Mount Dora Business and Real Estate

Mount Dora's LongHorn Steakhouse sets opening date

12/1/2023

ABOVE: Longhorn Steakhouse stock photo (courtesy of Longhorn Steakhouse)

Progress at the new LongHorn Steakhouse under construction in Mount Dora is barreling along. Darden Restaurant, Inc., the chain’s Orlando-based parent company, recently announced the opening date for the location in the U.S. Highway 441 and Eudora Road intersection. Darden also owns Seasons 52, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Olive Garden, Eddie V’s and Bahama Breeze restaurant chains.

RELATED: Local Dining Guide for Mount Dora and surrounding area

The Texas-themed restaurant’s January 29, 2024 opening will bring their signature ribeyes, t-bones, sirloins, porterhouses and filets to Mount Dora. Lunch and dinner offerings will also feature ribs, chicken, salmon, lobster, shrimp, and salads. Appetizers include their Texas Tonion, Steakhouse wings and Wild West Shrimp. The new LongHorn Steakhouse will also have a full bar with beer, wine and signature cocktails.

Darden owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants and has approximately 190,000 employees. As of 2023, LongHorn Steakhouse, founded in 1981 in Atlanta, generated more than $2.5 billion in sales in its 563 locations, according to Darden, which purchased the chain in 2007. It’s unclear how many employees the company will bring onboard for the Mount Dora location.

Darden isn’t the only large corporation with eyes on Mount Dora. Miller's Ale House, another Florida-based restaurant and sports bar chain, also has a Mount Dora location in the later stages of construction. Stay tuned to Mount Dora Buzz’s Facebook page for an update on its opening date. Although many Miller’s Ale House locations are in its native Florida, there are also locations in Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.

For more restaurant news, events and more in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

New Japanese ramen bar opens in Mount Dora

11/15/2023

What may be the most anticipated new “bar” in Mount Dora, just opened its doors. After weeks of waiting anxiously, Hokkaido Ramen & Sushi Bar dished out its first bowl on November 14 during its soft opening and didn’t disappoint. It’s soft opening continues through November 26.

Ramen, a hearty dish of Japanese comfort food consisting of noodles, rich broth and fresh ingredients, has become increasingly popular in the U.S. Gone are the days when ramen was synonymous with the pre-packaged instant staple of frugal college students. By contrast, traditional ramen dishes take several hours to prepare properly and are loaded with flavorful ingredients.

RELATED: Local Dining Guide

Although there are countless varieties of ramen, there are four basic categories differentiated by the type of brothy base used. Shoyu ramen has a chicken broth base flavored with soy sauce, while Shio ramen has a lighter chicken broth seasoned with salt. Miso ramen, a richer and heartier broth, is flavored with fermented soybean paste. Lastly, tonkotsu ramen broth is cooked using simmered pork bones, resulting in a more creamy and fatty broth. Traditionally, ramen dishes feature long, wheat noodles, but there are now gluten-free options.

Hokkaido Ramen and Sushi Bar, a 17-table restaurant with a casual and contemporary atmosphere, offers 11 types of ramen ranging from mild to spicy and the optional toppings make the possibilities endless. From the counter, customers can order one of the house specialties like the garlic Tonkotsu ramen made from a rich pork bone broth with a garlic and Shio base then topped with a slice of grilled pork, marinated egg, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts. The Tantanmen ramen is made with a chicken broth with a sesame and ginger base and topped with chopped pork. marinated egg, bok choy, scallions, chili oil and a smear of spicy chili. There is also a gluten-free chicken ramen that's topped with chicken breast, bok choy and green onions. We tried the Ichiban ramen, a house specialty. Its rich, garlicky pork broth and toppings were incredibly fresh and delicious. The other diners we asked all gave thumbs up on their ramen dishes. The ramen prices range from $14.50 to $18, but most are $15.50 and the portions are enough to fill up the average diner. Additional ramen toppings range from $1 to $3.

The owner of the Mount Dora location is local Leesburg resident, Yaxiu (Joy) Yan. Her cousin, who trained in Japan as a ramen chef, takes a minimum of eight hours to cook each broth and uses mostly organic ingredients, according to Yan.

