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The fading of the citrus industry once left Winter Garden's downtown blighted and all but abandoned. Now, even in an economic slump, years of planning and renovation appear to be bearing some fruit in a city that has experienced more growth than any other in Orange County in recent years.
One symbol of the revival: On a recent weeknight, downtown diners discovered a troupe of thespians from the reopened Garden Theater boldly rehearsing on the streets."We walked out and saw them, and I told my wife, 'We're not in the old citrus town anymore,' " said Joe Marotta, who is moving his Purple Cow Productions video company from Celebration to a new Florida Cracker-style headquarters on Winter Garden's Main Street.
The west Orange city is working on a new downtown plan to attract more high-tech businesses and residents because its many mom-and-pop stores and restaurants are vulnerable to the same economic doldrums giving retailers across the country the blind staggers. Atop that, the Fowler family orange grove a few miles south of downtown was recently transformed into Winter Garden Village, one of the region's largest outdoor malls with more than 50 stores and at least 22 eating and drinking establishments.
Winter Garden merchants are trying to counter today's challenges with live music on Friday nights and a Saturday farmers market, both of which have drawn more people to their streets. But several buildings remain vacant, and one local institution -- Downtown Brown's diner -- closed its doors recently. Owners Kurt Kazmaier and Mitch Garner -- both former Disney employees -- struggled to re-establish the 1950s-style restaurant after changing locations, they said.
Still, a new wave of creative merchants has fueled hope that downtown Winter Garden will become the country-cousin version of chic Winter Park.
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