Mecatos Bakery & Café is rolling into Kissimmee and bringing a full Colombian bakery spread with it. The Orlando-born chain is putting more than $2 million into transforming a former fast-food pad into its first Osceola County shop, giving new life to a building that most recently flipped burgers as a Hardee’s and originally fried fish as a Long John Silver’s. When the doors finally open, regulars can expect the usual lineup of Colombian-roasted coffee and the bakery staples that helped build the brand in Orlando.
Deal details and site history
According to the Orlando Business Journal, Mecatos plans to invest more than $2 million in renovations at the Kissimmee property and operate it as the company’s first location in Osceola County. The reporting notes that the pad previously served as a Hardee’s after being converted from a Long John Silver’s, and Mecatos aims to adapt the existing quick-serve footprint into a full bakery-café build-out.
Local roots and growth
Founded in 2015, Mecatos has been growing steadily across Central Florida with help from programs and advisors that supported its efforts to scale, per the Florida SBDC at UCF. At the same time, the chain is moving into higher-visibility retail spaces, including a Winter Park expansion highlighted for plans to infuse Winter Park with Colombian flavors, signaling a deliberate move beyond downtown Orlando.
Kissimmee's retail momentum
Kissimmee and the broader Osceola County market have picked up steam with several recent retail moves, from a White Castle construction milestone on the US-192 corridor to redevelopment plans for a closed Hooters site. Local reporting on those projects points to rising developer interest along tourist-facing corridors and outparcel pads, which helps explain why a fast-growing local brand would choose Kissimmee for its first location in the county.
What to expect next
Mecatos highlights in-house baking, empanadas, and Colombian coffee on its website, features the chain has leaned on while opening new spots around Central Florida. Community and commercial coverage so far has focused on the size of the investment and the reuse of the existing quick-serve structure. Expect more updates on permitting and construction timelines as the build-out progresses and local outlets dig deeper into the details.