Sushi lovers can also get their fix with five varieties of poke bowls and dozens of 6-piece rolls or hand rolls.

Along with very friendly service, the new Asian eatery also features about a dozen appetizers ranging from edamame, sesame balls and gyoza (dumplings) to coconut shrimp, takoyaki (octopus dumpling) and fried calamari. The prices range from $4.95 to $7.95. Dessert offerings are limited to mochi ice cream, cheesecake, chocolate mousse cake and tiramisu. Currently, the restaurant only serves soft drinks, but there are also five flavors of green teas, and six varieties of milk teas available with your choice of boba.

Hokkaido, a casual restaurant chain, has locations in roughly 20 states and is named after the northernmost island of Japan’s main islands known for its fresh cuisine, Sapporo beer, active volcanoes, and powdery ski slopes.

Hokkaido Ramen and Sushi Bar is located at 17280 U.S. Highway 441 in Mount Dora in front of Target and next to GameStop.

For more restaurant news, events and more in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Local Dining Guide

Casual Japanese restaurant opens in Tavares

11/1/2023

Following in Mount Dora’s footsteps, Tavares is also seeing more ethnic eateries being added to its growing list of dining options. One of the latest Asian restaurants to open is Tokyo Teriyaki, an unusual hybrid of old-school American diner and no-frills Japanese restaurant, located in the Joann’s shopping center on U.S. Highway 441.

Diner-style breakfasts are served in the morning to accommodate the patrons of the former restaurant in that location. Menu items range from a variety of pancakes ($6-$7), three-egg omelets ($9-$12), as well as biscuits and gravy. During lunch and dinner, diners can start off with Crab Rangoon ($6), pork egg rolls ($5), dumplings ($6.50),edamame, salads ($4-$7) or soups ($3), including a flavorful miso soup. Tokyo Teriyaki also offers nine varieties of basic sushi rolls which don’t include raw seafood for patrons that aren’t too adventurous.

Main courses include the restaurant’s namesake teriyaki dishes ($13-$16), basic Japanese favorites like fish or chicken Katsu ($12-$13), fried rice with a choice of protein ($11-$15), plus various rice and noodle bowls ($12-$15). To mix it up, there is also Korean-style ramen ($13-$15), bulgogi beef and Korean barbecue chicken ($13). Loyal customers of the former diner may like the seven traditional sandwich offerings, including a BLT ($7), grilled cheese ($6) or a tuna melt ($8). For anyone with a sweet tooth, the restaurant offers tempura cheesecake ($7) and a handful of boba teas ($7).

On a recent visit, the chicken teriyaki was cooked perfectly with nice flavor, while the bulgogi beef lacked flavor. Both were served with a tasty serving of grilled peppers and onions, along with traditional sticky rice. It’s advisable to allow plenty of time for your meal because service was very slow with just three other customers in the restaurant at the time. ’They are currently hiring for kitchen help and servers, so the wait time could decrease soon.

Tokyo Teriyaki is located at 359 E. Burleigh Avenue in Tavares. They open at 7:00, six days a week, and close on Tuesdays.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

The authentic flavors of the Caribbean come to Tavares

11/1/2023

There’s no need to hop over to the islands for authentic Caribbean cuisine. To offer a taste of Jamaica, JamGrill opened last month to rave customer reviews.

The restaurant, owned by a friendly Jamaican couple who now reside in Tavares, dishes up traditional favorites of the island in a casual and friendly environment. Patrons order at the walk-up counter, where they can view all of the house-made menu items before ordering and opt to dine in or take out.

RELATED: Check out the Local Dining Guide

Lunch and dinner starters include saltfish egg rolls and soups like red peas beef soup and chicken soup that are served on different days. Entree portions of traditional lunches and dinners come in two sizes, medium and large. The medium size is a very generous portion, even for those with ravenous appetites. Traditional Jamaican entrees include jerk chicken ($12), oxtail ($16), curried goat ($14), Rasta pasta ($12), Escovitch fish fry ($12) and curried shrimp. All entrees come with rice and peas, plus the diner’s choice of two additional sides, including plantains, fried breadfruit, fried dumplings, festival, and white rice. Many of Jamaica’s popular sodas are available in the self-serve beverage refrigerator.

