Nearly two dozen new restaurants and food trucks have opened in Ocala since the beginning of this year, with at least 13 more in various stages of construction.
Last week, Ocala-News.com reported that 19 restaurants have closed in Ocala over the past 12 months. Many of those restaurants also celebrated grand openings in that same time span.
In less than half of that time, however, Ocala-News.com has also reported the opening of at least 23 new restaurants all around the city.
Among the restaurants that have opened are several cafes, including Todd and Shelly’s Cafe, which moved from its popular location in Belleview to a spot formerly occupied by Madras Cafe in southwest Ocala. Additionally, Live Fire Chefs opened at Pine Plaza in April and Springside Cafe celebrated its grand opening at Silver Springs State Park in March.
Starbucks opened a new cafe in northeast Ocala around 15 years after closing a location in that area of the city. Similarly, Biggby Coffee opened its first cafe in southwest Ocala years after shuttering its previous location in the city.
A couple doors down from Biggby Coffee, Ice Cream King officially opened its second establishment in the city this year.
Residents with a sweet tooth enjoyed the news of two national brands opening their first locations in Ocala this year as well.
In May, Crumbl Cookies opened for business at the Market Street at Heath Brook.
Just a few weeks before Crumbl, Nothing Bundt Cakes opened its first location in Ocala near the State Road 200 and Interstate 75 interchange, taking over a space formerly occupied by Weight Watchers.
Another national brand, Jersey Mike’s, opened its third location in Ocala in March.
Two new Mexican restaurants also joined Ocala’s growing offering of Hispanic food in the past six months. My Quate opened in March, taking over a space formerly occupied by Havana Cuban Cuisine, which closed in February. In April, Catrina Cocina Mexicana opened a newly renovated space at Churchill Square.
In 2020, Ocala-News.com first reported on Ramen House. At the time, the restaurant was one of only a few that offered ramen and boba tea in Ocala. This year, at least three more establishments have joined in the ramen, poke, and boba tea craze: Kluck Chicken, Blossom Juicy Bar, and Poke Go, which recently opened a new location across from the Paddock Mall.
The Ocala Food Truck park, which Ocala-News.com first reported in March, is home to several new food trucks: Zo’s Halal Food Truck, The Secret Kitchen Latin Fusion, and The Sandwich on Fire.
Of the many new food trucks that joined the Ocala scene, at least three that opened specialize in pizza: Mr. Z’s Mobile Woodfired Pizza, Brooklyn Pizza Factory, and Brick & Ember Pizza Company.
Closing out the list are 18 South and Remington’s Prime Steakhouse, two fine dining establishments that opened in April and February, respectively.
In addition to all of the new restaurants that have opened within the past six months, we have also reported on 13 others that will open sometime in the future:
- Cajun Seafood Jimmy’s is taking over the former location of Blue Highway Pizzeria.
- Franco’s Italian Restaurant is replacing Lorito’s Italian Kitchen. The business recently announced that it was able to save an iconic sign associated with the restaurant.
- Three Six Bistro is taking the former Dragonfly Cafe.
- Stoner’s Pizza Joint, a national chain, is working on its first location in the east side of the city.
- Infinite Ale Works is currently working on a new location across from the Tuscawilla Park, taking over the old location of Ocala Fire Station 1.
- Red Owl Coffee Company announced plans to open its first location in Ocala.
- El Patron Mexican Restaurant is working on a new space near the Paddock Mall.
- Waffle House posted signs at a new site in Ocala for their next location in the city.
- The Great Greek Mediterranean is working on a new location next door to Crumbl Cookies, in a space formerly occupied by Pie-O-Mine.
- Breakfast Station is currently working on its second location in the northeast part of Ocala.
- Popeyes is working on a new location at the Paddock Mall.
- Martin’s BBQ, a Puerto Rican fast-food franchise, will open a new location next to Big Lee’s BBQ, which opened last July.
Do you have a favorite type of restaurant or national chain that you would like to see in Ocala? Share your thoughts in a comment or a letter to the editor.
