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South Miami’s beloved Big Cheese Italian restaurant has reopened following what longtime owner Garry Duell calls a full building facelift, inside and out. As one longtime customer put it, “The Big Cheese still has the wonderful atmosphere—but it’s spruced up a bit.”
“We put on a new roof that’s reminiscent of an Italian villa, painted the interior, and reframed all the memorabilia on The Big Cheese Walls of Fame,” Duell said. “We also upgraded the kitchen with stainless steel equipment and added a much-needed non-skid epoxy floor.”
Behind the scenes, the restaurant also modernized its point-of-sale system to improve efficiency and speed. Customers can now place pickup, delivery, and catering orders by phone or through the restaurant’s website.
Those upgrades weren’t the only recent additions.
Duell recounts that in 2025, family friend Christian Arrabal of AdviseCRE was exploring real estate opportunities in the area when he learned that Felipe Grabiel, owner of Walls Old Fashioned Ice Cream across the street from The Big Cheese, was facing a landlord issue that would force Walls to close.
Knowing Duell had a food truck available, Arrabal connected the two. The timing proved perfect. Late last year, Walls Old Fashioned Ice Cream reopened in Duell’s newly renovated food truck and is now operating on the south side of The Big Cheese.
The partnership carries a bit of irony: The Big Cheese’s original location was once where Walls used to be. The restaurant moved to its current location in 1993.
“Our customers loved having dinner at The Big Cheese and then walking over to Walls for ice cream,” Duell said. “Now they can enjoy lunch or dinner and then step outside for their favorite ice cream without crossing busy 67th Avenue. It’s the perfect combination for them—and for us.”
Grabiel agrees that Duell’s offer came at exactly the right moment.
“Garry has been great—very straightforward and accommodating,” Grabiel said. “He wants us to succeed because he understands we’re in a symbiotic relationship. We’re serving 99 percent of the Walls offerings from our original location.”
The Big Cheese was founded in 1984 by Duell and his childhood friend Bill Archer, who passed away last year. A Miami native, Archer learned to make pizza straight out of high school before moving to California, where he refined his craft.
“By all accounts, Bill was a wizard when it came to making pizza,” Duell said.
For more than four decades, The Big Cheese has been a favorite among local families and University of Miami students—especially Hurricanes athletes.
“Players and coaches from football, baseball, and basketball love it here because the food is great and reasonably priced,” Duell said. “They enjoy seeing all the UM memorabilia on the walls. Everyone’s been here—from the late Coach Ron Fraser and Coach Dennis Erickson to Craig Erickson, Alonzo Highsmith, Melvin Bratton, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Now Coach Cristobal is keeping the winning tradition going.”
Miami attorney Bill Gregory has been a loyal customer since the restaurant first opened.
“The Big Cheese is one of my family’s favorite places, and we’ve gone there innumerable times,” Gregory said. “Every Christmas Eve, I pick up tubs of ziti, lasagna, and garlic rolls. It’s always crazy busy, but it’s a beloved Gregory family tradition.”
Duell credits the restaurant’s longevity to great Italian food, generous portions, a family atmosphere, and a dedicated staff.
“There’s something for everyone at The Big Cheese,” he said. “Many of our employees have been with us for more than 20 years and truly know our customers. We’re keeping the tradition alive in Bill’s honor. His youngest daughter, Ally Archer, and my oldest son, Garrett Duell, are both contributing at the restaurant. I’m confident Brother Bill is smiling down from heaven, pleased with what’s happening.”
The Big Cheese is located at 8080 SW 67th Avenue in South Miami. For more information, visit bigcheesemiami.com or call 305-662-6855.
