Johnny’s Diner, the popular Winter Park restaurant, is finally nearing reopening, according to recent intel received by What Now Orlando. While representatives of the restaurant confirmed this exciting new development, they opted not to share further detail about the location or opening timeframe.
The development is notable not just because of the classic establishment’s return to the local food scene, but because of its loyal customer base and struggles with rising rent prices at its former Winter Park location, as reported in 2022 by The Orlando Sentinel.
“It’s not viable,” said Winter Park resident Dennis Wagner to The Orlando Sentinel in 2022, referencing the rising rent that Johnny’s owners were facing.
Wagner responded to the situation by setting up a GoFundMe page “to help the family offset the cost of moving and potentially renovating a new location; it’s unlikely they’ll find a plug-and-play space on a rent budget of $7,000/month,” according to the article.
“Johnny’s has just become our place,” Wagner said. “It’s a very affordable place to eat. And much of their clientele reflects that. There are a lot of people who go there who couldn’t afford to eat at a corporate-owned diner.”
While, Johnny’s owners are choosing privacy at this time, readers and loyal customers such as Mr. Wagner can rest assured that a new location is finally on the horizon.
