DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — A staple restaurant for decades in Delray Beach suddenly closed its doors this past week.
Doc's All American, an iconic burger and ice cream joint, is no longer in business after satisfying hungry residents since 1951.
Located in the Old School Square historic district at the corner of Swinton and Atlantic avenues, many locals will recognize the restaurant for its retro signage that harkens back to a bygone era.
The kitchen was gutted, and the patio furniture was gone Monday.
The closing comes as a surprise to many patrons after the restaurant posted on its Facebook page in January that they couldn't "wait to see everyone this year!"
Delray Beach Commissioner Ryan Boylston said he was also shocked to hear about the closure.
"I was surprised, and I had no idea that they were moving that quickly," Boylston.
Price Patton, who used to work with the Historic Preservation Trust, said the building deserves to be included in Delray Beach's history.
"It is a great example of post-WWII modern automotive-driven building," Patton said. "This charm is hard to describe about Doc's."
A developer had made plans to build the "Swinton Station" in the area, and there is a sign posted outside Doc's promoting the project with the words "coming soon" and "available space."
Attorney Neil Schiller, who represents the developer, said they decided to close Doc's to better understand the building. They are now in the process of applying for historic designation to make it a historic site.
Schiller said there are no plans to demolish the building, and they have every intention to save the structure and rehabilitate it.
Reopening Doc's could take months, but the developer said it will happen. They must go through the preservation board and city commission before any changes can be made to the property.
The city previously denied a rezoning attempt.
"I want it to be something we collaboratively work to save," Boylston said.
