It has been a while since my last update. Don’t worry! I’m not dead or losing interest in this blog or anything, I’ve just been traveling for work a lot lately and haven’t had the opportunity to get out and grab some photos.

There have been some small news items in recent weeks, the most notable of which is the opening of Amway Center and the growth of businesses nearby the new venue.  New businesses have been opening, old ones have been doing better than ever, and a few are struggling to find ways to make the best of the new arena.  The news has been mostly positive, with few exceptions.  The worst of this was Johnson’s Diner going out of business, which had been a staple of local culture for nearly 30 years.

On the good news front, Amway Center has been drawing huge crowds downtown several times a week and people are showing renewed interest in what downtown has to offer.  Several businesses have opened in recent months, including a 7-Eleven in 55 West, Mojo Cajun Bar & Grill, Baby Grand’s Dueling Piano Bar in Church Street Market, and many others.  HEAT should be opening in 55 West very soon.

A new restaurant named “The Rusty Spoon” was announced for one of the large Church Street-side 55 West retail. The Rusty Spoon is described as a gastropub that will seat roughly 170 customers. I took a picture of the documents posted on site:

Below are the photos showcasing the progress being made on the First United Methodist Church of Orlando’s new building.  This project seems to be moving at a slow but steady pace and is starting to shape up.  I’m looking forward to seeing it with the final landscaping right up against South Street! It really looms over the road.