The landscape of downtown Winter Garden is undergoing a significant change as multiple businesses find themselves at the end of their leases without options to renew. As reported by FOX 35 Orlando, the iconic Three Birds Café, among others, is slated to close on February 26 due to the sale of the building to Anton Property Investors, LLC, at the end of last year.
Customers and business owners alike have been taken aback by the sudden shift. A patron of Three Birds Café, Alon Simone, lamented the loss of the café's "great sandwiches" and "nice lattes," as conveyed in an interview, while first-timer Stephen Collier called the situation "a shame." Heidi Hardman, who has managed her business Polka Dotz at the location for nearly two decades, expressed significant distress. "It’s just really sad to just come in and devastate the small businesses that have made this town," Hardman told FOX 35 Orlando.
Concurrently, there's a palpable sense of concern from the community, as reported by ClickOrlando. Residents have been vocal about their frustration, with one local stating, “It’s really sad to see small business owners have to let go of something they worked so hard to build.” This sentiment extends across the community, as numerous individuals prepare to attend a city council meeting on February 26 to voice their concerns about the city's evolution and the impact on its historic charm.
Despite these worries, the City of Winter Garden has reiterated its limited capacity to intervene in private real estate transactions. "The City does not have the legal authority to intervene in or control these private real estate transactions or lease decisions, provided they comply with applicable laws and codes," a city representative said in an identical statement obtained by FOX 35 Orlando.
