NICK CARTER: Mentioned On Last Call For Landmark Florida Keys Bar

One of Marathon's most beloved watering holes is being forced to close no later than 11:59 p.m. May 31.

Brass Monkey Lounge owner Judy Sorenson said she got the shocking news this week in the form of a letter from Winn-Dixie corporate lawyers in Jacksonville. The grocery chain owns the mile marker 50 shopping center where the Brass Monkey has been since 1973 and won't renew her lease.

Sorenson told her employees the news Thursday morning and word quickly spread around town. She says there's little doubt in her mind why this is happening.

"Winn-Dixie decided they don't want us here anymore. They wanted to buy my liquor license and I wouldn't sell it," she said.

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Sorenson said she has roughly 12 employees, including musician Freddie Bye. He's been performing nights at the Monkey full-time for around 23 years, Sorenson said.

Many other famous musicians have performed at the late-night bar, including Greg Allman, Robyn Robins of Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band, Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys.

Marathon's oldest bar, the Overseas Liquor & Lounge, closed down in 2008 after 59 years of operation when the estate of owner Joseph Ardolino requested the couple leasing the bar repay a loan on short notice. The bar and package store have been vacant since.

http://www.keysnet.com/2010/04/24/212839/last-call-for-landmark-florida.html