Jan 16 Marks Last Call for Jiaodaokou Favorite Ron Mexico

Ron Mexico, the bar which survived angry neighbors, relocation, and the Great Brickening of '17, will close on Jan 16, according to an announcement posted Saturday on the bar's WeChat group.

"All good things come to an end," wrote Uday Gangaraju, inviting patrons and the local community to a final blowout scheduled for this Tuesday.

Ron Mexico began as a tiny neighborhood bar near the expat-heavy Guanshuyuan residential complex and developed a strong local following. But the bar's popularity soon outgrew its tiny hutong venue and big crowds, late nights, and disputes with neighbors forced a relocation last year. In March, the bar moved to a much larger 110-square-meter former restaurant space at Jiaodaokou with significantly more space and an expanded menu.

Ron Mexico retires less than a year after their triumphant march down Andingmen Neidajie to the new location.

"A bar is like a shark," wrote co-owner Amir Avram, "it has to move forward or it dies."

Nevertheless, there is hope for stalwart drinkers of strong spirits. Despite the final days of Ron Mexico, the space will remain a bar although the owners are keeping mum on details for the new concept.

"We are rebranding," Gangaraju wrote. "The bar is still going to be there but changes will be made and we will re-open after that. Just the title Ron's retiring. It is indeed the end of an era but also a start of a new one as well."

The new concept will launch on Jan 27.

Tuesday night will feature discounted liquor and beer in an "everything must go" bacchanal which, given the reputation of the clientele for joyous overconsumption, promises to be an evening few will remember.

Ron Mexico, R.I.P.

Images courtesy of Ron Mexico

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