What is happening with the property on Main St next to Black and Brew?
Nobody seems to know.
That’s where I come in. You could say, I’ve been chosen by LALtoday to be the lead investigator on this case. I did some digging to find the history on this property. The owner of this building (and many others in the city) is realtor Jeff Holden. Holden purchased the building in July of 2003 for $270,000 under the business name Park Grace Investments, LLC (which has since changed to Charter Group).
So we asked you to tell us what business you want to come to Main St with bonus points for tagging the business in a comment on our posts. From Fresh Kitchen and bookstores to wine rooms and arcades, click the button below to see over 300 of your responses.
On another note, our investigation and social posts have led us to a few answers. A Thai restaurant will be opening at 207 E Main St and an official announcement is coming soon. So stay tuned.
Restaurants
Let’s talk Fresh Kitchen...
“Fresh kitchennnnn” – @kelcienieman
“@eatfreshkitchen 10000% we need awesome healthy options!” – @kt_irms
“@tacodirty @eatfreshkitchen @bartacolife” – @jillivry
“@eatfreshkitchen” – @kelcienieman
“@eatfreshkitchen” – @julianamvaldes
“@eatfreshkitchen !!!” – @alexxnicole
“@eatfreshkitchen !!!!” – @_morgansisson
“@eatfreshkitchen 💯” – @ashleylfoss
“@eatfreshkitchen !!!!” – @kristenhowell_
“@eatfreshkitchen” – @kethurmond
“@_morgansisson fresh kitchen all the way!!!!!” – @zelwind
“@eatfreshkitchen @thejuiceboxlakeland” – @scoutandtag
“@eatfreshkitchen@eatfreshkitchen” – @gabysartgallery
“Please please please please bring @eatfreshkitchen here!! @mandyfaithm and I will go at least 5x per week we promise” – @joebearmad
“@eatfreshkitchen all the way! 🤩” – @joypeebs
“@eatfreshkitchen for sure” – @floridapixie
“@eatfreshkitchen” – @kalesnicole_12
“@eatfreshkitchen” – @paigeisabellalittle
“Fresh Kitchen please come!” – Joe M.
“Fresh Kitchen please!” – Mandy-Faith M.
For our vegan friends...
“Vegan restaurant!! @marketonsouth” – @robertolisthenics
“@marketonsouth @dixie_dharma @farmacyvegankitchen @veganfoodspace or ANYTHING VEGAN. Please. 😻” – @carlycashman3
“A vegan restaurant!” – @_breannemead
“Vegan and vegetarian restaurant” – @kiddsrus2u
“Vegan restaurant!” – @indiesoulsboutique
“A vegan restaurant or cafe connected to a second hand book store.” – @theaterpuppy
For those who fancy some Asian cuisine…
“I would love a ramen shop in Lakeland!” – @ccaracal
“Honestly seems like we need a ramen/book/vegan/art shop. Somebody get to it” – @_timothysteiner
“Well I haven’t found a single poke bowl or ramen spot in Lakeland...but that space looks too large for something like that.” – @jesssdaniel
“Poke bowls and ramen place!!!!” – @cloverrose
“Ramen 🍜” – @Seannelson95
“Poke bowls!” – @karen_quinones_
“@domufl, right @sundaze085?” – @blair_arroyo
“dim sum!! 🥟🤤😍” – @eilenehz
“@jesssdaniel Tsunami serves ramen, but someplace that serves Poke on a regular basis would be amazing” – @cutfreeordie
“Would love authentic Turkish food or Vietnamese pho & banh mi.” – @luciabelfiore
“Ramen!!” – @abigailasuzzie
“Ramen and tuna poke place 😍” – @ashliedonaldson
“@_timothysteiner raaaaaaammmmmeeeeeeeennnnnnnnn” – @georgialynnonmymind
“POKE! POKE! POKE😍” – @aziaconstance
Let’s taco ‘bout it…
“A mexican restaurant!” – @aurosteen
“@torchystacos PLEASE” – @bethanyb33
