One of the most anticipated restaurants in downtown Ocala that has been in various stages of construction dating back to 2019 is nearing completion and “coming soon.”
On Tuesday, Benmar Construction provided a brief update on Mellow Mushroom, which was first announced by Ocala-News.com in 2019.
“The new Mellow Mushroom in Ocala is getting close to completion,” reads a post from the company’s social media account about the pizzeria, which will occupy the space at 2 SW Fort King Street, across from the Marion Theatre.
According to Benmar Construction, the photos are the “last” that will be published until the “finished result” is ready.
“We can’t wait to show you the completed project! Hope you’re hungry for [pizza emoji] because it’s coming soon!” reads the post.
Originally constructed in 1891, the building historically known as the “Davis/Goldman Block Building” was demolished in 2020 to make way for a multi-story development renamed the Goldman Building.
The previous building was home to multiple businesses over the years, including Babcock Furniture and the Brothers Keeper Thrift Store, which was the last tenant before the building was demolished.
In 2021, city staff confirmed that the location would house a rooftop bar and additional restaurants.
Over the summer of 2021, the site began to change dramatically as the Goldman Building took shape.
By the fall and winter, the building progressed, and it began to resemble its current state over the first few months of 2022.
Over the past year, two restaurants have been added to signs adorning the building: Shuckin’ Shack, an oyster restaurant that opened its first location in Ocala in 2020, and Mooyah, a burger franchise with dozens of locations across the United States, including five in Florida.
No additional information was provided regarding the opening date of any of the three restaurants that are planned for the site.
There are currently over 160 Mellow Mushroom restaurants in operation across the United States, with nearly two dozen in the state of Florida. The locations nearest to Ocala include one restaurant in Mount Dora, two in Orlando, and one in Sanford.
For more information on other projects by the construction company, visit Benmar Construction online.