Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Restaurant choices for Lake Wales area residents continues to increase as four new operations are poised to begin serving in January. Two are well-known national chains while two are locally-owned.
Demetrius Leeks, owner and chef, proudly shows off the dining room of his new barbecue restaurant, Smokin' DJs, which is slated to open later this month on North First Street in downtown Lake Wales. It will be joined by three other new businesses in the same building, including The Thirsty Dragon, an "old-world style" tavern.
The city's sparkling reimagining of the downtown area, known as Lake Wales Connected, is attracting new investment in the form of two new restaurants, both in an extensively-remodeled building just across from the US Post Office.
The Thirsty Dragon will open in a matter of weeks at 126 North First Street. Co-owner Howard Davies cited the reconstruction effort as part of the inspiration for the restaurant project.
The operation is described by an investor statement as an "old-world-style tavern" offering a selection of popular and craft beers, fine wines, and a menu of quick-service foods. The Thirsty Dragon promises to provide a conversational environment, attractive traditional interior décor, and regular events including wine-tastings and literary nights.
"The downtown area has needed a place to relax for a long time," Davies said, adding that he hears that sentiment from many people he talks to.
This newly-remodeled building on North First Street is a project of Scenic West, a redevelopment company that plans to restore two other adjacent buildings, including the historic former Friedlander Department Store building on the corner of Park Avenue, which is planned to contain apartments on the upper floor.
Three doors south, Smokin' DJ's will offer a menu of barbecue foods prepared on a grille in the new establishment. The restaurant is an outgrowth of a popular local food-truck operation called "D on Wheelz," run by Jennifer and Demetrius Leeks.
"It's been a lifetime goal," Leeks said. "I just knew the opportunity was going to come around one day. When Mr. James showed up, I gave him my idea and now it's happening.
"I pay attention to the cooking temperature, because you have to control your heat," Leeks said. "Brisket and pork butt can be smoked over a longer period of time. What I do with ribs is 'backyard' barbecue, cooking with direct heat instead of a 12-hour smoke."
Stephen James, president of property-owner Scenic West LLC, plans to create an outdoor event space on vacant land behind the restaurants that will feature gardens and a performance stage capable of hosting bands. The space will serve both adjacent restaurants and others planned for the surrounding properties owned by Scenic West. Between the two new restaurants, a new spa and a barber shop are also opening in the building.
Scenic West also owns two adjacent buildings which are planned for dedevelopment. One is the historic art-deco building that has housed the Friedlander Department Store as well as True Value hardware. Restoration of that building is expected to add four more apartments to a growing downtown residential market.
This three-story art deco building at the corner of Park Avenue and First Street in downtown Lake Wales is eventually planned to host ground floor restaurant space and upstairs apartments.
Lake Wales Connected is an effort to re-invigorate the city's downtown core to create a pedestrian-friendly and attractive environment. West Park Avenue has been transformed from a wide sheet of one-way asphalt into a garden-like pedestrian boulevard. Make-overs are slated to begin soon on both First Street and Orange Avenue as work is concluded on East Park Avenue.
Meanwhile, construction of a new Dunkin outlet is nearing completion on an outparcel at Southgate Shopping Center on SR 60 between existing Pizza Hut and Burger King locations. That shop will feature a single 24-hour drive-through window, with lobby service at more-limited hours. It will be the third Dunkin location in Lake Wales.
On the busy US 27 corridor near Eagle Ridge Mall, a new Panera Bread restaurant is also nearly ready to open, with workers installing new signage as the building nears completion. That shop in located on an outparcel just south of the Aldi grocery store, and next to a new Five Minute oil change location.
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