ORLANDO, Fla. – A future landmark in Orlando’s Packing District is set to open in January.
The long-awaited juice stand on the corner of Princeton and Orange Blossom Trail will open on Jan. 22 with vendors Foxtail Coffee, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, and Ravenous Pig Brewing Company inside.
The building is a replica of Dr. Philips’ juice stand and honors the history of the area. The Packing District gets its name from the site of the former Dr. Philips citrus packing plant.
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City leaders cut the ribbon Friday for the juice stand, a centerpiece of the Packing District.
“The history of the property is that Dr. Phillips purchased this in the 1920s for his citrus business, so it was a sight where he did citrus packing, boxing, shipping things away,” Ken Robinson, President and CEO for Dr. Phillips, Inc said.
The replica brought back memories for some.
“One of my fondest memories was traveling with my mother to Orlando to go downtown but we would hit here on 441 right before we got to the juice stand, and we’d smell those Orange blossoms and the plants with the Oranges just that aroma and I always remember that,” Commissioner Regina Hill said.
“I’ve been around town long enough to remember the original building that was there, and what an attraction it was in the 50s and 60s,” Commissioner Robert Stuart said. “Now we get the chance to kind of use that as a catalyst to re-introduce the neighborhood.”
Dr. Phillips Charities has led the development of the 202-acre site known as the Packing District. News 6 has followed the progress since the project was announced in 2018. Since then, The Cannery at the Packing District, an apartment complex, has been built, a new YMCA has opened and there are more plans in the works for a food hall and Publix supermarket.
“We’re really trying to make it kind of the northwest regional hub,” Stuart said. “It kind of connects 441, and Princeton, and John Young Parkway. So, we kind of think that is where the new growth is going to go on the northwest side.”
Stuart said he hopes it will generate growth outside of the area as well.
“We’ve already seen some of the areas that are adjacent to it that are now coming in and becoming apartment complexes, and I think they’re going to support the Packing District. We saw it in Baldwin Park,” Stuart said.
Other highlights planned for the Packing District include a regional park, trails and 4 Roots Farm and Agriculture Center.
“The greatest challenge will be connecting this community from a pedestrian and bicycle standpoint into the College Park community, as well as into Mercy Drive area, but we’ve got to get enough people in there to make it worthwhile to accomplish that,” Stuart said. “It’s kind of the chicken and the egg. You want people to move in, but you have to provide amenities.”
The juice stand will officially open its doors Jan. 22.
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