In addition to lunch and dinner, there are a small number of Jamaican breakfast items including salt fish dishes and porridges that vary by the day. Breakfast service starts at 8 a.m..

JamGrill is located at 390 W. Burleigh Boulevard in Tavares just south of Fish Camp.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Culver’s nears October opening date in Mount Dora

10/1/2023

Photo: Culver's stock photo of a different location

By Jack Morgan / Mount Dora Buzz
Updated 10/3 to reflect delayed opening date.

A popular Midwestern fast-food chain will expand its Florida footprint into North Lake County when it opens its new Mount Dora location in early October. Loyal customers will no longer face the 20-mile drive to Apopka to experience the old-school restaurant with the nostalgic feel.

Culver’s is a Wisconsin-based chain created to reflect the warmth and friendliness of the founder’s Midwest upbringing. The restaurant first opened in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin, and has expanded to 954 locations across 26 states. Over 100 of those locations are in Florida.

Affordable prices are a large part of the chain's business model with all menu items costing under eight dollars. Aside from its classic ButterBurgers, frozen custard, and fried cheese curds that made the chain famous, Culver’s offers a variety of classic fast-food items, including chicken sandwiches, salads, fried seafood, soups and more.

RELATED: Local Dining Guide for Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis

Culver's famous ButterBurgers are made with 100% fresh, never-frozen beef and served on a lightly buttered and toasted bun. Culver’s presses its beef patties to hold in juiciness and flavor, according to the company. Patrons with a sweet tooth can enjoy their dessert menu, which includes a frozen custard “Flavor of the Day,” plus over a dozen regularly featured flavors and seasonal options of the creamy treat.

The new franchise owner, Christian Liebl, is a Mount Dora resident, started working at Culver’s as a 17-year-old, high school student in Wisconsin. Over the years, he slowly worked his way up and had a dream of living in Florida and owning his own Culver’s franchise.

RELATED: Follow Mount Dora Foodie on Facebook

Liebel was drawn to Mount Dora by its strong sense of community. “My hometown Culver’s was a place that supported my school and got involved in supporting its local community. I want this Culver’s to bring that to Mount Dora,” said Liebl.

Culver’s Mount Dora location is expected to open on October 16 and will be located at 18966 U.S. Highway 441, just south of the Key Foods and Walgreens shopping center. The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Award-winning wing restaurant opens in Mount Dora

9/19/2023

By Jack Morgan / Mount Dora Buzz

Mount Dora’s chicken wing scene is kicking it up a notch with the opening of “Wing it On!” a fast-casual franchise lauded for its national award-winning buffalo chicken wings, as well as other tasty varieties. The restaurant won the Best Medium Buffalo Sauce award for the second year in a row at the 2023 National Buffalo Wing Festival’s Sauce Off.

Wing it On! offers a big selection for such a small location and is ideal for grabbing chicken take-out or watching football at one of a handful of tables while enjoying the game-day staples. The menu features 24 different flavors of sauces and dry rubs for boneless and bone-in wings, and each flavor is rated for spiciness on a scale from 1 to 9. Extreme heat lovers can dare to try the Wings of Prey which holds the maximum rating. The limited-time Lava Berry Pop Rocks flavor is also a little fiery and took home top honors at the National Buffalo Wing Festival. Patrons with milder tastes can opt for the Honey Mustard, Garlic Parmesan, Hickory Barbecue and Asian Garlic varieties.

Although wings are clearly the house specialty, Wing it On! offers a variety of other options, including chicken tenders and sandwiches, loaded or seasoned fries, street corn, and mac and cheese as well as other sides. For large gatherings and events, the restaurant offers a variety of family packs, as well as catering services.

