Big Red Cafe closes in iconic silver train car in Destin, Florida
If you have a hankering for some fried catfish with cheese grits and collard greens, or just a big juicy hamburger, or a Southwest omelette, there is still time to stop by the Big Red Cafe at the corner of U.S. 98 and Airport Road and get one — but not for long.
The Big Red Cafe will be closing at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2024.
“We have enjoyed this location and seeing so many familiar faces over the last couple of years,” said Jami Jones in an email.
“This time is bittersweet because we know that it’s necessary, but also that it’s temporary,” she said.
Jami, along with her husband, Casey, opened the Big Red Cafe in the summer of 2022.
The cafe has thrived in the silver train car, but the time has come for the building to retire.
“Repairs needed are just too vast. The decision has prayerfully been made to let this unique train car building retire with some dignity and class,” according to the Big Red Cafe Facebook page.
The Big Red Cafe in the last couple of years has become a family friendly place.
“It truly turned out to be a local spot,” said Tracy McCraw, marketing director for Big Red Cafe.
“It’s where people come by see friends and have lunch,” McCraw said as he enjoyed his favorite, the Southwest omelette.
“It will be missed,” McCraw said.
For Holly Atwell, who works as a server at the cafe, “It’s emotional for me.”
Atwell worked in the silver diner building for about five years when it was known as Mary’s Kitchen, prior to Big Red Cafe moving in.
The Joneses are not new to the restaurant business, and they are certainly not done. Earlier this year, they opened CJ’s Hangout across from the harbor in Destin, and in 2019 they opened The Wharf 850 in Niceville.
“We look forward to a future location for the Big Red Cafe when the right location presents,” Jami said.
“We will keep everyone posted on the cafe and our Big Red Fam on our social media,” she said.
“Love you mean it,” Casey said.
Backstory on Big Red
Casey and Jami started the Big Red Truck in 2014 and set up at various places around town serving fish, shrimp, and chicken tacos as well as grilled lettuce wedges, burgers and much more.
They named the Big Red Truck after Casey’s grandfather’s trucking company, The Red Star Express. His grandfather was John Bisgrove.
They brought a lot of the dishes they served on the truck and more to the cafe.
Silver diner history
The iconic Destin Diner opened its doors in 1992 after the family of former state Sen. Charlie Clary built the breakfast hotspot, according to Log reports.
The building was vacated in 2008 and sat empty until 2015 when Oli Petit of the Red Bar in Grayton Beach revitalized it and brought back The Destin Diner.
In 2017, Mary’s Kitchen of Fort Walton Beach opened a Mary’s Kitchen in Destin in the silver train car until early 2022.
In the summer of 2022, Big Red Cafe took over the diner and served up “red plate” specials. Its final day is Dec. 31, 2024.
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