By Jim Carchidi
February 19, 2026
Growth means change and Central Florida’s urban landscape has experienced decades of massive changes. New construction projects created opportunities for home buyers, commercial tenants, and the tourism economy. But progress has also erased many architectural icons that run the gamut from the endearing to the infamous. And some are barely known to many newcomers.
The following list revisits a few storied local landmarks and reveals the structures that now stand in their place.
Mercado
Image courtesy of Orange County Regional History Center
The Mercado shopping plaza opened in 1985 on the east side of International Drive. Its Mediterranean-style buildings were decorated with reliefs and mosaics, and its cobblestone streets wound past 60 storefronts. The list of shops and restaurants included Once Upon a Star movie memorabilia, Novel Ideas book store, The Hide Out leather goods, Cricketers Arms English pub, and Bergamo’s Italian Restaurant. Vacancies increased in the mid-2000’s and a lack of visitation and disrepair led to its its 2007 closing.
Image courtesy of ICON Park
Mercado's demolition opened the door for development ideas that eventually led to the construction of the ICON Park entertainment complex, which opened in 2015.
The Round Building
Image courtesy of Orange County Regional History Center
Affectionately dubbed "The Round Building," the downtown Orlando landmark opened at 455 S. Orange Ave. in 1963 as the American Federal Savings and Loan building. Architect Robert Murphy’s midcentury vision of a two-story circular structure was surrounded by a latticework of 120 cast-concrete pieces that acted as shades and offered visual appeal. A five-story glass tower was added in 1973 and the building eventually housed overflow offices for Orlando City Hall. As plans for Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts progressed, the decision was made to remove the structure.
Photo by Jim Carchidi
Sections of the building were dismantled beginning in September of 2014, but progress was stalled by contractor delays which forced the city to hire another demolition firm. The building was finally razed in May 2015 – six months after Dr. Phillips Center opened its doors. The property is across from the Seneff Arts Plaza and remains an open lawn that awaits future development. A total of 68 lattice panels were salvaged and kept in storage. One stands as a public sculpture outside the Orange County Regional History Center.
O-Rena
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
The Orlando Arena was located at 600 W. Amelia St. and opened in 1989. The venue achieved fame that year when it was voted "Arena of the Year" by Performance Magazine. Its original seating capacity was 15,291 but the addition of narrow seats in 1995 increased capacity by more than 2,000. The nickname “O-Rena” lasted when sponsored naming rights changed the official title to TD Waterhouse Center in 1999, then to Amway Arena in 2006. The venue was the original home of the Orlando Magic and Solar Bears, as well as the Orlando Jackals roller hockey team, Orlando Sharks indoor soccer club, WNBA’s Orlando Miracle, and the Orlando Titans of the National Lacrosse League. It also hosted countless concerts, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus tours, WWE events, and the 1992 NBA All-Star Game.
Image courtesy of City of Orlando
Outdated amenities and the need for a larger venue inspired talks for a new arena in the central downtown area. One year after the 2010 opening of Amway Center on Church Street, interior demolition began at Amway Arena and the building was imploded in 2012. Creative Village began construction at the site in 2015.
Splendid China
Photo by Mary Harrsch
Florida’s version of the Splendid China Folk Village in Shenzhen, China featured 60 handcrafted one-tenth-scale replicas of China’s famous landmarks. Located in the Four Corners area of Kissimmee, the 75-acre attraction cost $100 million to build and opened in 1993, welcoming 3.5 million visitors in its first year. However, a change of ownership, financial difficulties, and protests against the Chinese government soon followed. The park closed without a buyer in 2003, leaving the structures vulnerable to thieves, vandalism, and decay.
Image courtesy of Margaritaville Resort Orlando
The property sold in 2013 and a three-year land clearing paved the way for the construction of Margaritaville Resort Orlando, which opened in 2019.
Wet & Wild
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
The water park was popular with vacationers and locals from its 1977 opening until its closing in 2016. Founded by SeaWorld creator George Millay, the idea was to combine a splash pad-style park with the thrill of a wave pool. Universal Studios Recreation Group, later renamed Universal Destinations and Experiences, took over in 1998. Ride and slide designs evolved into attractions like the Bubba Tub raft slide, the Disco H2O tube slide featuring lights and music, and the Brain Wash: a giant funnel where riders in tubes experienced left-to-right swinging and flashing lights.
Image courtesy of Lowes Hotels
The park closed on December 31, 2016, while its state-of-the-art replacement, Universal's Volcano Bay, was under construction. Demolition began soon after and the Surfside Inn and Suites portion of Universal’s Endless Summer Resort broke ground on the property in late 2017, opening in 2019.
Is there a lost local landmark you’re curious about? Let us know.
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About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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