Shorty's BBQ, the oldest barbecue restaurant in Miami, will permanently close its location at 9200 S. Dixie Highway, in the Dadeland/South Miami area, on Sunday, December 27, 2026, marking the end of 75 years of history at that address, as confirmed by the business itself this week on its social media and its official website.
"The last day of operations for our Dadeland location will be Sunday, December 27, 2026," announced the restaurant, clarifying that their other two locations in Bird Road and Davie, both recently renovated, will remain open.
The one in West Miami (11575 SW 40th Street / Bird Road), in the heart of Westchester, established in 1994, is particularly significant for the Cuban community in southwest Miami, which has turned it into a regular meeting spot over the past three decades. The other is in Davie (5989 S. University Drive), in Broward.
"We remain committed to serving the same great barbecue and continuing the traditions that generations of South Floridians have come to love. Our catering team also continues to serve Miami-Dade and Broward, from gatherings of 10 to events of 10,000 guests!" the message specifies.
Shorty's BBQ thanked its community of customers with a farewell message: "As we prepare to say goodbye to our iconic location on US-1 Dadeland, we want to thank everyone who has been part of our journey."
It invites its customers to visit the place before closing and to celebrate together the legacy of 75 years. "Your love, your memories, and your support mean everything to us."
Dadeland was founded in 1951 by E.L. "Shorty" Allen, a native of Georgia, and became a landmark for generations of families in South Florida, including the large Cuban-American community settled in Westchester, Kendall, and southwest Miami.
The original building burned down in 1972 and was rebuilt on the same site two years later, without the restaurant losing its identity or its loyal clientele.
Behind the closure lies a large-scale real estate operation: at the end of 2021, the owners sold the Dadeland land—along with the adjacent lot at 9180 S. Dixie Highway—to Ocean Dadeland LLC (comprised of Florida Value Partners and Atlantic Pacific Companies) for $14.5 million.
The transaction included a lease that allowed Shorty's to continue operating for at least five years while project planning progressed, according to The Real Deal Miami in January 2022.
In September 2022, the developers submitted a project to Miami-Dade County for two residential towers of 20 and 25 stories, with a total of 500 apartments, designed by Corwil Architects and oriented towards the Dadeland South Metrorail station.
The historic culinary map of Miami is changing: in 2026, the Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami Beach (15 years), the Hard Rock Cafe in Bayside (33 years), and Mr. Chow in Miami Beach (17 years) also closed, among others, pressured by commercial rents that exceeded $100 per square foot in 2026 and reached over $200 in prime locations.
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