South Florida's lunch scene takes a hit as Ocean One Bar & Grill, a restaurant chain celebrated for its affordable $5.99 meals, has permanently closed down its Florida locations. Outlets in Kendall, Davie, Dania Beach, Coral Springs, Delray Beach, and Royal Palm Beach have all shut their doors, leaving bargain-seeking diners on the hunt for a new go-to spot. The Miami Herald reported the closures, noting that the Kendall branch, which once thrived at the Palms at Town & Country, has gone dark with a disconnected phone to boot, as Google also confirms the permanent closure.

While bargain lunches and triple-threat drink specials are now off the menu in the Sunshine State, Ocean One's 15-year stronghold — the original Las Vegas location — remains in operation, a solitary survivor in a chain that once bustled across Florida. According to a statement obtained by the Miami Herald, no official announcement on the closures came from the brand itself, though a brief acknowledgment was made in a Facebook post on December 19. When clientele prodded for an explanation, the company chose to remain tight-lipped, stating, "For reasons we prefer to keep private."

The Dania Beach outlet, a relatively fresh face having opened in 2020, called it quits on December 22, just days before the holiday rush. Emily Wirley, the marketing manager of Kimco Realty Corp — the entity behind the Dania Pointe shopping and entertainment complex where this Ocean One location was rooted — confirmed the closure to the Sun Sentinel. Despite the hushed departure of the restaurant chain, its website holds no news on the Florida retreats and continues to feature the Las Vegas venue.

Rumours and speculation are left to fill the void as Ocean One vacates the Florida food scene, with no clear reason for the widespread closure unveiled by the company. As patrons and employees alike grapple with the abrupt endings, the remaining Las Vegas branch seems to infer the brand’s pulse still beats, even as its Florida heartbeat has unceremoniously come to a standstill. The story, initially broken by the Miami Herald, was echoed by the post from their official account on X, as locals and loyal diners express their dismay on social media.

 

Restaurant known for $5.99 lunches closes Florida locations — including Kendall https://t.co/vBXtcnd5lK

— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) December 28, 2023