The owners of F&D Kitchen (above) and F&D Cantina in Lake Mary are the new owners of the just-closed Peppino’s Organic Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria on Curry Ford Road in Orlando. The space is currently under renovations and will reopen this summer as F&D Italian Wood-fired Kitchen.
According to Tim Barber, who owns the concept with Charly Robinson and Neil and Glorian Leach, they are “pretty much blowing up the inside” and redoing the outside seating areas, as well. He said they would be bringing in a better quality pizza oven and will specialize in Neapolitan pizzas.
Peppino’s closed after being open less than six months because the owner was diagnosed with cancer and was forced to sell, according to Hourglass developer Giovanni Fernandez.
Fernandez said that both Foxtail Coffee and Leguminati Vegan Food will open in the district in July. It was also learned that the small storefront church on Curry Ford Road just east of Bumby Avenue would be moving. The church’s proximity caused issues for Claddagh Cottage when it applied for its alcohol license and prevented Cilantro’s, a taco restaurant on Bumby, from being able to offer beer and wine altogether.