A Pokémon pop-up bar was coming to Miami. But then it ran into trouble
Trainers, it looks like you won’t be able to catch, train or party it up with any of the 800+ pocket monsters this October like you planned.
Update: The Pokemon themed pop-up bar that was expected to stop in Miami this month is canceled.
The Pokémon themed pop-up bar that was expected to arrive in Miami on Oct. 19-20 has run into trouble and is being postponed.
Does Team Rocket have something to do with it?
Maybe, but its unlikely.
The event had licensing issues, according to an email sent out to customers late last month.
The pop-up bar, which was never an official Pokémon Company event, will now be making its Miami stop on Jan. 19.
It’s also changing its name from PokeBar to The Monster Burger Bar Brunch. The venue, which was never officially disclosed to customers, is also changing. The event’s interactive format and burgers will still be the same, according to the email.
All of the pop-up bar’s upcoming national tour stops have been canceled or postponed including in Los Angeles, New York and also in Canada. The pop-up bar’s October stop in Orlando was moved to January 25.
The changes and cancellation come after the organizers failed to secure permission from Nintendo to use Pokémon branding for the event, said Terry Adams, an event spokesperson.
Viral Ventures, an Australian-based immersive events company, was promoting the event for Wonderland Events, but has since ended its involvement with the event, said Adams. Wonderland Events is now listed as the organizer on the pop-up bar’s rebranded website.
Steven Louis, a spokesman for Wonderland Events, did not immediately respond to questions regarding the event’s format and where the new venue will be.
Full refunds for the $45 tickets will be available until the date of the relaunched event, said Adams. Those interested in getting the refund are asked to contact the organizers, according to an email sent to customers through Eventbrite. While the email didn’t list what the best form of contact is, the event’s page on Eventbrite does have a “contact organizer” button.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated to reflect comments Terry Adams, a spokesperson for the event, sent to the Miami Herald after publication.
This story was originally published October 8, 2019 at 10:58 AM with the headline "A Pokémon pop-up bar was coming to Miami. But then it ran into trouble."
