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Historic College Park Café Closes Permanently

The front door of the historic College Park Café with an 'OUT OF BUSINESS' sign.

News Summary

The iconic College Park Café in Orlando has permanently closed due to severe health violations revealed during a state inspection. The café, which has served customers since the 1950s, faced issues including a pest infestation that included dead and live cockroaches. Despite attempts to revive the business, financial struggles compounded by a previous fire led to its closure, marking the end of an era for many local patrons. The café’s legacy is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses in today’s economy.

Orlando – The College Park Café, a historic diner in Orlando that had been serving customers since the 1950s, has permanently closed its doors. This closure was officially reported on June 18, 2025, following severe health violations uncovered during a state inspection.

Located along Edgewater Drive, the iconic diner was forced to shut down due to a wide range of pest-related issues. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) acted on a health complaint that led to the inspection, which found over 50 dead cockroaches and more than a dozen live ones in the establishment. Consequently, inspectors ordered the diner to close until health violations were adequately addressed.

In a sign of finality, a note stating “OUT OF BUSINESS! Toodles.” was affixed to the café’s front door. Despite the owners’ attempts to revitalize the business with a new drag brunch, financial struggles compounded by a previous fire, which temporarily forced the diner to close in December, have ultimately led to its permanent cessation of operations.

The diner, originally established in 1951, holds the distinction of being the oldest diner in the College Park area. After a significant fire incident in December, the establishment rebranded from College Park Café to College Park Diner and reopened in January 2025. However, the challenges continued as they faced scrutiny during subsequent inspections, leading to a partial complaint filed on June 17 that revealed some, but not all, health code violations.

Following the recent discovery of pests, the owners indicated they had implemented a proactive pest control plan as a response to the infestation. However, visual evidence of ongoing pest activity ultimately resulted in the enforcement of the closure order. When presented with the option to remediate the health issues and potentially reopen, the owners opted instead to permanently shut down the diner, recognizing that rectifying the situation would not be feasible.

The historic College Park Café’s abrupt closure marks the end of an era for many longtime patrons, who have cherished its legacy and contributions to the local community. In addition, the diner’s closure reflects the broader economic challenges that many small businesses are currently facing in the area.

Coinciding with this closure, a nearby children’s store, Yaya + Lou, also announced its transition to an online-only model, underscoring similar hardships that retail establishments are experiencing in the current economic climate.

As the College Park region continues to adapt to changes in its local business landscape, the vacancy left by the College Park Café is a poignant reminder of the challenges many businesses encounter. With social media accounts now deleted, the lasting impact of this historic diner will be felt by its patrons and the community alike.