The founder of South Florida's barbecue eatery empire Shorty's died April 21 at age 104.
Edward Louis "Shorty" Allen died in hospice care in Stuart, where he'd been living since 2000, according to the Miami Herald. A private service was held Wednesday in Miami.
Allen, who was born in Georgia in 1909 and was a diminutive 5-foot-5, came to South Florida in the 1940s and began as a meat-delivery truck driver.
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He opened the original Shorty's BBQ stand in 1951 and ran it for nearly 30 years before selling it in 1980. The first eatery was opened at 9200 S. Dixie Highway in Kendall and was later destroyed in a fire in 1972.
The restaurant was rebuilt, and branches were later opened in Davie, Boca Raton, Doral and West Miami-Dade. All of the locations featured quirky Western-themed decor to match the ribs, chicken and slaw that were menu staples.
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His restaurants weren't the only thing Allen was dedicated to. He was married to first wife Dorothy Irene Allen for 50 years. After she died, he was married to second wife Sharon Allen for 28 years.
The family has requested memorial donations to Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997.
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