Plus, Lakelanders make the Power 100 list.
 
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Get the 411 on The Depot 303

Get a sneak peek at The Depot 303, Mulberry’s first food hall
A rendering of The Depot 303 food hall, showing a white one-story building with black trim and design accents. The top of the building has a small sign that reads "The Depot 303."
Get ready to meet — and get ready to eat — The Depot 303. | Rendering provided by Straughn Trout Architects
Food halls are having a moment. Just look at The Joinery, which opened in Lakeland in 2020, and Winter Haven’s upcoming Bowen Yard development. Polk County’s next food hall is ~20 minutes from downtown Lakeland.

Meet The Depot 303, a new development under construction at 303 NW 1st Ave. in downtown Mulberry.

The project was first announced in 2022, and construction is slated to wrap up in April. The project is a partnership between the City of Mulberry and Lakeland companies Rodda Construction and Straughn Trout Architects, who shared the latest renderings of how the completed space will look.

A rendering of The Depot 303 food hall, showing the interior dining areas. The space is painted white, with black design accents and dark wood features. There are black chairs at both long tables and small four-top tables, plus a bar in the back corner.

There will be plenty of space to hang out indoors and outdoors.

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Rendering provided by Straughn Trout Architects

Here’s what you can expect, by the numbers:
  • 14,000 sqft (compared to 12,000 sqft at The Joinery)
  • Space for seven food vendors, plus a bar, that will share a commercial kitchen
  • Indoor and outdoor seating for 280+ visitors
  • A $3-4 million price tag, paid by the Mulberry Community Redevelopment Agency
A rendering of the exterior of The Depot 303 food hall, showing a white one-story building with black trim and design accents. On the back wall is a large mural in black, white, and green featuring "Phosphate World" and railroad signage.

Design elements are on track to remind you of local history.

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Rendering provided by Straughn Trout Architects

The Depot 303’s design will be inspired by the city’s roots in the railroad and phosphate mining industries. Even its name is a nod to former train depots. Expect to see railroad signage and subtle design elements throughout the space.

So, why is this food hall coming to Mulberry? Like Lakeland, the small city is currently experiencing rapid growth with its population expanding by 25% over the past five years. As Mulberry plans more downtown developments to keep up with its growth, it’s likely to become a popular destination for Lakelanders looking to explore outside of Swan City.
See more renderings
Asked

Which cuisine do you hope to see most at The Depot 303?
A. Burgers
B. Seafood
C. Tacos
D. Sushi
E. Something else
Make your pick
 
Events
Friday, Feb. 2
Saturday, Feb. 3
  • Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland, 210 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free entry | Find fresh produce, plants, and locally handcrafted items at this outdoor farmers market.
  • VISTEBall 2024 | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 6-9:30 p.m. | Sun ‘n Fun, 4075 James C. Ray Dr., Lakeland | $75 | Support Volunteers in Service to the Elderly at this golf-themed fundraiser.
Sunday, Feb. 4
  • Goat Yoga on the Farm! | Sunday, Feb. 4 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm, 6170 Robins Rd., Lakeland | $10-$25 | Take part in a beginner-friendly, 45-minute yoga class, or register to just pet the goats.
Saturday, Feb. 17
  • Black History Festival | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Jackson Park, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | Free | Celebrate Black History Month with vendors, food trucks, and family activities in the park + history exhibits inside the Coleman-Bush Building.
February calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Biz
  • Several influential Lakelanders were featured in this year’s Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Power 100 list. Honorees include five leaders in local health, business, and education: Danielle Drummond, Angela Falconetti, Anne Kerr, Kevin Murphy, and Steve Scruggs.
Environment
  • Learn more about a wetlands restoration project planned for Lake Bonnet at an upcoming public kick-off meeting. Drop in to the open house-style meeting at The Well (114 E. Parker St.) or join virtually on Thursday, Feb. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Number
  • 1.9 million. That’s how many total followers Jim McFarland of McFarland Shoe Repair has on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube combined. McFarland has racked up such a large following due to his satisfying behind-the-scenes videos — watch them here. (Fox 13 News)
Cause
  • Applications are open for MADE’s 13th Annual Brandathon. Polk County nonprofits can apply to receive pro bono marketing services, all completed within 24 hours. Services include marketing strategy, logo design, and more. Apply by Monday, Feb. 26.
Legacy
  • Rev. Alex Harper, a pastor who first moved to Lakeland in 1959, died on Jan. 22 at the age of 88. Since beginning his career in 1961, Rev. Harper pastored eight churches across Florida, including Lakeland’s Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and First Baptist Institutional Church. (LkldNow)
Award
  • Here’s an award you probably didn’t know about. Hubbard Construction Company won Special Project of the Year at the 2023 Excellence in Pavement Awards. The awarded project included paving two Lakeland Linder International Airport taxiways.
Eat
  • Fancy Farms has introduced a new lunch menu, just in time for strawberry season. Visit Monday-Saturday to try the strawberry walnut salad, strawberry barbecue pork, and more berry-flavored dishes.
Try This
  • Grab your best fronds for a bouquet making party at The Green House Garden Store. Drop in on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2-5 p.m. to create a bouquet + take selfies together at the plant wall and enjoy live music. No registration is required.
Watch
  • Fourth-generation farmer Nathan Smothers from Bartow is seeking love on the next season of “Farmer Wants a Wife.” The series follows four farmers meeting other singles in hopes of finding a partner. The latest season premiered last night on FOX. (Fox 13 News)
Asked
  • The Florida State Fair begins next Thursday, Feb. 8, in Tampa and is followed by the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City at the end of the month. Have questions before visiting these local fairs? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to answer them.
Announced
  • Congratulations to our survey winner, Rachel M., for winning $500! Thank you to everyone who took the time to take our survey. We’re excited to continue providing positive news and events in our free newsletter.
 
Development

Get the 411 on The Depot 303

Get a sneak peek at The Depot 303, Mulberry’s first food hall
A rendering of The Depot 303 food hall, showing a white one-story building with black trim and design accents. The top of the building has a small sign that reads "The Depot 303."
Get ready to meet — and get ready to eat — The Depot 303. | Rendering provided by Straughn Trout Architects
Food halls are having a moment — wait, haven’t we been here before?

Today is Groundhog Day, and we couldn’t help but have a little bit of fun before Punxsutawney Phil gives his unofficial prediction this morning. Remember: Legend says that if the groundhog sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter lie ahead. If not, an early spring is expected.

As for us, we know that Phil’s guesses never seem to apply to Florida, so we’ll be kicking back and watching the movie instead.
The Buy

The Buy 2.02.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A portable phone charger that’s credit card-sized and fits right on the back of your smartphone. Choose your color and store the slim, lightweight device in your pocket or bag.
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
If you haven’t visited “Illustrations From The Mirror: The Art of Ahmad Taylor” at the Polk Museum of Art yet, this weekend is your last chance before it closes on Sunday. Learn more about artist Ahmad H. Taylor in our recent Q+A.
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