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Just a few weeks after New Times included Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ in its list of the most anticipated Miami restaurant openings of 2026, the project to bring the nationally acclaimed barbecue restaurant to Little River has come to an abrupt and unexpected halt — and, at least for now, appears unlikely to move forward.
According to a New Times source familiar with the matter, “investors pulled out” in late 2025, effectively stopping the build-out of what was slated to be one of Miami’s most significant barbecue arrivals in years. The Little River site, which had been marked by signage and early construction signs throughout the summer, has since gone quiet.
The news confirms what many Miami locals and New Times readers had already begun to suspect. In recent weeks, messages and comments started trickling in: “They removed the signs at the construction site! There’s been no progress since summer!” one reader wrote, echoing a growing chorus of neighborhood observers who noticed the slowdown long before any official word surfaced.
Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ photo
From Excitement to Disappointment in Little River
On January 22, 2025, AJ Capital Partners, a progressive real estate and hospitality company, was “excited to announce the upcoming opening of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ,” a Pihakis Restaurant Group establishment, in Miami’s Little River neighborhood. Helmed by James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott, the celebrated barbecue restaurant was intended to occupy 3,740 square feet at 7100 N. Miami Ave., “further enriching Little River’s dynamic culinary landscape,” according to a press release issued on that date.
At the time of the announcement, Scott had said, “I’ve cooked whole hog barbecue in a lot of places, but bringing it to Miami, and specifically Little River, is something special. I’m thrilled to share the flavors and traditions of whole hog BBQ with a community that values great food and meaningful connections.”
According to Traded, Benjamin Weprin, representing AJ Capital Partners, was the landlord in this deal, while Nick Pihakis represented the interests of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ. The restaurant was part of the Pihakis Restaurant Group.
New Times has reached out to AJ Capital Partners and Pihakis Restaurant Group for comment.
What Miami Will Lose Out On
Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, founded by James Beard Award–winning pitmaster Rodney Scott, is nationally revered for its heritage-driven whole-hog barbecue, slow-smoked over wood embers and served with the restaurant’s signature vinegar-pepper sauce. The Miami outpost was expected to introduce that style to Little River, where excitement around the project had been building since it was first announced.
The Little River location of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ was designed to host private events and offer catering, in addition to offering a versatile dining experience that would make it a neighborhood staple for locals and visitors alike. According to the press release by AJ Capital Partners, the restaurant was envisioned to be a “cornerstone in Little River’s burgeoning hospitality scene, joining a lineup of recent and highly anticipated openings, including the reimagined Sunny’s Steakhouse, Fooq’s, and Bar Bucce, a new concept from the team behind Macchialina.”
Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ was also “set to add its unmistakable flavors to this thriving community, further solidifying Little River as a destination for exceptional food, art, and culture.”
Photo by Jeanne Canto
Why Was Little River So Excited?
In recent years, Little River has evolved into one of Miami’s most intriguing and vibrant culinary corridors, attracting chefs, independent operators, and creative hospitality projects, such as the award-winning Sunny’s Steakhouse and the bustling Bar Bucce. The addition of a heavyweight restaurant like Rodney Scott’s was seen by many as both a cultural fit and a signal of the neighborhood’s continued rise.
The halted project highlights the volatility of restaurant development in Miami, where rising construction costs, shifting financing structures, and intense competitive pressures in the real estate market can stall even high-profile openings with major national pedigrees. As of now, no new investors or development partners have been publicly announced, and no alternative plans for the space have been confirmed. Representatives for Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
For hopeful barbecue lovers and Little River residents who had been eagerly watching the site, the news marks a disappointing twist in what once looked like a sure-thing opening. Whether the project resurfaces with new backing or fades out entirely remains to be seen. But for now, Miami’s arrival has been taken off the fire.
