ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando has already been crowned the best food city in the U.S., but city leaders want to make downtown the foodie destination.
On Monday, the city voted to expand its downtown Orlando Retail and Restaurant Program.
This incentive was created in 2023 and aims to help those who plan to rent out spaces downtown by reimbursing them for costs related with buildout, renovations or rent, per its website. The goal of the program is to fill vacant spaces downtown to “contribute to urban revitalization,” documents state.
The expansion approved on Monday pushes the focus area eastward from Magnolia Avenue to Rosalind Avenue, covering Livingston Street to the north and Pine Street to the south, according to the city documents.
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Now, if business owners want to open a restaurant, store or food hall in the expanded focus area, they may be eligible for funds. A portion of these streets are right along Lake Eola.
Compare the old map and the new map in the media viewers below:
OLD MAP by Brandon Hogan on Scribd
NEW MAP by Brandon Hogan on Scribd
This expansion to the incentive program comes a month after the city announced it is investing $60 million in transforming Lake Eola Park. The plans include adding a shaded area to the amphitheater, a new family zone and expanding the playground.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer previously highlighted how the plan for transforming all of downtown included changing Magnolia Avenue to a two-way street and turning it into our version of the “Magnificent Mile” in Chicago.
Meanwhile, there are a lot of factors that contribute to how much money a business owner can get back from the city, such as what they are opening, how large the space is and what renovations are needed, according to city documents. Business owners could be eligible for $25,000 up to $400,000, according to the city’s website.
