Downtown Winter Garden is Growing even through a Pandemic

October 20, 2020

Right in the middle of a pandemic, Downtown Winter Garden has some extraordinary entrepreneurs and business owners growing and starting a business. Incredible times allow incredible people to shine. Fat Mike’s Hot Chicken, owned by Michael and Alison Scorsone, opened their Nashville Hot Chicken concept at 300 W. Plant Street as a way to keep their employees working. They own two other restaurant concepts in the Plant Street Market – Michael’s Ali Coal Fired Pizza and Mac’d Out. Pam Thomas opened Pammie’s Sammies at 121 S. Boyd Street right when restaurants were essentially shutting down and could only provide curbside pickup. Ruby and Rust followed them opening a retail store on 31 S. Main Street. In November, downtown will welcome Writer’s Block Bookstore at 32 W. Plant Street, and Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard at 109 S. Boyd Street.

Winter Garden-based R.C. Stevens is constructing The Exchange Building, which will be completed in early 2021. The Exchange Building, 270 W. Plant Street, will be one of the largest mixed-use buildings built in Downtown Winter Garden’s history. Recruitment efforts for office and retail tenants are underway during these unprecedented times. Opening a business or constructing a building during this time is not for the weak of heart, but as Dr. Robert H. Schuller said in his bestseller, “Tough times never last, but tough people do!” It is the will and determination of business owners and entrepreneurs like these that keep Downtown Winter Garden evolving and thriving.

To learn more about the businesses in this article, please visit:

at Mike’s Hot Chicken
300 W. Plant Street
www.fatmikeschicken.com
www.facebook.com/fatmikeshotchicken/
www.orangeobserver.com/article/fat-mikes-offers-chicken-with-a-spicy-touch

Pammie’s Sammies
121 S. Boyd Street
www.pammiessammies.com
www.facebook.com/pammiessammies/
www.orangeobserver.com/article/strength-in-flexibility-pammies-sammies

Ruby and Rust
31 S. Main Street
www.rubyandrust.com
www.facebook.com/rubyandrust/?ref=py_c
www.orangeobserver.com/article/home-decor-shop-opens-in-winter-garden

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
109 S. Boyd Street
www.facebook.com/ritaswintergarden/

The Exchange Building
270 W. Plant Street
www.plantstreetexchange.com

Writer’s Block Bookstore
32 W. Plant Street
www.writersblockbookstore.com
www.facebook.com/writersblockbookstorewp/
www.orangeobserver.com/article/writers-block-bookstore-expands-to-west-orange