According to Coconut Grove Spotlight, Coral Gables-based developer Allen Morris Company is slated to knock down the tiny strip mall located at 3133 Grand Ave., the home of the Last Carrot, to build a five-story, mixed-use office building with retail space, offices, and residences, which will range from $2.5 million to $8 million. The large tower will sit along Grand Avenue from Matilda Street up to the parking lot where the U.S. Post Office is located.
The developer has given the lunch spot a deadline of November 1 to move from its current location, according to the publication. And this strip mall isn't the only building getting demolished on the block. A slew of single-family homes will be knocked down to build a three-story structure, as well.
News of the demolition immediately sparked an outcry from the restaurant's longtime customers and area residents, who have been frequenting the hole-in-the-wall since it opened back in 1975. The restaurant was founded by University of Miami graduate Michael Compton, who was a bodybuilder with dreams of opening a healthy lunch spot in his neighborhood. Compton owned the healthy lunch spot up until his passing in 2001. Since then, the restaurant has been owned and operated by his two daughters, Meadow and Erin Compton, according to Coconut Grove Spotlight.
Beloved Coconut Grove lunch spot the Last Carrot is being forced to relocate after 50 years on November 1 after the property was bought by a developer
Photo by Daniella Mia (@mynameisdaniellamia)
A Vegetarian Staple for Veggie Lovers For Five Decades — and Its Fanfare Is Going Strong
While the unassuming strip mall that the restaurant is housed in looks like it dates back to the '70s (that's because it does!), its modern menu and sleek marketing have welcomed in wide and vibrant clientele.Vegetarians and vegans of all ages, including nearby University of Miami students and area residents, have called the lunch spot a haven, as Miami only has a handful of veggie-friendly spots.
The Last Carrot is popular for its hummus sandwich, chicken salad pita sandwich, falafel pita, tuna pita, and freshly squeezed juices. The spot delivers meals up to five miles from its location, and customers are welcome to make a pickup order, as well.
The Last Carrot. 3133 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove; 305-445-0805; thelastcarrot.getsauce.com.
