Peach Valley Cafe, a Central Florida chain that serves breakfast, lunch and brunch, will occupy the recently closed Bob Evans site at 3535 SW College Road (State Road 200) in Ocala.
Holm Real Estate LLC out of Winter Park paid $2.9 million for the building, according to a deed on file with the court clerk.
Eric Holm and his team own and operate Peach Valley Cafe, which has been around about 25 years. Ocala will be the chain’s 10 location.
“I love Ocala,” said Holm, who is from Gainesville and has spent a lot of time in the Horse Capital of the World. He called Ocala “a prospering, growing area” and the old Bob Evans “a perfect location.”
In addition to Peach Valley, Holm also is a Golden Corral franchisee with 18 stores, including the one on College Road (SR 200) in Ocala. It recently underwent a $2 million remodel.
His Golden Corrals are in Florida and the Atlanta area. The Peach Valley Cafes are all in Central Florida, including one in Gainesville and a new one coming online soon in The Villages.
Holm said he converted a former Bob Evans into a Peach Valley in Mount Dora three years ago. He said that process was successful and bodes well for the Ocala project.
Holm hopes the Ocala cafe can open within six months. He was complimentary of the city’s quick action on permits and such.
“Ocala is a great place to do business,” he said.
Peach Valley Cafe is open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The extensive menu has breakfast items like pancakes, eggs and omelettes, as well as sandwiches, salads and the signature apple fritters.
“This is about adding another strong, family friendly dining option in Ocala — a place people can count on for a great breakfast, brunch or lunch experience,” Holm said.
jross@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Central Florida breakfast, brunch, lunch chain will occupy old Bob Evans
Reporting by Jim Ross, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
