UPDATED: Since this article was published, state inspection records have confirmed that College Park Diner was ordered to temporarily close on June 17 due to health code violations, including a significant roach issue. While the original article focused on the diner’s financial struggles and recent community efforts, this new information provides further context to the sudden closure. We’ve preserved the original story below as it was published, and we’re committed to sharing the full picture as it develops.
Last week, we wrote about College Park Diner’s new drag brunch—a bold, joyful attempt to bring fresh energy (and foot traffic) to one of the neighborhood’s oldest businesses.
Today, it’s gone.
A handwritten note on the door reads “Out of Business! Toodles :)” next to an official state-issued closure notice citing health and safety concerns. Their Instagram account has been deleted. The diner—quietly—has closed for good.
College Park Diner had been serving the neighborhood since the 1950s. It was Orlando’s oldest diner, a holdout from another era, and the kind of place that felt like it would always be there—until it wasn’t.
The drag brunch was part celebration, part last-ditch effort. In a now-deleted Instagram post, the owners were blunt:
“If we close, you’ll be left with Denny’s.”
Just days later, that line hits differently.
This marks the second College Park closure we’ve reported in the past week. Just a few doors down, Yaya + Lou—a locally owned and locally loved children’s shop—announced it will move exclusively online after struggling with rising costs and foot traffic that just wasn’t enough.
These aren’t isolated losses. They’re reminders.
When local businesses close, they rarely get replaced with more of the same charm or character. They get replaced with chains, vacancies, or whatever can survive without our loyalty.
College Park Diner is gone. Yaya + Lou will be gone by the end of the month. It’s not too late for the places that are still here. But they won’t be without us.
UPDATE: The owner offered this explanation regarding the closing in a recent Facebook comment: Tuesday morning, we conducted a full wall flush treatment through our pest control provider as part of a proactive pest control plan we implemented due to a recent isolated issue. The treatment occurred prior to opening and, as expected with a building that’s over 70 years old, it stirred up activity behind the walls. We began cleaning immediately as part of our planned follow-up. During this process, the Department of Health inspector arrived to investigate a complaint, the problem we were working toward resolving. Due to visible pest activity caused by the flush and our active cleanup efforts, we were issued a closure order. While we were given the option to clean and reopen, we made the difficult decision to permanently close instead.
Supporting local businesses is crucial for a thriving community, but this support is predicated on these establishments upholding their fundamental obligations, particularly adherence to health codes. Regardless of consumer patronage, local businesses have a non-negotiable responsibility to meet public health standards. This commitment ensures the safety and well-being of their customers and the broader community they serve. Ultimately, the decision to support a local business is distinct from its ongoing duty to operate safely and responsibly.