Three Birds Café, a staple brunch and coffee hangout on Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden, is losing its home after the building's new owner declined to renew the café's lease. The owners say the restaurant's final day at the 2 W. Plant St. storefront will be Thursday, Feb. 26. Staff and regulars were told the move was entirely outside of our control, and the team publicly thanked customers for years of support.
According to the West Orange Times & Observer, the closure announcement appeared on the café's Facebook page and included the line, "Despite every effort to communicate and explore possible solutions, we were not granted an extension or the opportunity to say." The paper reports that the owners pledged to continue serving the Winter Garden community while they search for a new downtown location.
Brewing A Pop Up Plan While They Hunt For New Digs
Three Birds Café’s website highlights a coffee-cart option for events, and the owners say they plan to roll those carts around town and show up at local farmers markets while they hunt for a fresh Plant Street spot. The catering and pickup options listed on the site are expected to help the team keep working in the community during the transition away from the brick-and-mortar space.
Owners Say Regulars Built The Place With Them
In the Facebook note reproduced by the paper, the owners described Three Birds as "a placed filled with morning routines, first dates, study sessions, celebrations, tears, laughter and so much love," and promised, "You built this little café with us, and we promise we're taking you wherever we go next," per the West Orange Times & Observer. The social media post did not name the building's new owner or spell out why the lease renewal was denied, leaving customers with more questions than answers.
Downtown Squeeze Hits Another Local Favorite
Winter Garden has already seen high-profile cultural losses, including last year's shutdown of the historic Garden Theatre amid financial struggles, a reminder that arts and hospitality venues can be vulnerable to shifting economics, according to WESH. Across Central Florida, restaurant owners have repeatedly pointed to rising real-estate and operating costs when they close their doors, a pattern documented by ClickOrlando.
For now, Three Birds will remain open for regular service through Feb. 26, and the owners say updates about pop ups, coffee carts and any new location will land on the café's social channels. For fans of downtown Plant Street, the loss of another neighborhood fixture underscores how quickly the character of the block can shift when a building changes hands.
