Managing partner Mario Rubeo confirmed the news by phone saying that the bottom line was that the restaurant wasn't "financially feasible" anymore.
The restaurant, which also has outposts in New York, Paris and London, opened on Miami Beach in 1998 and was a favorite among locals for its menu of American comfort foods and unassuming vibe away from the busier side of South Beach.
A visit to the restaurant this afternoon found a note taped to the door saying that Joe Allen was no longer open and thanking regulars for their patronage.
The door was locked, but Short Order knocked and Rubeo opened up. He didn't invite us in, but when we said we might cry because the place was a favorite, he responded, "I'm gonna cry too."
Though Joe Allen had a regular clientele, the place had for years relied on tourists and conventioneers. But this year, the tourist season never really came, Rubeo said. He added that he had been mulling closure for 14 to 16 months.
Rubeo, who was a fixture at the place and usually could be found at the host stand greeting patrons with a smile and a handshake, added that he still had to deal with closing -- getting rid of the dishes and furniture, completing paperwork, and deciding what to with the building, which the company owns.
Might another restaurant open in the space? Rubeo wasn't saying.
What will he do in the future? "After I lock the door for the last time, I'll think about the next step."
Additional reporting by Laine Doss.
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