Vintage Miami Ice Cream Parlor Opens New Location After 20 Years

In a city constantly chasing the next big thing, sometimes the sweetest surprise is the one that's stayed the same. Wall's Old Fashioned Ice Cream, a beloved South Miami staple known for its vintage ice cream parlor atmosphere and delicious ice cream, has just opened a second location in Miami. This time, it's just up the road at 9521 Sunset Dr., between Kendall and South Miami.

Founded in 2005 just off of U.S. 1 and 67th Avenue, the original location has been delivering old-school charm with a side of delicious and creamy scoops of ice cream ever since I can remember (the shop even won New Times' Best Ice Cream Parlor in 2009). And when I say old-school, I mean old-school. From a red-and-white striped ordering window outside and black and white checkerboard floors to malts, sundaes, and over 25 flavors scooped out of tubs, it's a place designed for slowing down and channeling your inner child. Plus, Wall's makes its own fudge (something that only true locals know about), and each flavor is absolutely rich and decadent. For owner Felipe Grabiel, who took over the original shop nearly a decade ago, the scoop shop is a celebration of community. "This has been in this neighborhood for years. Everyone I meet usually has a memory of coming here when they were younger,” he told Florida International University's Caplin News in 2021. When the pandemic shuttered dozens of small businesses, Grabiel made sure Wall's didn't become another statistic. He added a walk-up window and expanded outdoor seating to keep the scoops flowing safely. "I'm happy we're still here and we never had to shut down," he told the media outlet.

The walk-up window is absolutely adorable. With a giant hand-painted "Ice Cream & Shakes" sign and a mural of vintage '50s cars parked outside a movie theatre, the shop can truly transport customers to a bygone era of American culture. Plus, there's plenty of seating in its front patio and inside the scoop shop.

The New Location Has That Same Old-Time Charm Inside

The new location carries on its legacy with the same classic charm. Although smaller and located in a shopping plaza, the interior has those iconic red and white striped walls and its signature logo outside.

Here, you can find all of the classic flavors, like cookie dough, "Cookies n' Cream," dulce de leche, "Mint Flake," and "Oreo Heath Bar," in addition to its legendary "Great Wall Challenge," a six-pound mountain of ice cream, bananas, brownies, and toppings. Conquer it, and your photo earns a place on the "Wall of Fame."
Whether you visit the original South Miami location or drive to its new digs, Wall's has always been more than just a dessert shop. Wall's is the kind of neighborhood ice cream parlor where locals gather during hurricanes, holidays, and even hard times. It's even open every day of the year except Thanksgiving. "This is more than just an ice cream shop,"  Grabiel told Caplin News. "It's part of the family."

With its expansion, Wall's is serving more than scoops — it's serving up sweet memories, one cone at a time.

Wall's Old Fashioned Ice Cream - Sunset Drive. 9521 Sunset Dr.; wallsicecreamfl.com.