RELATED: Mount Dora Dining Guide

The quest to create an exceptional wing experience goes back to the early 2000s when Matt Ensero, the chain's founder and CEO, along with his friends, would argue about who would drive the 30-minute trek to pick up their favorite chicken wings every football Sunday. The long distance and foam take-out boxes resulted in soggy, cold wings by the time they got home, so Ensero created the solution by opening the first Wing It On! in his home town of Waterbury, Connecticut, in 2011. The expanding New England-based chain is now part of Craveworthy Brands, a national corporation that owns diverse restaurant chains, including Krafted Burger + Tap, Genghis Grill, BD’s Mongolian Grill and Flat Top Grill

The Mount Dora franchise is owned by Jayesh Patel, who has previously owned other businesses in the Mount Dora area and is very familiar with the local market. David Miller, a Central Florida resident who originally hails from New Zealand, is the general manager. Miller introduced Wing It On! to Florida last year when he opened a location inside the Dollins Food Hall in Orlando.

Wing it On! is set to open in Mount Dora on September 20 at 18834 U.S. Highway 441 in the shopping center that includes Fitness CF and El Mezcal. The restaurant will be open seven days a week, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Mount Dora retailer to move into iconic downtown building

9/1/2023

Downtown Mount Dora’s most prominent intersection is about to see a positive change. After nearly 20 years of conspicuous vacancy, Mount Dora's Mardi Gras building on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street will soon breathe new life. Walk in the Woods, downtown's outdoor apparel and accessories store, will relocate from their current downtown locations in October to occupy over 4,000 square feet in the New Orleans-inspired building’s ground floor.

Known for its selection of Crocs, Merril shoes, Life is Good and other outdoor apparel brands, Walk in the Woods has been a popular retailer since it opened in 2005 on downtown Mount Dora’s Fifth Avenue. In 2018, Steve and Dana Rocca purchased the store, and last year the couple expanded the business with a second store at 237 W. Third Avenue.

The expansive new location will have ample space for the two downtown stores to be combined under one roof. Walk in the Woods - The Outpost, as it will be called, will occupy the Mardi Gras Building’s corner space, plus all of the frontage along Fifth Avenue.

The two-story building was built in 1922, and had the ornate iron work added six decades later. Formerly known as the The Ramsey Building, it boasts 13,592 square feet on one of the city's most prime locations. In recent years it has undergone improvements that included the addition of an elevator, new windows and fresh paint.

In 1971 The Cubbyhole Corporation purchased the nondescript building and renovated its exterior to include the New Orleans-style wrought iron detailing that still adorns it today.

In 1970, The Lamp Post restaurant opened in the building and operated until both the building and business were sold in 1991 and became Lampu, Mount Dora's first Japanese steakhouse.

In 1993, the business sold to become Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and in 1994 it sold again to a new owner, John McKinney, who returned it to the name Lampu.

That was hardly the last transition for the historic building. It sold again in 1996 for $1 million while it housed three restaurants: Lampu, Juliana Restaurant, and The Sandcastle upstairs. Reportedly, the restaurants weren't part of the new buyers' vision for the large structure.

That vision ended relatively quickly when the building transitioned again in 1997 to its current owner, Mardi Gras of Mount Dora, Inc and fetched another $1 million purchase price, according to the Lake County Property Appraiser.

Walk in the Woods - The Output isn’t the first retailer to occupy the Mardi Gras Building. Over the last century it was also home to stores like Stokley's Pharmacy which later became Lake View Pharmacy, Piggly Wiggly, and Sally’s Dress Shop.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

HIDDEN GEM: Mount Dora's Los Compadres market & restaurant

8/1/2023

Tucked back from the street, and dwarfed between a sprawling bingo hall and a billiards bar in Mount Dora, sits a well-kept local secret. Los Compadres is a hybrid of a Latin bodega and an authentic Mexican eatery.

On the restaurant side, managed by one of the two partners, patrons place their order at the counter and choose from authentically prepared dishes like enchiladas ($10.99), carne asada ($11.99), fajitas ($14.99), ceviche ($14.99), molcajeta ($18.99), quesabirrias ($7.99), burritos ($8.99) and other Mexican favorites.

RELATED: Mount Dora Foodie uncovers the best in the area's food finds

The menu also features street-style tacos with a variety of different meat options. Taco Tuesday is celebrated at Los Compadres with $1.49 street tacos with free additional toppings at the topping bar. On weekends, specials like menudo, tamales, and roasted chicken are available. Diners can opt for dining in at one of a handful of booths or take-out.

