Popular food halls
bring in groups of small independent restaurateurs to cater to foodies. But the team behind a food hall at the massive Maitland City Centre is dropping out of the project.
The team behind a food hall at the massive Maitland City Centre is dropping out of the project, but they may be looking for a new location.
DoveCote owner Clayton Miller, broker Mary Ashy and consultant Maria Bonomo said they will not open the 5,000-square-foot food-gathering spot in the office and retail building under construction in Maitland.
“Recently Maitland has been exploding with new development activity with many new projects hitting the market at the same time,” said an email from one of the partners, Maria Bonomo of E.C. Design Group. “Given the current landscape of upcoming restaurant and retailers, the Spindrift Food Hall team had to reconsider the sustainability of the project due to over saturation.”
Food halls have been popular in New York City and Atlanta, among other metro areas, bringing in groups of small independent restaurateurs to cater to foodies in a smaller space, with a common seating area. A food hall and farmers market was planned in the Artegon Marketplace mall on International Drive, but it closed in February. The Creative Village project near downtown is also working on a food-hall concept.
But an influx of new restaurants in the north Orange County city have decreased demand for a food hall. Teak Neighborhood Grill opened a new location in Maitland in August. Chef Brandon McGlamery, of Luma and Prato fame, also opened Luke’s Kitchen nearby in January.
“The team is disappointed to have to step back from the Maitland City Centre project, but is not discouraged,” Bonomo said in her email. “They know the food hall concept is here to stay and are considering other urban infill projects with critical mass here in Central Florida. They look forward to supporting local talent here in our backyard and providing the gathering place that was originally envisioned.” Maitland City Centre is set to open in 2018 with 220 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 35,000 square feet of restaurant and retail in the heart of downtown Maitland. Developers touted the food hall as a key to tying together the work-live mentality of the new center.
Miller has been busy without the food hall, opening DoveCote in downtown Orlando.
It’s unclear if anything will replace the food-hall concept. Brian Grandstaff of Millenia Partners did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.