Goff’s Drive In, the South Orange Blossom Trail ice cream shop that opened in 1948, has apparently closed permanently. A post on its Facebook page Tuesday said: “Goff’s has always been more than just a cinder block ice cream shop and we refer to our customers as Orlando’s Finest for a reason. No matter the weather or temperature, you showed up. When there was a pandemic, you showed up. When there was adversity, you showed up. When we asked for your help, you showed up, big.”
Its latest bit of adversity was in May when an arsonist caused enough damage to force the shop to close down for repairs. It never fully recovered.
Although the Facebook post is not signed, Todd Peacock was the most recent owner. The post detailed the trail of ownership from Edwin Goff to “my grandfather William Truesdell” when Goff retired, then Truesdell’s wife, Joanne, after he died. Peacock has been the owner for the past 13 years.
The post concluded: “This isn’t goodbye. This is see you later. We feel your love Orlando. And I hope you feel ours.”
Linger a short time longer. Cafe Linger, the casual College Park coffee shop with European food, will close permanently on Dec. 11. The Edgewater Drive business had opened in 2018.
Pop down. The Winter Park outpost of Sushi Pop closed last month. The original, in Oviedo, remains open.
Oh, the turbanity. Urban Turban, which bills itself as “Fast. Fresh. Modern. Indian.” has opened at 100 E. Pine St. in downtown Orlando. It took over a space that had been a sushi joint. If my record keeping is correct, this is the first Indian restaurant to open in downtown Orlando since Uday Kadam opened Bombay Bistro in 1995. It was in a city parking garage on Hughey Avenue that was demolished to make way for the new Amway Center. Before it was Bombay Bistro it was Mr. Kai’s, one of the first Vietnamese restaurants to open away from the intersection of Mills Avenue and U.S. Highway 50 (now known as Mills 50 District) and before that it was a 50s-style diner. Oddly, the polished chrome and linoleum from the diner’s decor was kept through the Vietnamese and Indian restaurants. Kadam, by the way, now has the very good Guru in Clermont.
Knock, knock. Speaking of Clermont, brand-spanking-new The Southern on Eighth, a contemporary Southern restaurant on Montrose Street (but at eighth avenue), is hosting a winter bourbon tasting dinner on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. The restaurant is partnering with Heaven’s Door, which is not a retirement home but rather a distillery owned by Bob Dylan. (Dylan trademarked the term bootleg whiskey in 2005.)
Attendees will get a welcome cocktail before the four-course dinner, which will incorporate Heaven’s Door whiskeys in the dishes. Those who purchase a bourbon bottle can get it engraved, though probably not by Mr. Tambourine Man. Cost is $95 plus tax and gratuity. Make ressies by calling 352-394-7777 or through the website Resy.