Los Compadres recently began baking traditional Latin dessert specials which vary daily, but can include chocoflan, churro cheesecake, fresas con crema and traditional flan. For anyone craving more sweets, there’s also a small bakery case in the bodega loaded with fresh-baked cookies and pastries from Tortilleria y Paleteria Jalisco, a Mexican bakery in Groveland.

The narrow aisles of the retail side of Los Compadres, overseen by the second partner, are packed with everything from authentic Mexican foods and ingredients like seasonings, tortillas, peppers, fruits, and vegetables to churros, sodas and pre-packaged snacks.

At the rear of the store is an impressive meat counter that offers various types of house-made Mexican chorizo and chicharrones, as well as cuts of fresh beef and pork that are butchered on site. Nearby small shelves are loaded with Mexican red pasta, whole cinnamon sticks and other pre-packaged ingredients.

Los Compadres is located at 2741 W Old U.S. Highway 441 in Mount Dora next to Fat Cats.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Authentic French bakery relocates to downtown Eustis

8/1/2023

One of downtown Eustis’ historic buildings has been infused with new life -- a sweet new life. In what was most recently an antique mall, a charming French bakery is now set among a treasure trove of vintage finds.

A Wish or Two Ago bakery opened its doors in July and features a mouth-watering selection of sweets, including pastries, cinnamon rolls, French macarons, cookies, coconut macaroons, decadent cakes, creme brulee and more. In addition to sweet treats, the bakery's master baker, who hails from the south of France, also creates about a dozen varieties of fresh, artisanal breads that are also baked on site. Patrons can choose from all-natural rustic rye, French sourdough, mozzarella spinach, Tuscan roasted garlic, cranberry walnut and others.

RELATED: Mount Dora Foodie uncovers the area's best food

Francophiles can also browse the many traditional French condiments, bottles of wine, olives, canned mackerel and other epicurean delicacies. Jars of popular Amish jams and fruit butters are also stocked on the shelves.

This isn’t the first time A WIsh or Two Ago has treated area residents to its authentic French baked goods. For several years it was located in Grand Island and had a popular booth at the weekly farmers market in downtown Mount Dora. Now downtown Eustis will serve as its exclusive location.

If you’re eager for A Wish or Two Ago’s fresh baked goods or other products, you’ll need to visit the new location before the owners leave for France later this month to visit family. Otherwise, your sweet tooth will have to wait patiently until they return to baking later this fall. Currently the hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p,m. The bakery is located at 320 S. Grove Street in Eustis.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

New sushi & hibachi restaurant opens in Mount Dora

7/12/2023

ABOVE: Saga Sushi's naruto appetizer. (Mount Dora Buzz photo)

It’s impossible for sushi lovers to have too many good options, and a new local restaurant was recently added to the list of choices.

Saga Sushi is the latest Asian eatery to open in the Mount Dora area and offers not only high-quality sushi, but also hibachi and other popular Japanese dishes like fried rice, katsu, yaki soba and yaki udon (stir fried noodles with a choice of protein, $14-22). There are also a handful of traditional Thai dishes available like Pad Thai ($14-20), Thai mango chicken or shrimp ($18), Thai basil, and Thai curry ($17-$18).

RELATED: Local Dining Guide

On opening day, we tried an assortment of Saga’s special rolls, including the Pink Lady and the Cape Cod, as well as the Naruto sashimi roll. All were very fresh and the quality of the fish was superior. For landlubbers, the spare ribs with the tamarind sauce were tender and flavorful while the chicken fried rice arrived as a generous portion and was cooked perfectly. The relaxing dining experience in Saga’s contemporary atmosphere was topped off with very friendly and attentive service.

The lunch menu offers specials that include bento boxes ($12-13), hibachi lunches ($10-$16 depending on protein), two select rolls for $12 or three for $15. The menu also offers some interesting salads like the Crispy Ginger Duck Salad ($11) and the Spicy Tuna Avocado Salad ($11) which are different from what is already offered in the area.

