Skyline Chili in Fort Lauderdale closing after nearly half-century

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The southernmost Skyline Chili location in the United States will soon be closing.

A restaurant version of South Florida's snowbird, the iconic Cincinnati franchise's Fort Lauderdale location will permanently close Saturday after 49 years.

The Skyline Chili building at 2590 N. Federal Highway, which opened in 1971, is tapped to be demolished to make way for a Valvoline Instant Oil Change shop.

It is one of just six Skyline locations in the Sunshine State.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Fort Lauderdale's Skyline Chili has only been open for drive-thru orders for the last few months.

T.A. Walker/WPTV

Co-owner Ken Bucher told the South Florida SunSentinel that he intends to find a new location for his Skyline Chili franchise, but it won't be anytime soon, which means Fort Lauderdale will cede its status as the southernmost Skyline location to Sunrise until then.

But for those native Ohioans still yearning for Skyline's signature five-way spaghetti bowls, not to worry -- the Sunrise location isn't going anywhere. And, though it's no substitute for the real deal, Publix shoppers can get their hands on the canned or box versions of the original chili recipe.