Long before Dominique Ansel’s cronut and Momofuku Milk Bar’s corn cookies, New York’s cult favorite treat was Junior’s cheesecake.
Since the opening of its original Brooklyn restaurant in 1950, Junior’s decadent dessert was a sensation. In most New York households, a party or family holiday wasn’t complete without one. Over time, the restaurant opened additional locations in Times Square, Grand Central Station, and Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. Now, Junior’s is poised to expand to New York City’s unofficial sixth borough — South Florida.
Junior’s owner, Alan Rosen, whose father, grandfather, and uncle founded the restaurant over six decades ago, is opening a restaurant at Mizner Park in Boca Raton — with potentially more locations to follow.
“We signed our lease last week,” confirms Rosen. The restaurant, located at the former Ruby Tuesday’s space, is expected to open September 2016. The 270-seat eatery (150 indoors, 120 on the patio), will feature a full bar. In addition, Junior’s will offer a retail bakery and take-out department. Rosen tells New Times that since his father had moved to Delray Beach, he was looking for the right South Florida location for several years. Recently, a real estate broker reached out to him with what he thought was the perfect spot. “I went down to look at it 48 hours later and signed a letter of intent right away. When you know, you know.”
