KENDALL, Fla. – A South Florida barbecue landmark that opened its doors in 1951 has sold its iconic location in Kendall.
“I like the baby back ribs and they got the fries in there,” said Phillip Streno, Shorty’s customer.
Customers have been digesting the news that the land underneath the original Shorty’s Bar-B-Q location at Dadeland has been sold in a multi-million dollar deal.
As part of the deal, the new owner agreed to lease back the property so that the restaurant can continue to operate. Additionally, any future development plans on the property will include Shorty’s restaurant.
“I’ve been coming here for a long time. The service is excellent,” said Nancy Streno, Shorty’s customer.
On Tuesday, Florida Value Partners and Atlantic Pacific confirmed the purchase of the site of the original restaurant and a lot nearby for $14.5 million. The deal is stirring up many questions about the eatery’s future.
“We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here tomorrow, the next year and the year after that— no one has to worry. It means that Shorty’s is going to perpetuate both in this location and in this brand for a long time. We found the right brand, with the right developer who wanted to land bank this property. They showed us they were bigger Shorty’s fans than we were,” said Mark Vasturo, CEO Shorty’s BBQ.
The restaurant next to Datran Center Skyscrapers and a block away from Dadeland Mall first opened its doors 70 years ago on 9200 S. Dixie Highway. It closed briefly following a fire in the 1970s and after heavy damage from Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Shorty’s BBQ brand employs roughly 250 South Floridians and has two additional locations in Davie and West Miami.