RELATED: Mount Dora Foodie uncovers the best in the area's cuisine

Saga Sushi is located at 6551 U.S. Highway 441 in the Stoneybrook Shopping Center. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and reopens for dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays the hours are extended to 10:30 p.m and on Sundays the hours are noon to 10 p.m.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

New Spanish tapas restaurant opens in Tavares

7/1/2023

It’s hard to resist a table full of delectable Spanish tapas, and a new Tavares restaurant brought that temptation to the Downtown Entertainment District. Tapas restaurants have long been staples in other cities, but none has come to the Golden Triangle area until now.

Ole Spanish Tapas Restaurant, located in the heart of the Tavares Entertainment District, features a casual atmosphere and a traditional Spanish Tapas menu with a dozen cold appetizers featuring an Adulusian seafood salad ($12), a variety of Spanish cheeses and cured meats like chorizo and Iberico ham. Several warm tapas are also served, including patatas bravas ($8), croquetas de jamón, tortilla Española (traditional Spanish omelet), grilled octopus ($18) and garlic shrimp ($12)

For diners wanting bigger meals, Spanish entrees are also available and range from landlubber favorites like rack of lamb ($36), Tomahawk steak ($48), and a Ribeye with chimichurri (#32). Seafood lovers can pick from grilled seafood in garlic sauce ($44) and cod in a red paprika sauce ($18) among other choices. Couples can also choose from a variety of paellas ($44-$70) that serve two people and are made to order.

On a recent visit much of the food was good, especially the garlic shrimp and the cured meats. Imitation crab meat was used in the Adulusian seafood salad, which wasn’t noted on the menu and didn’t complement the dish. The service was very friendly and attentive. Currently, beverages are limited to soft drinks and iced tea until a liquor license is secured.

Ole Spanish Tapas Restaurant offers ample indoor and outdoor dining and is located at 134 W. Ruby Street in downtown Tavares.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Mount Dora staff had preliminary discussions about new dining and shopping development

6/1/2023

ABOVE: Golden Triangle Center parking lot is the site being discussed for Edge container Park in Mount Dora. (Mount Dora Buzz photo)

Don’t get too excited, but the CIty of Mount Dora engaged in preliminary discussions with a developer about a shipping container park on Old U.S. 441.

The popular development concept re-purposes old shipping containers into commercial uses like small restaurants, bars and retail shops. The benefit of these projects is the ease of constructing and transporting the containers, which can make mixed-use projects relatively inexpensive.

Currently dubbed “The Edge in Mount Dora,” its proposed location is a portion of the parking lot of the Golden Triangle Center across from the post office. The containers would be placed in the parking lot near the small pond. The developer’s early-stage concept states there would be 62 restaurant and retail options, plus 2 hotels and a floating stage in the existing pond for entertainment. The repurposed shipping containers would flank the pond on two sides, leaving the side open that faces Old Highway 441.

These sustainable developments are not new and can be attractive to retail and restaurant tenants due to the cheaper price per square-foot and the foot-traffic such destinations can provide. Restaurants in these types of development typically provide counter service with seating in common open spaces of the development.

Las Vegas opened its container park a decade ago and Orlando has Boxi Park in Lake Nona. St. Louis, Cleveland, Oklahoma City and other cities have them as well. To date, no application has been submitted to the City of Mount Dora by the developer. If that is done in the future, City staff can determine whether the plan provides ample parking for the hotel, restaurant and retail uses.

The developer believes it would take approximately $16 million to build the Mount Dora Project with a projected three-year timeline for opening, according to its presentation literature obtained by the City. However, discussions with city staff have only been preliminary, so it has yet to be determined if the development will come to fruition.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

Ellianos Coffee drive-thru now open in Eustis

6/1/2023

Coffee on the go is now easier in Eustis with the recent opening of Ellianos Coffee, a free-standing coffee hub with a double-side drive-thru design.

