After a 12-year run on Clarke Road, Ocoee’s Hungry Howie’s has gone dark. The franchise at 207 N. Clarke Road closed its doors on Wednesday, and the space is now set to be rebranded as a Stoner’s Pizza Joint later this summer, according to local reporting and a company announcement.
Local report: store shutters
According to the West Orange Times & Observer, the Ocoee shop had operated at 207 N. Clarke Road since 2014 and served the community for 12 years. The outlet reports the restaurant "permanently closed" on Wednesday.
Who’s moving in
A press release from PR Newswire states that Stoner’s Pizza Joint has committed to eight Orlando-area units, listing the Ocoee address among two locations expected to open this summer. "The expansion in Orlando is a testament to the strength of our brand," CEO John Stetson said in the release.
Corporate listings lag
The official Hungry Howie's store page for the Ocoee address still shows regular hours and an active phone line, suggesting the corporate listings have not yet caught up to the local closure. At the time of reporting, the chain’s locator continued to display the 207 N. Clarke Road store with carryout and delivery options available online.
What to expect next
Stoner’s, according to its release, highlights fresh ingredients and a menu that includes pizzas, calzones, stromboli, wings, bowls and salads. The company projects openings this summer at the Ocoee storefront and another Orlando site on South Orange Avenue, though no firm date has been announced.
Quick neighborhood note
The shutdown ends 12 years for Hungry Howie’s in north Ocoee and will shake up the local pizza lineup once Stoner’s opens its doors. For now, the local news report and the company announcement are the only public guides to timing, and both keep it at a simple target: sometime this summer.
