Jumbo's to Lose Its Soul and Close After 59 Years

Jumbo's, a Liberty City staple that helped pioneer Miami's desegregation movement, will be closing its doors on Wednesday after having opened almost sixty years ago. According to Short Order, the restaurant's owner, Bobby Flam, has sold the property to Iwad Tawil, a developer with plans to replace it and the area surrounding it with affordable housing.

Jumbo's survived an onset of white understaffing when Flam decided to desegregate it in 1968 (one of the first restaurants to do so), and it was able to come out of a heavy rioting spree in the 80s unscathed, however Hurricane Wilma did the restaurant in and unfortunately Flam is giving his flag to another hero who he hopes can redevelop the neighborhood as he ponders the possibility of a franchise.
—Ashley Brozic
· Liberty City Icon Jumbo's, the Temple of Fried Shrimp, Set to Close After Sale [SO]
· Miami Diner, a Pioneer in Race Relations, to End Six-Decade Run [NYT]