This Miami Beach restaurant was a hot spot for fried chicken. Now it’s closed.

When he opened Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in 2011, founder John Kunkel struck a nerve. The Miami Beach restaurant, known for its upscale fried chicken and expansive bourbon collection, was an instant hit and was even named one of Bon Appetit’s best new restaurants.

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Kunkel, who went on to create the hospitality group 50 Eggs, eventually sold a minority stake in the business, hoping to branch out across the country.

Yardbird, which helped to launch the career of chef Jeff McInnes, who went on to open the now-closed Stiltsville Fish Bar, was on its way. It opened in 2015 in Las Vegas and eventually in other cities across the country.

But now the original restaurant, the one that started it all, is closed at 1600 Lenox Ave.

The restaurant announced its closing via a note taped to the front door, thanking its fans. The letters of the restaurant sign have already come off the building.

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“Thank you for the years of laugher, love, memories, and support,” the note said. “It has been an absolute privilege to serve you and be part of your lives. Every visit, celebration, conversation and smile has meant more to us than words can express.”

The note left open the possibility of a reopening.

“While our doors are closing for now, we are hopeful this is not goodbye forever,” it continues. “We have plans to reopen in the future!”

The note suggested anyone wanting to know about future plans submit their email address to [email protected]

Yardbird locations in Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Singapore remain open.

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