Wall’s original ice cream shop had to close. Then a pizza spot came to the rescue

When it closed its original location in October, Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream left a void for the ice cream lovers used to sharing a pizza at The Big Cheese, then crossing the street for a sundae or a scoop.

Now, the two popular local businesses have combined forces: Wall’s has opened in a food truck at the pizzeria located across the street from its former space. It will offer almost all of its original menu, including banana splits, sundaes and malts and favorite flavors like Oreo Heath Bar and Coconut Joy.

And the walk across the parking lot is much safer than the dash across Southwest 67th Avenue , too.

“Now you don’t have to play Frogger just to get some ice cream,” jokes Felipe Grabiel, owner of Wall’s, referencing one of his favorite old video games.

We can all agree that anything that offers easier access to ice cream is a positive development, and Grabiel would be the first to agree. He said the collaboration with The Big Cheese is a godsend.

“We were hopeful that our main location wouldn’t close, but we could also read the writing on the wall,” he says. The lease for the original Wall’s at 8075 SW 67th Ave. was becoming “a little bit too much for what an ice cream shop can support without charging $25 a cone.”

Enter neighbor Garry Duell Jr., owner of The Big Cheese, who happened to own a food truck. Duell and his partner Bill Archer, who died in February, bought the truck with the idea of having it sell pizza at parties around town but never got the plan off the ground. After Archer’s death Duell put the truck up for sale but wasn’t satisfied with the offers he was getting.

When he heard that Grabiel had to leave his space last fall, he had a better idea.

“I found something that could work and be good for the community and the kids, right on The Big Cheese premises,” he says, adding that there’s a nice symmetry to the move: The original Wall’s was the spot where he and Archer opened the first Big Cheese.

The truck, which Duell had repainted to reflect both businesses, will stay put at the restaurant, making it easy for loyal customers to have an affordable night out in one place. The menu is much the same, although there’s slightly less space in the truck, so Grabiel had to cut back on his inventory a little. He’ll also offer four flavors seasonally, rotating them every few months.

But don’t worry: If you show up badly in need of, say, black cherry ice cream, he may not have it handy, but the Sunset location of Walls at 9521 Sunset Drive will. You’ll just have to drive over (or reconsider your order).

Both owners agree that their businesses complement each other and hope to keep the partnership going. Duell doesn’t see it as a problem that another business selling desserts is right outside his restaurant.

“We have some desserts — cannoli, cheesecake, Key lime pie,” he says. “If people want cannoli, that’s what they’ll order. But the kids will want to go get a sundae or an ice cream cone.” He adds, laughing: “I’m not a cannoli guy myself. I used to like to walk over and get coffee ice cream with chocolate chips at Wall’s.”

“It’s a new business model for both of us,” Grabiel says. “He and I would love it to be there forever, but if one of us decides it’s hurting our business we’ll talk about that then. But neither of us is in it for that one-time guest. We’re here for the long-term business, families and people who come back and become regulars, who want a reasonable place to go for a night out.”

Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream

Where: The Big Cheese, 8080 SW 67th Ave., Miami

Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; noon-10 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; noon-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday

More information: @wallsicecreamfl

This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 11:37 PM.