By Jim Carchidi
The community is getting its first taste of Art², a new public space at the southwest corner of Orange Ave. and Robinson St., courtesy of Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and social dining concept, À La Cart.
Plans for the 1-acre pocket park began in 2017 with a request for proposals. Ascend Studios won the design contract and work began in 2023 with the final product officially debuted on October 10 .
Art² offers a landscaped green space with accommodations for two food trucks. Red Panda Noodle will permanently occupy one spot and The Culinary Collective will feature a rotating list of menus by local chefs at the second spot. A two-story dining hall at the back of the space includes seating on both levels. A café will serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic craft beverages and cookies by Phat Ash Bakes.
Additional color and good vibes are generated by two murals: “Step into the Past: Walking Through Time” by SKIP, located at the green space, and “Urban Mirage 1” by Sitki Dogan, located behind the dining hall. A 19-foot-by-10-foot video screen will project digital art, streaming video, and host movie nights and Magic games.
Operations are managed by Orlando-based À La Cart. Owners April and Dustin Williams promote community and small business with family-friendly venues resembling food truck parks with indoor elements. The business began in the Milk District, at 609 Irvington Ave., with four food vendors. Another location is in SoDo, at 2207 E. Michigan St., with nine vendors.
"It's so much more than eating and drinking," said April Williams of the concept. "We have been a place where the community comes together, and each À La Cart is a reflection of the neighborhood around it."
The park is funded by the CRA and aligns with the Downtown Orlando Action Plan of uplifting the urban experience by improving streets, civic spaces, and mobility options. Downtown Development Board Executive Director David Barilla said city officials are hoping to add more community hubs like Art². "We're looking at a whole variety of projects that will bring the community together in new and unique ways," he said.
Art² will be open seven-days-a-week, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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