A fast food franchise that claims to serve the best Puerto Rican rotisserie chicken is working on its first restaurant in Ocala.
Martin’s BBQ is currently under construction at 2601 SW 19th Avenue Road. The restaurant is being constructed at the former site of The Gathering Cafe. The previous building was demolished after that business moved to downtown Ocala in March.
The site was cleared late last year and now a frame has been erected.
Ocala-News.com first reported the new Martin’s BBQ location nearly a year ago in December. At the time, the site was being prepared for the new restaurant.
As of November 27, 2024, there are currently over 30 Martin’s BBQ locations in operation across Puerto Rico.
Martin’s BBQ was founded in 1962 and primarily serves rotisserie chicken and authentic Puerto Rican cuisine.
The restaurant chain features several traditional dishes including arroz amarillo (yellow rice), yuca (cassava), maduros (sweet plantains), carnitas (fried pork), chuletas (pork chops), and mofongo (mashed plantains).
“We take pride in offering fresh and traditional food while also providing a connection to our roots and the flavors we love,” reads a statement from the company’s website.
According to the restaurant’s website, the new location in Ocala will “open soon,” although a specific date has not been provided.
It will join just two other Martin’s BBQ restaurants in the state of Florida in Tampa and Kissimmee.
In the months since Ocala-News.com first announced the new Martin’s BBQ location, several businesses in the vicinity have closed their doors, including J Rocks Pizzeria, Conn’s HomePlus, and Madras Cafe.
A couple of new restaurants have also opened in the area over the past year, including Todd and Shelley’s Cafe, which opened in May, and K-Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, which opened in October 2023.