“@bartacolife” – @green_jillian
“Mexican Restaurant 😃” – @m_tulia_cabrera63
“@capitaltacos 100% hands down.” – @ktl0_24
“@torchystacos please please please!!!” – @bethanyblevins3
“@lulu_rey how about a @bientrucha 🌮” – @tayleerey
“@bientrucha would be the best thing to ever hit Lakeland Florida.” – @lulu_rey
“@bartacolife” – @arigonz
“Or @bartacolife 🤩” – @joypeebs
“Yes!! @bartacolife” – @natwolfe
Other restaurants
“@oxfordexchange Lakeland location 💛 #booksandbrunch” – @nw_moore
“St Pete’s Mazzaro Italian Market needs a location in LAKELAND.” – @pkottmann
“@dexterswinterpark Dexters of Lakeland” – @chasecheek
“Bring @honeygrow down here! So good 😋” – @blair_arroyo
“Modern white tablecloth restaurant/non smoking jazz club. 21+ over only. 😎 Oh yea!” – @thestebbinos
“The Mad Hatter” – @cherokeepeoples
“@maplestreetbiscuitcompany” – @meaganlaw
“A solid burger joint!!” – @ranemadepics
“@grapeleafexpresstampa Needs to come to Lakeland!!!” – @cmcb_
“@orsayjax @blacksheep5points come to Lakeland!” – @john_and_jude
“@normascuban @sohojuicecompany @uleletampa @brustersfresh @charliesminidonutcoffee”
– @ritastaffing
“@zoeskitchen” – @michele_most
“@sweetgreen!!!” – kennedywilhite
“@sweetgreen PLEASE” – @shawnobrien_
“@sweetgreen PLS COME TO LAKELAND PLS” – @acantor10
“@noodlescompany please!” – @jesica_sexton
“How about an incredible juice bar” – @hey_pike
“@zoeskitchen or @bolay” – @amandanblount
“@ichicoroya Come To #LakelandFL” – @donnapopelawley
“A juicery or completely fresh smoothie shop (been wanting to do this!)! Or a @eatfreshkitchen”
“If not this exact space- but a authentic grocer. An Italian deli/ veggies and fruit and fresh cheese and wine.😍🍷” – @chrisnoelle
“Would love some middle eastern food to come to Lakeland!” – Anna H.
“We need the Turkish restaurant back - or another music/arts venue, maybe a gallery. We have enough alcohol by Kentucky & Main anyway haha.” – Chelsea S.
“I also want the Turkish restaurant back! Come back Mustafa!” – Michael M.
“Can Doña Maria’s PLEEEEASE come back!?!?!?!?!” – Leslie C.
“Keto friendly restaurant. Fresh fruits & veggies, low carb/no carb options.” – Emerald R.
“We need a Haitian restaurant, bring another culture into downtown Lakeland.” – Kiley-Ethan C.
“Could always use another Waffle House 😂” – Tim C.
“I’d love to see The Sanctum Café or a similar concept!” – Alyssa R.
“Keto Restaurant will be great!” – Lynette A.
“Zuuk Mediterranean Kitchen” – Pamela S.
“Restaurant that isn’t breakfast or burgers... 🙄” – Jessica H.
“A dedicated Gluten Free restaurant” – Paula Gillen C.
“A Culver’s” – Leslie K.
“A Publix Sub Shop” – James D.
“Chicken salad chick!” – Shelley B.
“my future restaurant” – Giovanna F.
“A tapas restaurant” – Amie Jo P.
“Maple Street Biscuit Company” – Spencer W.
“Jean’s Creole Cafe” – Kiley-Ethan C.
Bars + Breweries
“@newdogbrewing would be part of a great brewery cluster with Swan to the west and the food hall brewery to the east” – @royaldavis
“@coppertailbrewing A Lakeland location!” – @smith810
“@lakelandsbeerrev could move downtown!” – @smith810
“Wine and cheese bar” – Chris B.
“Fight Club, like the one in Chicago... Entertainment venue featuring social darts with digital scoring, casual bites & a full bar” – Sandy R.
“Speakeasy themed bar and restaurant.” – Jay W.
“Wine Bar with jazz” – Steve S.
“Wine bar🍷🍷” – Laura C.
“Wine bar yaaass Wine Bar George” – Hayley R.
