‘The time has come.’ After 30 years, the last Dandy Bear in the Miami area is closing
Get ready to say goodbye to your childhood, South Florida. Dandy Bear is closing.
The amusement center known for its games and indoor playground is closing its Kendall location, the last one in Miami-Dade, at the end of the month. The last day to visit Dandy Bear at the Kendale Lakes Retail Center, 13700 SW 84th St., is Sunday, March 27.
“All good things must come to an end. The time has come for us to say our goodbyes. We want to say thank you for the 30 years of love and support,” Dandy Bear wrote in an online statement. “To all the generations who have come to enjoy some family fun time here, from our family to yours, we hope you cherish all the celebrations and memories made with us over the years!”
Miami-Dade’s first Dandy Bear opened in 1992 near Florida International University’s main campus off Southwest Eighth Street, according to Herald archives. Then Dandy Bear opened in Hialeah Gardens and Kendall. The amusement centers were popular birthday party and field trip destinations, particularly for millennials when they were growing up. Kids could play, eat pizza and watch Dandy Bear sing in an animatronic band. They could meet him too.
Eventually, the Dandy Bear in Kendall (which added laser tag to its lineup of activities) became the last one standing. Now, it’s closing — and the news has many feeling nostalgic.
People have flooded Dandy Bear’s Facebook and Instagram pages with comments, remembering the fun they had there with friends and family. Some said it was their first job. Others recalled their Dandy Bear birthday parties, the game tokens, and of course, the ball pit. One Instagram user said their first words, according to their parents, was Dandy Bear.
“Another childhood memory is in the history book,” a Facebook user wrote.
If you’re planning to make a final visit, Dandy Bear is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
RIP Dandy Bear.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 10:18 AM.
