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Downtown Orlando


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Sep 6, 20211 min read
Dog Bar in the works for downtown Orlando
A hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 19th in front of the Municipal Planning Board for a Conditional Use Permit request...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 4, 20211 min read
Orlando Food Truck Park with Space for 27 Food Trucks in the Works for Downtown UCF Area
A new Orlando food truck park with space for 27 food trucks is in the works for downtown Orlando

Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 15, 20213 min read
Dollins Food Hall - an Orlando Virtual Food Hall Powered by CloudKitchens - Opens Near Downtown
Former Uber CEO 's Travis Kalanick's virtual kitchen industry dominator CloudKitchens is open in Orlando for business.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jan 10, 20211 min read
Orlando Food Hall in the Works on Busy Downtown Corner
A new Orlando food hall is in the works in the downtown core inside the 654,618 SF building at 200 S. Orange Avenue (MAP). The 10,000 SF...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Nov 18, 20204 min read
Under-i Urban Park Project in Downtown Orlando Begins With Hunt for Consultant Team
We told you in 2015 it was coming. Monday the City of Orlando issued a Request for Qualification Statements (RQS) to begin the process of...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Sep 29, 20201 min read
New private venue called Beau Monde has opened in downtown Orlando
A new private venue called Beau Monde (Website | Instagram | Facebook) opened for business last week in downtown Orlando. It's located on...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Sep 22, 20201 min read
Eden Bar & Lounge Taking Over Bar B in downtown Orlando
A new "green space eatery and cocktail bar" called Eden Bar & Lounge (Website | Instagram) will be opening soon in the space formerly...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 26, 20201 min read
Downtown Orlando restaurant Elize closes doors on Church Street
Elize restaurant in downtown Orlando has closed its doors for good at 55 West Church Street.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 20, 20201 min read
New local entrepreneur podcast launches with Pig Floyd's Thomas Ward as first guest
Downtown Orlando co-working space Venture X (Website) has launched a new podcast called Doing Business As (Listen) geared towards...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 14, 20201 min read
Cholo Dogs Closing Its Booth in Orlando Food Hall
Local hot dog vendor Cholo Dogs (Instagram) will be shuttering its booth September 1st inside the Orlando food hall Market on Magnolia at...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 13, 20201 min read
Orlando bar owners to meet with state official who stopped onsite consumption of alcohol in bars
Halsey Beshears, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (Website), is coming to Orange county...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 12, 20201 min read
Orlando Sentinel to Vacate Its Downtown Building
Orlando Sentinel is leaving the office building it occupied since 1951 in downtown Orlando at 633 N Orange Avenue (MAP). Publisher and...

Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 7, 20201 min read
39 Story Mixed Use Tower in the Works for Busy Downtown Corner
A request for a master plan review for a 39-story mixed use high rise tower was submitted this spring by Avi Weintraub of Mazal Holdings...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 7, 20201 min read
Site-Specific Theatrical Journey Coming Downtown in October
This October, the Creative City Project is producing a "site-specific theatrical journey that unfolds amongst the alleyways, stree


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 5, 20201 min read
New Sensor Activated Signage at Colonial Drive Railroad Crossing
The Colonial Drive railroad crossing near I-4 in Downtown Orlando received new sensor-activated alert signs that flash after a vehicle...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Aug 4, 20201 min read
The Great Greek Restaurant Coming to Downtown Orlando
Greek restaurant chain The Great Greek (Website) executed a lease for a 3,001 SF space in the Skyhouse Orlando building (Website) at 335...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 31, 20201 min read
30 Story Apartment Building with Hotel and Retail Proposed Downtown
A 30-story building with a 160 room hotel, 400 residential units, 15,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail, and more has been proposed.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 15, 20202 min read
Downtown Orlando Apartments to Overtake Former Office Building
143 residential units are in the works for a downtown office building as part of a major conversion.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 14, 20201 min read
Downtown Food Truck Program Expands With New Locations
Food truck owners now have more parking spots to choose from downtown.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 14, 20201 min read
The Robinson Coffee Room Opens in Downtown Orlando
A lovely coffee shop and restaurant has opened in downtown Orlando called The Robinson Coffee Room.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 10, 20201 min read
Maki Hibachi Restaurant Planning Downtown Orlando Location
Maki Hibachi has plans to open a new location in downtown Orlando.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 9, 20201 min read
Downtown Park Renovations to Include Ecology Walk, Community Garden and More
The park will feature an ecology walk, community garden, Orlando’s first splash pad in a park, and more.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 7, 20201 min read
City's New Online Store Sells Merch By Local Makers
City of Orlando's Downtown Development Board just launched a new online shopping portal featuring products that celebrate and promote the...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jul 3, 20201 min read
VIDEO: Orlando Police Release Footage of #BlackLivesMatter Mural Being Altered
Two mounted IRIS cameras captured footage of people spraying graffiti onto the large scale mural June 26th.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 30, 20202 min read
Downtown Former Auto Repair Shop Property Getting Remediation System
A remediation system is being installed on a downtown Orlando property at the corner of Robinson Street and Orange Avenue at 1 E Robinson...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 27, 20201 min read
City to Hold First Ever Virtual City Council Meeting
Orlando City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, March 30, at 2pm by teleconference to help prevent the spread of...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 20, 20201 min read
Two Restaurants Offering 50% Off for Hospital Workers, First Responders, Military
Two Orlando area restaurants are offering 50% off deals for healthcare/hospital workers, first responders, and military service members....