Dessert
“Donut shop 🍩” – @aprillespina
“Ice cream!!!!” – @hannahhvictoriaa_
“One of those ice creams shops that served rolled ice cream! asian style.... maybe along with boba tea and such” – @reach_fortheskye
“I always wanted to open a business in that space. I love those doors!” – @sucrebleucookies
“@blissoutartisancookies!” – @jbrandtastic
“Would LOVE that spot!” – @kitchensixtythree
“@ilovebuttermilk please come to Lakeland 😍” – @77pinto
“An old fashioned bakery: donuts, pies, cookies, etc.” – Janine J.
“@maydayicecream” – @megamax09
“We need a dessert bar!! Like a lulu’s chocolate bar in Savannah” – Krista Deese F.
“Gourmet Goodies Bakery” – Shannon R.
“@sucrebleucookies do it girl!” – @thats_tirrellble
“@partyflavorsbytiffany I would love to see you closer 🤤🎂🍰🍮 next to a coffee shop umm delicious”
“I’d like to see a dessert place, we have so many bars/restaurants sometimes I’d like to just go out for dessert, like an old time ice cream parlor” – Carey Rozon V.
“A real European style bakery” – Cory Wright A.
“Honeycomb Bread Bakers!” – Whittney B.
“Bakery” – Ak P.
“Born & Bread Bakehouse” – Mike M.
Coffee + Tea
“A coffee shop” – @lakelandist
“@quinteassence” – @earniewernie
“@blackandbrew expansion” – @kwriley17
Retail
“A bigger @scoutandtag 😍” – @ohitshails
“@LillyPulitzer” – @jskdance
“Local restaurant/clothing shop!” – @mcclure_company
“@raokboutique 💕” – @laytart_sweetart
“Lakeland needs a store that’s a mix of Anthropologie / a bookstore / @oxfordexchange” – @jenbunni80
“@twentysevenlkld!!!!!” – @kristinaschwirian
“Boutique” – @carmennantaya
“PLEASE be another mattress store” – @ta2ner
“My own shop! 😭🙌🏻” – @loree.1
“@icarussun76 Icarus Pop: Soda Pop & Nerd Shop” – @kramer_mom
“General store.” – @dawnwilmoth
“What about a classy - trendy clothing store for ladies. 5th&Hall, Top Buttons, Hattie’s Branches are great for the younger crowd, but what about the 30’s to early 50’s.” – Stephanie G.
“Cheese and wine shop, like the Cheesetique in Alexandria VA” – Candy K.
“LUSH!” – Cristina M.
“@twentysevenlkld!!!!!!!” – @milllieortiz
“I suggested my husband and son open up a guitar shop and we live above it. I was the only one who thought that was a good idea.” – Katrina B.
“A General Store with only staples for daily life (dry goods, basic grocery/produce, incidentals). Just think how convenient an option this would be when you seek a reliable source for a basic need.” – Martha R T.
“An Aldi!!! Or Walgreens” – Ashleigh T.
“Apple Store” – Shawn B.
“Mason Danger Beard Co.” – Shane O.
It seems you want a bookstore…
“I’ve wanted to figure out how to open a bookstore there.” – @mattywel
“A local bookstore. PLEASE” – @_meldreams18
“A bookstore with vegan offerings that has open mic nights and poetry readings” – @vegan_venus
“Book store!!” – @alygator327
“Bookstore that does night open mics?? And coffee!” – @nonchalantly_heroic
“What we don’t need; a bbq place, coffee shop, gift shop of misc items. I would too love a local bookstore. I’m sure the rent prices have kept anyone out of that space for a while.” – Jordan Weiland
“Bookstore!” –@harleynot.davidson
“Independent bookstore that stocks traditional books and local authors. (There are quite a few of us in town!)” – @thats_tirrellble
“Bookstore!!!!!!” – @julianamvaldes
“Bookstore with slam poetry/open mic OR an Arcade” – @setfreetheghost82
“Bookstore!!!!!!!” – @kt11791
“A BOOKSTORE!!!!” – @sophie_chlo
“Bookstore ❤️”” – @idamundell
“Bookstore!” – @rtbarrios
“Bookstore” – @ashleyholstein
“A bookstore!” – @whimsyandstars
“Local book store” – @sadiehudson3
“Bookstore!!!” – @jesslynnziv
“A book store 😍” – @cali.wade
“Book store 😍😍” – @threadsredeemed
“Cross between bookstore & Central Perk” – @cspiracy13
“Bookstore with delicious food” – @tiffanynbarnett
“Defs an independent bookstore with plenty of reading space: maybe now that @blackandbrew has come to the library, a little bit of the @lakelandpubliclibrary can come to Black&Brew?” – @peteredgar30
“Definitely a bookstore” – @growingkindboys
“I agree with a bookstore too” – @lifeloveninja
“Well-curated indie bookstore, like a mini Strand or Powell’s. 🤓 or else live music/speakeasy/wine bar (something like Lagniappe in Miami)” – Rebecca S.
