Mount Dora Business and Real Estate

DOWNTOWN MOUNT DORA'S HOLIDAY HOURS

12/7/2020

If you want to shop and dine local during the holidays, here’s a little help. Mount Dora Merchants Association helped Mount Dora Buzz compile this list of holiday hours of some of your favorite indie shops and restaurants.

Most shops close at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. However a handful are open until 5 or 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day most downtown eateries are open, but their hours vary and most close well before the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Eve.

EATS & DRINKS

Alyson A Bake Shop
Christmas Eve: 8 a.m. to Noon
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New Year’s Day: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Claire's Creperie
Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Frog and Monkey:
Christmas and New Year’s Eve Noon to 9 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Las Palmas
Christmas Eve: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
New Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Pisces Rising
Christmas Eve: 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year's Eve: 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
New Year's Day: 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

PizzaAmore
Christmas Eve: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Regular hours

Maggie's Attic
Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Olive Branch Mediterranean Grill & Bar
Christmas Eve: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
New Year’s Eve: 11:30 a.m. to midnight
New Year’s Day: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Shiva Indian Restaurant
Christmas Eve: 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
New Year's Eve: 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
New Year Day: 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

RELATED: Local DIning Guide

RETAIL THERAPY:

Barrel of Books & Games
Christmas Eve: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
New Year’s Eve: Noon to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Checkered Moon:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Emz on Fifth:
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Home and Garden Treasures:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Years Day: Closed

RELATED: 2020 Best of Mount Dora winners

Julianne's Coastal Cottage:
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lee Fusion Art Glass:
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Malena and Magda's Boutique:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Matamo Design:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Modernism Museum Shoppe:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Painting Outside the Lines
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Papilio
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Reefs and Ranches:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

Walk in the Woods
Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas and New Year’s Day: Closed

Wow Factory:
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Closed

This is just a partial list, so if your favorite spots aren’t here, no worries. Just head to their social media pages to find out their posted holiday hours and unique offerings.

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

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BUBBLE TEA AND MORE TO HIT DOWNTOWN MOUNT DORA

12/1/2020

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ABOVE: Bubble tea file photo

It’s been a “thing” for years and now Mount Dora is finally joining the party.

Authentic boba tea, also called "black pearl tea" or "bubble tea," will be making its debut downtown in March with the opening of Magic Tea Market. Boba tea, originally created in Taiwan in the mid-1980s, is a sweet, frothy, cold drink made with tea, sweetened milk and “pearls” made from ingredients like tapioca and fruit jelly. Contrary to the name, there are actually no bubbles in the popular beverage.

RELATED: New eateries coming to Mount Dora's Renaissance Building

Enthusiasts and the adventurous can try various flavors of bubble teas including milk teas, oolong, matcha, brown sugar milk tea, as well as Magic Tea's signature tea topped with a tiramisu puffed cream. The new shop will also whip up a slushes with cheese foam, speciality fruit teas and a dragon berry fruit smoothie topped with vanilla ice cream, and other decadent drinks.

RELATED: Discover the Local Dining Guide

Those who aren’t big tea fans can try the soft serve matcha and vanilla ice cream with housemade waffle cones, or opt for containers of traditional Japanese red bean ice cream and other flavors. Customers looking for a nosh can choose from a variety of imported savory and sweet snacks imported from the Far East.

Magic Tea's owner is a familiar face locally. Ling Jiang and her husband also own the popular Momiji Japanese restaurant in Eustis near Sorrento. The couple is still working on the market's menu and snack options, but anticipates Magic Tea to open by the end of March on 4th Avenue between Alyson A Bakeshop and Wolf Branch Brewing. Stay tuned to Mount Dora Buzz’s Facebook page for an opening date.

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

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MOUNT DORA WAWA UPDATES IT TARGETED OPENING

12/1/2020

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In the spring of 2017, it was announced that Wawa, a national convenience store and gas station chain, was slated to replace the small Shell station on the corner of U.S. 441 and Morningside Drive near Lake Gertrude. The expanding chain of large gas stations has gained popularity for its variety of take-out food offerings including salads, bowls and sandwiches.

Although the Wawa project was approved early on by the City of Mount Dora, Wawa revised its own internal construction schedule for the location which delayed the project. The Pennsylvania-based company has now begun the project and plans on opening in the spring of 2021.

RELATED: Discover the local Mount Dora Shopping Guide

In 2017, the city of Mount Dora quickly annexed the approximately 1.25 acre property and rezoned it as necessary for Wawa to proceed.