The Florida-based company boasts “‘Italian Quality at America’s Pace” and has locations in Alabama, central and northern Florida, and Georgia. Some of their specialty coffee drinks include Milan Mint Mocha, Caffe Dolce, Tuscany Toffee, as well as a Sicilian Smoothie and Venetian Vanilla Creme. In addition to cold and hot beverages, Ellianos also serves breakfast sandwiches all day.

The family-owned Ellianos Coffee Company was founded in 2002 in Lake City, Florida. The Eustis franchise location is owned by Karen and Rich Weber, whose previous ventures in the food service industry included a donut shop and two Checkers franchises.

Ellianos Coffee is located at 2520 South Bay Street in Eustis next to Walgreens.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

Mochi donuts finally come to Mount Dora and Eustis

5/26/2023

ABOVE: An assortment of some of the mochi donuts at Magic Tea market. (Mount Dora Buzz photo)

Boba tea enthusiasts were ecstatic when the first Magic Tea Market opened in the heart of downtown Mount Dora in 2021. Now a new second store on U.S. 441 just opened and upped its game to go beyond premium boba by introducing the area to popular mochi donuts.

These craveworthy fusion pastries blend the concept of traditional American donuts with Japanese mochi, resulting in a moist and chewy treat. Magic Tea’s fresh mochi donuts are made in house daily and are artfully decorated with colorful frostings and toppings like oreo cookie crumbles, nuts, pocky sticks and more. In addition to fun flavors like mango, tiramisu, strawberry creme brulee, and churro, Magic Tea also makes more traditional Japanese varieties like matcha and ube. If you’ve never experienced a mochi donut, but are dying to sink your teeth into one, be prepared -- it’s almost impossible to eat just one.

A truly modern treat, the earliest versions of mochi donuts were made in Hawaii in 1992. The innovative treat consisted of fried balls of mashed taro and mochiko, a Japanese short-grain sweet rice flour. Today mochi donuts share the same shape of a ring of balls that form a donut and are made from either tapioca flour or glutinous rice flour. Magic Tea Market’s donuts are made of rice flour.

Later in June, the new store, located at 17195 US 441 next to Office Depot, will add made-to-order Japanese fried chicken and fries to its offerings. Like the original downtown location, the new Magic Tea Market serves up specialty tea drinks including milk teas, oolong, matcha, brown sugar milk tea, and slushes, as well as Magic Tea's signature boba teas like tiramisu, creme brulee and taro. The downtown location on 4th Avenue will also be selling fresh mochi donuts made in the new store.

Those who aren’t big tea fans, but are looking for a nosh, can choose from a variety of pre-packaged savory and sweet snacks imported from the Far East.

Magic Tea's owner is a familiar local face. Ling Jiang and her husband also own the popular Momiji Japanese and sushi restaurant in Eustis near Sorrento.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

Mount Dora awaits construction of new restaurant concept downtown

5/1/2023

ABOVE: Rendering of the upcoming Mount Dora location provided by The Yardery.

In what has become a dining destination, downtown Mount Dora will be adding a new restaurant concept with construction of a new building set to begin in June or July. The 5,480 square-foot restaurant will be built on a quarter-acre lot and include a 2,058 square-foot bar on its open-air second floor. The ground floor will feature al fresco dining, another bar, and fun yard games like cornhole, foosball, Connect Four, ladder toss and Giant Jenga.

The Yardery (think yard plus eatery) will have a modern farmhouse style and feature casual outdoor dining with plenty of entertainment options for guests to add to their experience. The restaurant’s friendly and apropos motto is “Eat, drink and play in the yard.”

RELATED: Local Mount Dora Restaurant Guide

The menu features “backyard food with a twist” and includes favorites like the Yardery Burger, Cajun fish tacos, barbecue chicken flatbread, in-house smoked ribs, and honey hot fried chicken. Guests can also imbibe in The Yardery's signature cocktails, craft beer and wine selection.

The Yardery will be built on the vacant land at 221 N. Baker Street between the municipal parking lot and the downtown parking garage. Its original Sanford location took two years to complete and opened to the public February 12, 2022. If all goes smoothly, the family-friendly and pet-friendly restaurant will open in January, 2024. Stay tuned to Mount Dora Buzz Facebook page and Instagram for updates.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

<<Previous

Business Buzz