Customers haven’t filtered in and out of Doc’s All American in Delray Beach for burgers for more than three years. The burger-and-fry joint’s neon sign still shimmers at night, illuminating Atlantic Avenue, teeming with pedestrians, sports cars and golf carts. Now, construction to bring back not only Doc’s but a new mixed-use building right next to it is expected to begin in the next few months.
On any given evening, weekend or not, the city’s main corridor is crammed with crowds — bachelorette parties waiting in line for nightclubs, older couples sitting down for upscale meals and children gobbling candy or ice cream from one of the many spots designated for sweet treats.
As Delray Beach evolves and only grows in popularity, different ideas for the downtown vision are often at odds, and the history and future of Doc’s serves as a perfect example of this conflict. The restaurant, situated at the intersection of North Swinton Avenue and West Atlantic Avenue, is poised to return to the city it served from 1951 to 2021 , but not alone — it will be joined by a neighboring three-story mixed-use building, which is expected to be completed likely within a year and a half.