After 50 years of serving Coconut Grove, this family-owned lunch spot is closing

For more than 50 years, The Last Carrot has fed Miami a robust diet of fresh and healthy breakfasts and lunches — and offered the warmth and charm of a family-owned business that cares about its community.

Now, as the Grove reinvents itself once again into something more upscale, the vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant has announced its closing date.

The move comes as no surprise: Developer Allen Morris Company has plans to redevelop the property at 3133 Grand Ave., which is also home to the Italian restaurant Sapore di Mare.

Originally, The Last Carrot was supposed to leave by Nov. 1 but eked out a few extra months in the space. Now, it has announced its final day will be Feb. 7.

Owner Erin Compton, whose father Michael opened the restaurant in 1975, remains positive, saying that “we all have to move along” and adding, “Only good things will come of this.”

“We have to evolve,” she said. “It’s bittersweet, the end of this chapter. This is probably how the hippies felt when the yuppies were moving in 50 years ago! But it doesn’t mean a new story isn’t coming.”

Compton, who owns The Last Carrot with her sister Meadow, said that the family is looking at potential new locations but that a new lease hasn’t been signed yet. She’s determined to stay in the Grove, where the restaurant has cultivated customers for so long and she still believes The Last Carrot has a place there.

And despite the changes ahead, she said, one thing will remain the same: Any new restaurant will continue to put people first.

“I do feel like we’re going to have to change with the times, but I still want to provide a place for the community,” she said. “That’s why we’re here. That’s the most important part, the relationships we’ve formed, not just my dad and myself, but the employees, too. Even the old employees still come back and show love. It’s humbling.”

She’s also optimistic about the future of the business, pointing to long-time Miami icons like Bagel Emporium and Miami’s Best Pizza, both of which closed, then reopened successfully in new locations.

“Bagel Emporium was a great staple in Miami,” she said. “We all grew up going there. And then they had to move it. Now it looks better than ever. Miami’s Best Pizza is better than before! It’s nice to see that it can be done and the community will still support you.”

This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 12:22 PM.