An alehouse chain with over 100 locations across the country has received approval for a provisional license to sell beer, wine, and liquor at a new location planned for southwest Ocala.
The Ocala City Council unanimously approved the permit during its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 3.
The new Miller’s Ale House will be built on a 2.43-acre parcel that is owned by the Boynton beach-based company Ocala Trophy LTD Partnership, according to Marion County property records.
Site plans, which were recently completed, call for the construction of a 7,202-square-foot building and approximately 138 parking spaces. The restaurant will hold 224 seats and will employ approximately 100 individuals.
While the parcel does not currently have an address, it is situated adjacent to Culver’s (4836 SW College Road), across the road from RaceWash (5199 SW 48th Court) and CarMax (4989 SW College Road).
With this week’s approval from city council members, the upcoming Miller’s Ale House location now has a provisional location permit, which will become a full permit once the restaurant has secured its state-issued license to sell alcoholic beverages.
The first Miller’s Ale House location opened in Jupiter, Florida in 1988. Since then, the company has opened over 100 locations in 10 states.
There are currently 67 Miller’s Ale House restaurants in Florida, including one other location in Ocala at 305 SE 17th Street, within the Churchill Square shopping plaza.
In 2019, Miller’s Ale House opened its first location serving The Villages.
The new restaurant is situated in an area of Ocala that has seen the addition of multiple commercial developments over the past several years:
- The Ocala Veterans’ Affairs Clinic opened nearby in 2022.
- Culver’s opened its first location Ocala in 2021 next to the site of the future Miller’s Ale House.
- Across the road, Chick-fil-A opened its doors in December 2023.
- Just down the roadway, CarMax opened its sole location in Ocala in 2021.
The Ocala City Council regularly meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).