Trading Passports For Keys

For years, Alfredo Gimenez and Gaston Beck collected passport stamps like souvenirs, their careers and wanderlust taking them around the world. They thrived on exploration and freedom until they discovered a place worth exchanging their passports for keys. Today, those keys unlock the doors to two thriving restaurants that have become hot spots of Key West’s dining and entertainment scenes.

The pivot began in 2016 when Alfredo made a decision that would change everything: he quit his job in the oil industry to travel the world. For two and a half years, he moseyed around the globe, enjoying small towns and big cities but always moving towards the next place. It was during this sabbatical that his cousin invited him to visit Key West, a place that would capture him in ways he never anticipated.

“It was just another stop in my travels,  but I never left,” Alfredo laughs. “There’s  something about this place that gets into  your soul.”

While Alfredo was discovering Key West, his longtime friend Gaston was having his own professional awakening. The two had met working for the same oil company, building a friendship that began in 2008. After nine years with the company, Gaston was ready for a change, too.

“I told Alfredo, if you see any business opportunities, I’m open-minded,” Gaston recalls. “Within a few months, he called and I was on a plane to check it out.”

The opportunity was Viva Saloon, a Tex-Mex restaurant where Alfredo had been working as a server while exploring the Keys lifestyle. The restaurant occupied a historic building that dates back to the early 1900s and has a wonderful rustic courtyard. Alfredo could see the potential and began imagining how it could evolve into something more. When he’d finally gathered the courage to ask the former owners if they’d be interested in selling, their “yes” changed both his and Gaston’s lives forever.

“It’s funny how one question can change your path,” Alfredo reflects. “And that question led to a very good change for us.”

In April 2018, the two friends from Argentina officially became Key West restaurateurs, armed with investor visas, their combined savings, and zero formal restaurant experience. What they lacked in industry knowledge, they made up for in determination and a clear vision of what they wanted to create.

Rather than rushing into changes, they spent their first eighteen months learning the market and understanding their customers. They gradually introduced changes and in 2019, they made their boldest move yet: completely transforming Viva Saloon into Viva Argentinian Steakhouse.

“Key West has plenty of seafood, but there was a gap in the steakhouse market,” Alfredo explains. “Argentina is known for two things: soccer and steak. Soccer will never beat fishing in the Keys, but steak can sometimes beat fish on the menu– especially if it’s grass-fed Argentinian beef.”

The transformation was a resounding success. Word spread quickly through Key West’s tight-knit community about these two Argentinians who understood both exceptional beef and genuine hospitality. Their success brought a new opportunity.

At the end of 2023, their landlord approached them about taking over a vacant property—the former Smokin’ Tuna Saloon (and El Alamo back in 2010). The venue was more of a bar and entertainment scene, which would be a perfect complement to their restaurant. Plus, it seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So, they accepted the keys to the property and the exciting new opportunity.

The Alamo Key West opened in September 2024 as a celebration of live music and community gathering. Located at 4 Charles Street just a half-block from Duval, the venue captures an authentic Key West ambiance with its outdoor seating area, fans for comfort, and that unmistakable vibe that only comes from great music, great food, and great people.

The space features a large stage with a professional sound system, hosting performers daily. One of their house bands, The Happy Dog and Jess & Jill, covers Grateful Dead classics four times a week, earning The Alamo the title of the “Southernmost House of the Deadheads.” On weekends, they feature acts from across the country covering everything from blues and reggae to rock and country. The Alamo Key West streams their shows on both their website and YouTube channel, extending their reach beyond the physical venue.

“We have something for everyone,” Gaston explains. “From Grateful Dead classics to blues, reggae, rock, country—we keep the music and bands varied so there’s always something new to discover. That variety keeps people coming back.”

Beyond the music, The Alamo serves high-quality bar food, a large variety of homemade empanadas, tacos, seafood, and other island favorites that pair perfectly with their craft cocktails and relaxed outdoor setting.

Managing two distinct venues requires careful attention to detail and a hands-on approach that both men embrace. From crafting menus to selecting performers, Alfredo and Gaston ensure each restaurant maintains its unique character while upholding their shared commitment to quality and authentic hospitality. This dedication feeds their ever-growing popularity.

Both restaurants have become gathering places for Key West’s diverse community, hosting parties and fundraising events, and they hope that community aspect continues to grow. They regularly participate in community events, like the upcoming Key Lime Pie Festival, and plan to debut their own Fantasy Fest float in addition to hosting official Fantasy Fest parties in 2026.

The community is also excited for Dead Fest 2025 on December 5-7th– 3 days of Grateful Dead music with an out-of-town touring band!

The past several years have been dedicated to their restaurants with little time for travel, but neither man expresses regret about the path they’ve chosen. It says a lot that both men have traveled extensively—visiting more than forty countries each—yet they’ve chosen to call Key West home. They’ve chosen to build something meaningful in a community they love.

“Key West is small and big at the same time,” Gaston reflects. “People from all over the world come to the same place, but it still feels like a small town where everyone knows everyone. And to us, it feels like home.”

For two men who once measured success in passport stamps and global adventures, Alfredo and Gaston have discovered something far more valuable in Key West—the keys to building a lasting legacy. They’ve learned that sometimes the greatest journey isn’t about how many places you visit, but about finding the one place where you finally want to stay.

(Click Here to Review The Viva Argentinian Steakhouse Menu)

(Click Here to Review The Alamo Key West Menu)

Experience Argentinian cuisine at Viva Argentinian Steakhouse or catch live music at The Alamo Key West. Follow both venues on social media for event updates and special promotions.