40 new restaurants have opened in Ocala this year

Since Ocala-News.com first reported the openings of 22 new restaurants in Ocala through June, at least 18 more restaurants have opened in the city, including 4 last month, bringing this year’s total to 40.

At least four new restaurants opened in the city just last month: Primary Tavern opened a new restaurant and bakery in northwest Ocala; Smalls Sliders opened its first location in the city along State Road 200; Jersey Mike’s opened a new location in northeast Ocala; and Midtown Station opened a new bar and dining space across from Lake Tuscawilla.

Foody Bowl recently opened its new ramen and poke restaurant in southwest Ocala. That restaurant is located next to two other restaurants (Biggby Coffee, Ice Cream King) that also opened this year.

Sugar Moon Kingdom opened a new bakery along SW College Road, just down the road from the Paddock Mall. Several other restaurants opened locations in and around the mall in the past few months.

That includes Popeyes, which opened a new location at Paddock Mall in August.

Across from the mall, Poke Go opened a new ramen and poke restaurant along SW College Road in late June.

Next door to the mall, El Patron opened a new Mexican restaurant this Summer.

Both three six bistro and The Brunch House have opened new restaurants in southeast Ocala this year.

Wing Kings opened a new restaurant in west Ocala over the Summer, and Blessed Beyond BBQ, which is family-owned and operated, opened a new barbecue food truck that serves the Ocala area.

Brown Dog Coffeehouse recently opened a new cafe in downtown Ocala, and Franco’s Italian Restaurant opened a new spot at the former Lorito’s Italian Kitchen in east Ocala in August.

Stoner’s Pizza Joint, which has several dozen locations nationwide, opened its first in Ocala at Six Gun Plaza.

Off The Hook Seafood was taken over by new ownership who revamped the restaurant in northwest Ocala.

Crave Hot Dogs reopened under similar circumstances, getting new ownership for its previously shuttered location in southwest Ocala.

In June, Ocala-News.com reported on the openings of the following 22 restaurants:

1. Live Fire Chefs
2. Springside Cafe
3. Todd and Shelly’s Cafe
4. Starbucks (NE Ocala)
5. Biggby Coffee
6. Ice Cream King
7. Crumbl Cookies
8. Nothing Bundt Cakes
9. Jersey Mike’s (NW Ocala)
10. My Quate
11. Catrina Cocina
12. Kluck Chicken
13. Blossom Juicy Bar
14. Poke Go
15. Zo’s Halal Food Truck
16. The Secret Kitchen Latin Fusion (food truck)
17. The Sandwich on Fire (food truck)
18. Mr. Z’s Mobile Woodfired Pizza (food truck)
19. Brooklyn Pizza Factory (food truck)
20. Brick & Ember Pizza Company (food truck)
21. 18 South
22. Remington’s Prime Steakhouse

In addition to the 40 restaurants that have opened this year, there are many others that are in various stages of planning and development:

1. Culver’s breaks ground on its second location in Ocala this week
2. Cajun Jimmy’s Seafood Seller is nearing completion on its restaurant in east Ocala
3. Breakfast Station is planning to open its new location in northeast Ocala this month
4. Healthy Hub Ocala, LLC was approved to operate a new cafe at the Mary Sue Rich Center
5. Frida’s is working on a new Mexican restaurant in southwest Ocala
6. Miller’s Ale House received approval for the sale of alcohol at a new site in southwest Ocala
7. The Forge is seeking approval for the sale of alcohol at its new dining space and brewery in midtown Ocala
8. Paddock Market is working on a new artisan marketplace at the Paddock Mall
9. Chipotle announced another planned location in southwest Ocala

Have you visited any of the new restaurants that have opened in Ocala this year? Share your thoughts in a comment or a letter to the editor.