“Bookstore! Used or independent! Especially great next to a coffee shop.” – Jennifer S.
“A non chain bookstore!!!!” – Carla P.
“Bookstore front with a hidden bar behind a bookshelf.” – Matt K.
“BOOKSTORE!” – Julie Schmidt H.
“Bookstore!” – Tiffany T.
“Local bookstore” – Nate M.
Entertainment + Activity
“@swancityimprov bringing a comedy space in there!” – @thenateflemingg
“Something to do! Not just something to eat or shop for. Paint studio?” – @mae.danielle
“I think a children’s indoor play place would be amazing! Maybe like ‘Let’s Play’” – @kalei.galloway
“I would love to see a place like laser tag or go carting – something fun!” – @captn.car
“What does everyone think about a music venue? I’ve wanted to open one here for a while now.”
– @michrichort
“Escape rooms, or Lakeland Visitor center, or Central Florida History Museum.” – Sami B.
“Rock climbing gym” – Ashley Anne M.
How about an arcade...
“Bar Arcade for sure.” – @kresher94
“A hangout like the parkade in Tampa!” – @itsmeenikkip
“A pinball museum/arcade” – @Rudy6897
“Bookstore or arcade🙌” – @tendermarshmallow
“Arcade bar!!! It would help younger people have something to do who couldn’t drink too.” – Justin H.
“Pinball and classic arcade with adult beverages” – @just_a_gengler
“Barcade” – @adriana.whalen
“I want a barcade, make it happen LALtoday.” – Chris M.
“Adult arcade” – Ann A.
Other suggestions
“@kungfuteausa” – @blair_arroyo
“@restorationfitnesslkld 😊” – @erikamval
“Local workshop for the community” – @eliseoo64259404
“Anything besides office space would make me happy!” – @whitneymurphy13
“Dog bar 🤣, bookstore or @sucrebleucookies all work for me” – @08valentine
“Kids gym or kids bookstore.” – @lardodd
“and something that will bring the communities from the north side and the south side of town together, not just something that caters to the dixieland scene” – @_timothysteiner
“Something that’s open late and on Sundays 😬” – @tawnygypsyboy
“A candle lab!” – @gabriellabores
“Crystals crystals crystals” – @weirdestme
“Houseplants!” – @heatheregeorge
“Art shop n showcase with opening to b&b. Or move the bread shop to it!!!” – @realdarby
“@sidandannmashburn!!!” – @timothypcox
“ANYTHING but a vacant space. 💥” – @jplating302
“Please not BBQ” – @aaronmarshmusic
“Something new and different. Something that Lakeland doesn’t have. Something that’ll bring people to the downtown.” – @sundaze085
“What I think everyone would really love to see on that block is an Internet cafe with a Stargate 🤷”
“How about a venue for a change?” – Victoria L.
“A Democratic congresspersons office” – OnDrew J H.
“Indoor golf simulator/sports bar” – Brian S.
“An art, music studio.” – Leonarda M.
“Some version of a cat cafe (not to compete with what Black & Brew sells), a shoe store, a Born & Bread retail branch, a plant store - maybe specialty, like bonsai, orchids, and African violet type plants.” – Becky A.
“Kaitlyn Our book/wine/antique/art store for Bunker-style open mic nights!” – Sarah M.
“Socialite 😎” – Matt E.
“Dog bar or sucrebleucookies and or Honeycomb Bread Bakers” – Mike Aesthetic V.
It looks like quite a few of you are looking to start a business of your own. Do it! There are plenty of resources in the city, such as Catapult, to help you get started. Maybe one of you should start a bookstore? You’ll have at least 35 of our readers to back you up on it.
Don’t see the business you want to come to Main St? Leave a comment on our Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter posts. Because you never know who’s watching…
- Cassie