In 2020, Wawa planned to open 20 new stores throughout Florida and start construction on a number of others. The company’s goal at the time was to reach 400 stores in Florida by 2028.

Wawa opened its first store in Florida in 2012 and had over 100 locations in the Sunshine State when it first announced its Mount Dora location.

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

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TRENDY WOMEN'S BOUTIQUE TO OPEN IN MOUNT DORA

12/1/2020

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A new source of retail therapy is coming to downtown Mount Dora that will offer fun and trendy women’s clothing at affordable prices.

Ivy Boutique will carry the latest styles of dresses, tunics, jumpsuits, skirts, rompers and more, all under $50. The shop will also sell jewelry, handbags and sunglasses to complement the clothing.

RELATED: Mount Dora's Renaissance Building gets flurry of new businesses

The boutique’s owner, Ivy Parnasius, isn’t a novice in the retail game. She owns and operates the original Ivy Boutique in downtown Spring Harbor, Michigan, and will now spend her winters in Mount Dora and summers in Michigan.

“I opened my first shop over 20 years ago in Colorado, with one goal in mind -- to help women look and feel more beautiful and confident. We offer fun and affordable styles for women of all ages,” said Parnsius, whose store offers looks not currently available in downtown Mount Dora. The store provides live fashion shows on Facebook every Friday, so customers can see new arrivals and shop online, as well as in person.

RELATED: Discover Mount Dora's shopping guide

Parnasius’ family moved to Central Florida 30 years ago, and upon discovering Mount Dora, she fell in love with it. She later graduated from Stetson University in DeLand and moved out of the state, but maintained a dream of opening a shop in Mount Dora.

Ivy Boutique will open this month at 107 E. 4th Avenue in downtown Mount Dora next to Piglet’s Pantry.

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

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NEW EATERIES & SHOPS REFRESH MOUNT DORA'S RENAISSANCE BUILDING

12/1/2020

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Things are booming in the Renaissance Building in downtown Mount Dora. The historic building, which once served as the town’s hotel, has seen an influx of new businesses and the expansion of existing tenants in recent weeks.

Black Swan Mercantile, a French-inspired home decor and gift shop in the prime ground floor, completed its expansion into the next space to add a small specialty food market. The store had previously carried some packaged foods and is increasing its edible and culinary-related offerings to fill the new space.

Meanwhile, long-time tenant Rafiki boutique, moved from its ground-floor space to one that is closer to the front of the building. That jump forward gives the store and its African handmade items greater visibility to passersby.

The building’s short-lived ice cream shop, Steampunk Alley, closed its doors in November. However, its former ground-floor space was quickly grabbed by The Juice Box, a fresh smoothie shop which had been tucked inside Mount Dora Marketplace just a stone’s throw away. It’s new and expanded location in the Renaissance is expected to open early this month and provide much improved foot traffic and visibility. It was only a few months ago that My Peaceful Treasures, a welcoming metaphysical boutique, also moved from the Marketplace into the Renaissance Building.

A new sandwich shop is expected to open in early 2021 in the space across from The Juice Box. The building’s owner, Daniel DiVenanzo is currently considering three different experience operators to pick from. The decision will be based on which will work the best with the dynamic of the building.

RELATED: Discover the Local Dining Guide

It’s not just the ground floor of the three-story building that’s seeing an influx of new tenants. The second floor gained Wild Ibis Studio which was previously located in downtown Eustis and features paintings by two local artists. This is the only gallery in the building and DiVenanzo said he is careful about retail overlap in the building when accepting new tenants.

The second floor will also have a new eatery in the space formerly occupied by The Loft. The owners of the popular Frog & Monkey Pub in the basement will open their second eatery in the Renaissance in the bright space that overlooks Donnelly Street. The Frog and Monkey is known for its tasty food, so their new venture is expected to be another big success.

With all of the new businesses opening, the old hotel building is now approaching 100 percent occupancy with only one office space available on the third floor. Watch Mount Dora Buzz’s Facebook page for opening dates.

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

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Business Buzz

DOWNTOWN MOUNT DORA'S HOLIDAY HOURS

EATS & DRINKS

RETAIL THERAPY:

BUBBLE TEA AND MORE TO HIT DOWNTOWN MOUNT DORA

MOUNT DORA WAWA UPDATES IT TARGETED OPENING

TRENDY WOMEN'S BOUTIQUE TO OPEN IN MOUNT DORA

NEW EATERIES & SHOPS REFRESH MOUNT DORA'S RENAISSANCE BUILDING

BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE

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