A new restaurant soon will debut in the $1 billion Hamlin community later this week, helping capture a piece of the retail pie that’s growing in west Orange County.
Anaheim, California-based The Pizza Press — a concept inspired by 1920s Americana newspaper that was born near Disneyland — plans to celebrate a grand opening weekend between April 12-14 at 16406 New Independence Parkway in Winter Garden. The 2,700-square-foot, 56-seat franchised eatery features a 1,000-square-foot patio. About 22 workers will be hired here and the franchisee, Winter Garden-based Property & Hospitality Investments LLC, still is hiring for full- and part-time positions, such as “Pizza Editors” — whose tasks include making signature and custom pizzas — and team leaders. Visit the restaurant’s careers page for more, or call (407) 395-8418.
The Pizza Press invites diners to create their own “story” by customizing their meals and cleverly names many of its signature items on the menu for newspapers, such as The Daily, The Tribune, The Herald and more. Pizzas can be “published” — customized — with your choice of five sauces, 10 cheeses, four extras like roasted garlic cloves, five meats, 16 veggies, five “finisher” sauces like balsamic glaze, and three toppers: basil, cilantro or arugula.
Kids’ meals are even dubbed The Jr. Editor. The menu features customizable pizzas, wings and salads, along with craft beer, wine, fountain drinks, Stumptown cold brew coffee or an ice cream float made with artisan vanilla ice cream. Additionally, craft beers are served, including local favorites like Winter Garden-based Crooked Can Brewing Co.
Hamlin is the second Central Florida location for The Pizza Press. The first opened in summer 2017 near Walt Disney World at 6079 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Celebration.
This is one of several new restaurants in the west Orange County area. For example:
- In Hamlin, it joins Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine at New Independence Parkway and Hamlin Groves Trail, as well as three concepts by Tampa-based 23 Restaurant Services: British-style restaurant and pub Yeoman’s Cask & Lion, neighborhood burger-and-beer joint Ford’s Garage and early 20th century gangster-themed Capone’s Coal Fired Pizza.
- Toledo, Ohio-based Marco’s Pizza opened in March at 14387 Bridgewater Crossings Blvd. in Windermere.
- Auburn, Alabama-based Chicken Salad Chick local franchisees Glenn and Jennifer Pilson of TAB Holdings LLC plan to open a new restaurant in Windermere later this year.
- Orlando-based Little Greek Fresh Grill opened last October in the Westside Shoppes Plaza at 3536 Old Brick Road in Windermere. This restaurant is run by franchisee Andrew Tate, who also operates the chain’s location in the Winter Garden Village shopping center.
New restaurants bring more employment opportunities to the region including hospitality jobs, as well as temporary construction jobs for new buildings or interior buildout. They also help landlords lease up shopping centers and provide an amenity for existing residents and workers in the area, helping make developing areas more desirable.
Orlando ranked No. 17 in the nation among the best cities to start a restaurant by Bid-On-Equipment based on factors including annual restaurant sales per capita (metro Orlando reported $4,056), restaurants per capita (324 in Orlando), number of restaurant industry workers per capita (6,969 locally) and the metro area’s median income ($64,174).
Anjali Fluker
Associate Managing Editor
Orlando Business Journal
