According to the Sun Sentinel, the restaurant was forced to close down as the city prepares to demolish the La Piazza complex on Young Circle to make way for Soleste Young Circle, a new 23-story apartment high-rise with 378 units and ground-floor retail.
J28 had been operating on a month-to-month agreement since its ten-year lease expired last year. Owners Javier and Marco Rondon say they had hoped to relocate but have yet to find a suitable, affordable space nearby. "If we move anywhere else, our rent will be doubled, which means our prices will double," Javier Rondon told the Sun Sentinel. "And no one wants to spend $30 for sandwiches in Hollywood."
A Peruvian Staple in Hollywood With a Cult Following
Opened in 2014, J28 earned a loyal following for its crusty, housemade rolls and sandwiches packed with imported ingredients like aji amarillo, rocoto peppers, and lucuma. Its chicharrón sandwich, stacked with pork belly, sweet potato, and fiery salsa, was praised by Guy Fieri in the first episode of Season 34 of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives called "Pierogis, Pork and Pizzaas." He told his fans it was something so good that you "want to eat the one that the person next to you has not finished yet."The restaurant weathered hurricanes, COVID, and shifting foot traffic in downtown Hollywood, all while staying true to its scratch-made menu of Peruvian sandwiches, empanadas, and bowls. But the looming redevelopment of La Piazza, part of a long-term plan to densify and revitalize the area, left the Rondon brothers with few options.
The demolition of La Piazza is part of a broader reshaping of Young Circle, where high-rises like Block 40 and Circ Residences have already altered the skyline. Soleste, developed by Miami-based Estate Companies, will add to that mix with luxury amenities, retail, and new residential density city officials say is essential for downtown's growth, according to the Sun Sentinel.
City records show 12 building permits for Soleste were filed in December 2024, though all are awaiting approval, and no demolition date has been announced. The land under La Piazza was sold to the developer last year for $1.5 million, despite an assessed value of nearly $9.2 million.
What's Next for J28?
In a final message posted to Instagram, the Rondon brothers thanked supporters and hinted at a possible return: "It's a bittersweet goodbye for now, but hopefully J28 2.0 will be back before you know it."For now, the restaurant's future remains uncertain. Despite interest in relocating, the lack of affordable, turnkey spaces has left J28 without a new home.
"We tried to drag it out as much as possible, but everybody's moving out and it's the end of the line," Rondon told the Sun Sentinel.
J28's website now simply reads: "After almost 12 years, J28 closed in Hollywood, FL on June 1, 2025."
