The neon glow at Mac’s Club Deuce is a little dimmer this week. Argelio “Angel” Diaz Novo, the longtime bar manager and fixture of the iconic South Beach dive, died on Saturday, January 31. He was 60 years old.
Known for a sharp wit and a steady hand at the helm of the legendary 14th Street Miami Beach dive bar, Diaz was a cornerstone of the Deuce family. In a heartfelt blog post titled “Our Angel” published on the bar’s website, the establishment described him as a master of quips and a sage beyond his years who transcended the typical bartender role to become a friend to everyone.
“I have watched many a bartender work behind this bar over the years,” the post read. “Many memorable, some forgettable, and a few transcend space and time. I watch over them as they bring joy, wit, wisdom, and snark to our patrons. They are family.”
A Community Rallies
Diaz had traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for medical care before his unexpected death. His wife, Christie Ashenoff, the bar’s social media manager and merchandise coordinator, shared the news with the community. She noted that the family is shattered beyond words but lifted by the love of the Miami community…