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 14, 20201 min read
10 Stories That Will Get You Excited About Living in Orlando
Orlando‘s Ghost Kitchen Scene, Orlando’s Food Hall Scene, Downtown's largest apartment building, and more!


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 13, 20202 min read
The I-4 / 408 Interchange to Open This Summer
The I-4 Ultimate project anticipates opening the new Interstate 4 State Road 408 interchange to traffic summer 2020 according to a...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 11, 20201 min read
Mini Grocery Store Opens in Downtown Orlando Called DGX
DGX is a micro grocery store/bodega that packs a lot of product categories into small retail footprint in downtown Orlando.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 11, 20202 min read
4 New Vegan Items Added to Grand Bohemian Hotel's Restaurant Menu
New vegan items added to the menu: Spiced chickpea and lentil soup, Vegan Linguini Blognese, Beet Poke Bowl, and Blueberry Lavender Gelato.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 8, 20202 min read
The Single Largest Residential Project in Downtown Orlando Has Broken Ground
The single largest residential project in Downtown Orlando has officially broken ground. The first two towers of the 19-story three-tower...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 4, 20202 min read
How to Report Incorrectly Parked Scooters and Bikes Downtown
Some Orlando locals are enjoying the new scooter share pilot program and the existing bike share programs, zipping and zooming around...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Mar 4, 20201 min read
3 Trees Cut Down by City Will be Replaced as Part of Sidewalk Improvements
Three trees were cut down this week in front of the building at 50 E. Central Blvd. (MAP) in downtown Orlando. It's part of a City...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 29, 20201 min read
London House Private Club Coming to Downtown Penthouse
A private club called London House is in the works to take over an entire penthouse space on the 21st floor of the The Plaza at 189 S....


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 24, 20201 min read
Porter Paints Sign Wrapped in Red Vinyl
UPDATED 2/25/20 9:45AM A sign from 1956 has been saved in a unique way - for now. Last summer Domino's Pizza, the new tenant of the...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 21, 20202 min read
New Program to Help Keep and Attract High Wage Jobs Downtown Goes Before City Council Next Week
The program would incentivize businesses (particularly those with high-wage and sector specific jobs) to stay or move downtown.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 21, 20201 min read
New Wayfinding Signage Coming to 5 Downtown City Parking Garages
Five downtown Orlando parking garages will be receiving new wayfinding signage packages if City Council votes February 24th to authorize...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 18, 20202 min read
Fulcrum Adaptive Reuse Project to Bring Offices, Retail and Food to Busy Downtown Corner
Fulcrum will bring a large mural, new food options, retail, and modern creative office space to downtown Orlando.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 17, 20201 min read
New Downtown Bakery and Coffee Shop in Soft Opening
There's a new bakery and coffee shop in downtown Orlando offering up pastries and savory baked & fried treats from Columbia.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 16, 20202 min read
Single Largest Residential Project in Downtown Orlando Expected to Break Ground This Month
The project will contain 889 residential units, 85,000 SF of retail, 35,000 SF of co-working space, and approximately 1,516 parking spaces.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 13, 20201 min read
A New Downtown 368-Unit Apartment Building Is Under Construction
The 11 story building currently called Orange and Robinson Apartments will have 368 units and a 729 space parking garage.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 6, 20201 min read
Mike Bloomberg Campaign Field Office Takes Over Former City Arts Factory Space
Ahead of the March 17th Florida presidential primary, the Michael Bloomberg campaign set up a field office in downtown Orlando.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 2, 20201 min read
New Development Incentive Could bring More Convention Traffic Downtown
An incentive to benefit developers and meant to increase hotel and visitor activity downtown goes before the City in February.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Feb 2, 20201 min read
Swan City Boulders to Open 15,000 SF Bouldering Gym Downtown
A 15,000 SF bouldering gym called Swan City Boulders (Website | Facebook) is coming to the Creative Village in downtown Orlando at 400...


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jan 30, 20201 min read
Bike Share Remains Downtown After Scooter Arrival
While Lime did remove all their rentable bikes, Hopr is present with bike rentals all over downtown.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jan 27, 20201 min read
Win Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Eyes, and Prettiest Smile at this Downtown Inclusive Beauty Pageant
Titles to be won include Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Eyes, and Prettiest Smile. There are 42 titles in all.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jan 23, 20201 min read
30-foot Tall Inflatable Poop Emoji Coming to Lake Eola Park
It will contain a "mind-blowing, transformative, immersive 360° experience" that guides people to push the bad sh*t out of their lives.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Jan 22, 20203 min read
Scooter Share is Now Rolling in Downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando officially has scooter share rentals. Users locate their desired scooter with an app, scan it with their phone, and go.


Mark Baratelli, Editor
Dec 12, 20192 min read
DTO GO Downtown Orlando Public Restroom Pilot Program Approved by City Council
The pilot program will alleviate "protein incidents" downtown while allowing time for the exploration of permanent solutions.
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