Stuck in the tough economy, struggling restaurants in Gainesville are forced with two options: close or change to survive.
Original Pizza Palace on Northwest 13th Street was planning to close, but Tuesday the restaurant reached a deal with its landlord to stay open until at least fall graduation, depending on business.
The restaurant is planning to offer special dishes over the next month in order to attract new clients and stay in business.
Original Pizza Palace’s owner and cook Duane Olsen said the business is not making enough money because they haven’t generated enough excitement at night.
As a cook, Olsen said he takes pride in doing things the old-fashioned way.
“We are not taking a dough ball bought at Sam’s and calling ourselves bakers,” he said.
Olsen has been trying to find investors to keep the restaurant open, but he believes that the people who need to be convinced the most are students. He plans to add lamb, grouper and lobster ravioli to his menu to attract students.
But while established restaurants like Cafe Gardens and the 82-year-old Louis’ Lunch have gone under, other restaurants are expanding in Gainesville.
O!O Garden Grille will open its doors in the old Cafe Gardens location in midtown next month, according to Mike Case, the restaurant’s owner.
This will be the third restaurant of Case’s in Gainesville.
He, too, hopes families in for graduation will come in hungry.
Another restaurant opening soon is Sarkara Sweets Cafe. It was Yum Cupcakery, at 3345 SW 34th St., but Yum will move downtown to 201 SE Second Ave.
Sarkara stands for sugar, the owner, Stephanie Browning, said. The bakery will open in about a month and a half, she said.
