El Olivo, a much loved fixture in the Winter Haven community that has been serving authentic Mexican dishes for decades, closed in January.
Just one day after Christmas, the Villarreal family broke the news to their loyal customers on Facebook: “It saddens me to say that we will be temporarily closing our doors. Saturday January 17th will be our last day until further notice. We will be posting updates on social media. Once we have accrued a new location we will be posting address and expected opening date. We have been at our current location for over 20 years and this has been a difficult and sad time for us but we know there is more for us. We appreciate the loyalty of our customers and we will be back ready to serve every single one of you.”
Now, the restaurant has found a new home at 363 Third Street, Northwest in Winter Haven with plans to reopen in March 2026.
Paula Villarreal tells What Now Orlando that it took the family about a year-and-a-half to find the perfect spot. “We finally found one,” says the restaurateur, adding that they’re working on finishing touches, including deciding on the perfect color scheme for the new spot.
When it opens, fans of El Olivo will be glad to know that much of the dishes they love will remain on the new location’s menu — with a few new surprises. “We’ll keep most of the original plates and add about three or four new ones,” says Villareal.
