MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — For nearly three-quarters of a century, the smoky aroma of ribs and brisket has drawn customers to Shorty’s BBQ in Dadeland.

But after surviving a fire, Hurricane Andrew and countless storms, the beloved log cabin-style restaurant is now facing a challenge it can’t withstand — South Florida’s booming real estate market.

Developers purchased the property three years ago and have been leasing it back to Shorty’s ever since. The barbecue landmark, which opened in 1951, is expected to close within the next year as the land is redeveloped.

“We always knew there would be a high rise here and our goal is to come back as part of that new project,” said Shorty’s CEO Mark Vasturo, who emphasized that other locations in West Miami and Davie will remain open. “Developers aren’t ready to build yet. So it’s our understanding it could be a year, it could be more.”

The building will be demolished in a year — maybe longer — and Shorty’s plans to return to the same spot once the project is completed. It will be in a modern setting as part of the retail area, not the historic log cabin.

For longtime employees and customers, the news is bittersweet.

Waitress Sade Chain, who has worked at the Dadeland location for 19 years, says she’s watched generations of families return for the same comfort food and familiar faces.

“To see people I saw 19 years ago when they were 5 years old come back in their 20s, it’s amazing,” Chain said. “Now that we have the burnt ends, that’s a top seller.”

Regular customers say it’s difficult to imagine Miami without the wooden walls, picnic tables, and nostalgic feel that have defined Shorty’s for decades.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl,” said Lynda Hodder, a longtime patron. “My mother worked here for years, until she was 82 years old.”

For now, residents and visitors have some time to digest the change and savor this piece of old Miami.

“Even if we’re gone for a little while, we hope to be back in a new way and continue to be part of the Miami legacy,” Vasturo said.

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