, 35,000-square-foot beacon of South Florida reinvention. Combining a sports bar, nightclub, live music venue, and beach volleyball courts, the club drew tourists and locals alike with its contagious spirit and celebrity-studded events. Concerts by Bon Jovi, wild MTV Spring Break parties, and even a man-made ski slope in Lummus Park put the venue in a league of its own.

With his wife and future business partner Lucia by his side, Jack’s marketing savvy went beyond South Beach. The couple took the experience on the road—importing sand, palm trees, and a dose of tropical escapism to cold cities in the Northeast. Their efforts were pivotal in repositioning Miami Beach as a luxury travel capital.

In 1997, tragedy struck when Jack’s daughter Nicole was killed by a drunk driver. What followed was a deeply personal reinvention of the space. Café Nikki opened in her memory, with a butterfly garden offering a serene tribute to her life. By the following year, that vision had expanded into Nikki Beach—a now-global hospitality brand with locations in ten countries and a signature philosophy of Celebrating Life through music, dining, and barefoot luxury.

More than two decades later, Jack Penrod’s impact remains woven into Miami Beach’s DNA. In 2012, Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach designated April 17 as “Jack Penrod Day,” honoring his cultural contributions and the spirit of revitalization he brought to the city.

The July 4th event at Nikki Beach will honor Jack Penrod’s passing earlier this year at age 85, offering a heartfelt tribute hosted by Lucia Penrod. In a nod to the past, guests are invited to bring their vintage Penrod’s memorabilia—t-shirts, mugs, hats—for a complimentary beer and a shared toast to a bygone era.

Expect throwback beach vibes with:

• Original Penrod’s menu items
  

• Live DJ sets playing 80s and 90s classics
  

• Beach volleyball and open-air revelry
  

• A crowd spanning generations who lived—and loved—the Penrod’s experience

Reservations are now available via Resy, with strong interest expected as longtime Miami locals, travelers, and loyal fans return to 1 Ocean Drive for one more memory under the South Florida sun.

As Miami continues to evolve, this one-day revival stands as a reminder of how visionary hospitality can reshape an entire city. Penrod’s was never just a party—it was a movement, one that celebrated community, energy, and place. And on July 4th, it returns not only to honor the man who built it but to reconnect guests with the era that made Miami Beach magic.