A diner that was open in downtown Orlando for over a dozen years has closed its doors, making it the 15th business to close in downtown Orlando since last year.
Leo’s Diner permanently closed its location at 333 N Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando at the end of July.
Owned and operated by Tom and Pam Madison, the business first opened its doors in the Frank M. Eidson Building in April 2010.
No reason was given for the closure, and a message to the company from Orlando-News.com went unanswered as of the publication of this story.
The diner’s closure is one of fifteen business closures in downtown Orlando dating back to February 2022, when Barbarella closed after a 37-year run.
In most instances, businesses have cited rising commercial rents and an unwillingness of local landlords to negotiate as the reasons behind their closures.
The Bagel Dudes opened at the base of 55 West in July. On August 9, the city of Orlando closed multiple roadways surrounding that and several other businesses due to scaffolding issues caused by construction. Those streets reopened nearly three weeks later. The Bagel Dudes closed up shop right afterwards.
In April, Harry Buffalo and Le Gourmet Break officially closed their downtown Orlando locations. Both businesses were in operation for over ten years and cited landlords having different plans for their respective locations.
In March, Walgreens closed its downtown Orlando location at 190 S Orange Avenue. That location opened in 2016.
Last summer, Lizzy McCormack’s closed its bar after 18 years on Orange Avenue, and Latitudes closed its doors along Church Street after 23 years. Both of those businesses have since been replaced with Game & Social Club and High Tide, respectively.
Finnhenry’s closed its doors last year after more than a dozen years in operation. It was replaced by Parlay a few months later.
Earth Fare closed its sole grocery store location in Orlando just over a year after it reopened from a previous closure.
Last spring, Mad Cow Theatre was forced to closed up shop at its space across from 55 West for non-payment.
During the same period of time, multiple businesses have opened new locations in the downtown area. That includes Stemma Craft Coffee, Double O’s Coffee, and City Arts Café, which all opened coffee shops in the past year, as well as Tacos My Guey, Taco Kat, and Solita, which all opened new taco restaurants within a few blocks of each other.
A collection of new bars have celebrated grand openings as well including Pups Pub and Proper.