We’ve lost some good ones in the last year. Orlando saw several long-loved restaurants and bars shut down for good in 2023, largely lost to rising costs and some new ventures.
Here are some of the most notable restaurant and bar shutdowns we saw in 2023.
The 808
808 E. Washington St., Orlando The 808, a casual Hawaiian-inspired bar-eatery by Todd Ulmer (Stardust Lounge, Aku Aku Tiki Bar) and Wendy Connor (The Abbey) in Thornton Park has closed. After teasing the news on their Facebook page with the message “The tide is changing! Something new is coming in,” the owners announced in Early October they would close, immediately announcing the next chapter for the vaunted space. The bar will be replaced with Jack & Honey’s by the Hammered Lamb’s Jason Lambert. The upscale diner concept has been five years in the making and was initially going to be a 24-hour spot next door to the Hammered Lamb. Credit: Photo via Google MapsImperial
170 E Morse Boulevard, Winter Park
After five years in their Morse Boulevard space, the Imperial shut down its Winter Park operations. The Sanford and Orlando locations remain open. The Imperial started as a small wine bar in the back of a furniture import store at 1800 N. Orange Ave. in 2020. It’s since added several locations, including Morse Boulevard, which has been open since 2018. Credit: image via Google Maps Street View
Linda’s Winter Park Diner
1800 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park Linda’s Winter Park Diner, a landmark local restaurant since the 1950s, closed its doors for the final time in July, 2023 nearly two months after the owner announced its forthcoming closure. The iconic eatery was known for its comforting array of homemade, old-fashioned diner fare, as well as the memories that local regulars made and shared along the way, from the opening of its doors decades ago to its final days on Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park. Credit: Linda's Winter Park Diner/FacebookLe Coq Au Vin
4800 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
Orlando restaurant Le Coq au Vin, a local mainstay of French cuisine for nearly 50 years, closed its doors in May. The venerable eatery, winner of our Best of Orlando readers poll for “Best French Restaurant” in 2022, ’21, ’20 (and many years before that), ceased operations with a final Saturday dinner service. Owner and chef Reimund Pitz put his decision down to rising food costs and declines in business due to the COVID pandemic. Credit: Photo via Le Coq Au Vin/Facebook
The Coop
610 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park Famed Winter Park fried chicken destination The Coop closed its doors in July 2023, after nearly a decade on Morse Boulevard serving up high-quality Southern comestibles — not just fried chicken but sweet tea, shrimp and grits, coconut cake and more — to the denizens of Winter Park. Credit: Photo via the Coop/Facebook
Neon Beach
131 N. Orange Ave., Orlando After less than three years of service, popular downtown Orlando bar and restaurant Neon Beach served its last meal in summer 2023, paving the way for a new eatery, German restaurant Schmankerl Stub’n. Credit: Courtesy Image/ FacebookDowntown Credo
550 E. Rollins St., Orlando
This location of Downtown Credo, the pay-what-you-want specialty coffee shop, said farewell to its Health Village space inside AdventHealth this summer. The shop had been open since 2015 with a mission to inspire the community through coffee, according to its website. Going forward, there will still be two Downtown Credo locations, the North Quarter location and a new YMCA location. Credit: Photo via Downtown Credo/Facebook
Dexter’s Lake Mary
1145 Townpark Ave., Lake Mary Orlando’s Dexter’s era is officially over. Dexter’s Lake Mary shuttered in fall of 2023, joining Dexter’s Thornton Park, Dexter’s Winter Park, Dexter’s Windermere and Dexter’s New Standard in the graveyard of eats. Credit: Photo via Google MapsSaddle Up
1100 N. Orange Ave., Orlando
Saddle Up officially shut its doors over Labor Day weekend, after years of supplying downtown with Fireball shots and good times. The country-themed “All American Bar” had been long popular with college students and Orlando’s party-hearty nightlife crowd. Credit: Photo via Saddle Up/FacebookGraffiti Junktion
2401 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Graffiti Junktion’s Edgewater location shuttered earlier this year after 10 years in the spot. Survived by its Thornton park location, Graffiti Junktion offered a mellow burger bar serving specialty toppings, brews and chill vibes. Credit: Photo via Google MapsKos
129 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
Socially conscious Nordic coffee shop and roastery Kos closed its small Winter Park location in late summer. Kos owners say they will focus energies on their larger Maitland restaurant at 449 S. Orlando Ave, and continue slinging all kinds of espresso and good vibes. Credit: Photo via KOS/InstagramLe Gourmet Break
150 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando
Le Gourmet Break, the French cafe and patisserie on Magnolia Ave. in downtown, closed after 10 years in the business. The owners cited “non-compliance” from the building’s management when it came to “maintenance obligations” as well as a “lack of communication” that resulted in the closure. The shop was known for its endless variety of French baked goods and treats. Credit: Photo via Le Gourmet Break/FacebookTin and Taco
223 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park
Tin and Taco’s Fairbanks Ave. location in Winter Park has been converted to a SoDough Square. Owner Rob Bair says it’s “a better fit for that space” but is looking to open a Tin and Taco nearby in the future. The taco spot also has a downtown Orlando location that is still open. Credit: Photo via Tin and Taco/FacebookChick’nCone
501 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park
The chicken-and-waffle chain Chick’nCone closed its Winter Park location this summer, just a little more than a year after opening. Credit: Photo via Chick'nCone Winter Park/InstagramBagel Dudes
55 W. Church St., Orlando
Less than two months after opening on Church Street, Bagel Dudes closed its downtown location. A note on the door simply read “Dear Customers: Sadly this location didn’t work out for us. We are permanently closed.” Bagel Dudes at 211 W. Fairbanks Ave. is still open, and a location is poised to open soon next to Gator’s Dockside in the SoDo Shopping Center. Credit: Photo via Bagel Dudes/InstagramChicago Dog
1113 W. State Road 436, Altamonte Springs
Chicago Dog & Co. announced its closure in early October. The owners cited extreme rising costs in their decision to shut down after more than two years slinging dogs in Altamonte Springs. Credit: Photo via Chicago Dog/FacebookMei’s Kitchen
10169 University Blvd., Orlando
Mei’s Kitchen, a restaurant serving Formosan dishes of the highest order, officially closed this summer. The restaurant was known for its Taiwanese and Asian street fare with a little Western twist. Credit: Photo via Mei's Kitchen/FacebookChina In College Park
2122 Edgewater Drive, Orlando
After nearly 20 years spent serving the neighborhood of College Park, China (often referred to as “China In College Park” or “China Hut”) served its last plate of lo mein this summer. The space is now home to Italian joint Turci Panino. Credit: Photo via Google MpasHarry Buffalo
129 W. Church St., Orlando
Sports bar Harry Buffalo closed its downtown Orlando location for good this spring. The restaurant says its lease was not renewed by the owner of the building. Credit: Photo via Google MapsMX Taco
207 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando
MX Taco served its last tacos this spring. Orlando Weekly restaurant critic Faiyaz Kara named MX Taco among the honorable mentions in his “Top Tables” roundup for 2019. Credit: Photo via MX Taco/FacebookFrappeStar Coffee
552 S. Park Ave., Winter Park
Just four months after opening in Winter Park, specialty coffee shop and sweets purveyor FrappeStar Coffee shut its doors in January. Credit: Photo via FrappeStar Coffee/Instagram
