A Foodie Forward Concept to Revitalize Downtown Mulberry
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL & PROVIDED BY RESTAURANTS
The 14,000 square foot food hall will be home to seven restaurants, a full bar and event spaces. It is slated to open in early 2025 in downtown Mulberry.
For many years, locals have had to think far too hard about how to answer the question, “Where is downtown Mulberry?”
Pretty soon, the answer will be clear.
With the steady stream of traffic expected, the laughter that will be present and the mouthwatering smells that will soon be the norm at 303 NW 1st Ave, an industrial aesthetic food hall is attempting to become the epicenter of modern Mulberry.
An ambitious project spearheaded by the Mulberry Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Depot 303 will feature seven restaurants, a bar and accommodating rental areas in a 14,000 square foot industrial space that was once a Badcock Furniture warehouse.
The construction by Rodda Construction on the facility designed by Straughn Trout Architects is expected to be completed in early 2025. Depot 303 will be managed by Jon Bucklew—a familiar name in the food and service industry who is known for opening and operating The Joinery food hall along Lake Mirror.
Bucklew is visibly excited about the prospect of helping reinvigorate the city directly south of Lakeland that has already seen the fruits of the recent remodel of the Gem Theatre and the momentum generated by the approved construction of a brand new municipal complex that will include a sheriff’s office substation, civic center, museum and more.
“We are building this place to be ‘foodie forward,’ design forward and to be a place that brings value to the businesses and community around us,” Bucklew says. “There’s not much here, and that’s kind of the point. With [State Road] 37 intersecting [State Road] 60, this is just a vacuum right here, and I’m a firm believer that the rising tide lifts all ships. And really, Mulberry is Greater Lakeland.”
The details of Depot 303 have been unfolding since Mulberry City Manager Rick Johnson shared the vision for the revitalization project in 2022. The key questions soon-to-be patrons have are, “When is it going to open?” and “What kind of food will be offered?”
The food hall is scheduled to open the first quarter of 2025.
In terms of the restaurants who will bring the new space to life, Bucklew is delighted to share some of the lineup he has curated.
Fat Maggie’s, a beloved food truck and catering vendor who once had a permanent location where Good Thyme is now located, is re-entering the brick and mortar business.
Known for its backyard style burgers, southern barbecue and truffle fries, Dustin and Heather Olson are excited for the next iteration of their restaurant, which is named after their beloved English Bulldog.
“We are most excited to see all our old regulars again and to rejoin the growing Polk county food scene,” Heather Olson says. “People can expect classic Maggie’s dishes and some new southern inspired favorites like a grouper nugget po boy and smash burgers.”
Joining Fat Maggie’s are Ling’s—a restaurant known for its authentic, handcrafted dumplings that has a location in Armature Works in Downtown Tampa—and Tilaw, a Filipino Fusion spot that will be operated by Florencio Dobrea, the founder of Pinoy Cravings.
And as Bucklew puts it: what’s a food hall without a good pizza spot? Pizza Odyssey will fill that gap. With fresh dough that is handmade daily, fun flavors and wings and subs, the joint that has built a strong customer base at its Lake Morton location will expand to Depot 303.
Also, keep your eyes open for an official announcement on a new concept from Nineteen61 that will be part of Depot 303.
“This is chef focused, and we are bringing in restaurants that are really about different types of food that are really great and cater to a lot of different people,” Bucklew says.
Bringing in the food entrepreneur, who also is the founder of custom furniture company Seventeen20, was a strategic move to bring industry insider experience to a project that the CRA will have poured nearly $3.5 million into by the time it is complete.
“It’s really a great use of redevelopment funds because we are taking a space and truly developing it to become an essential part of the community, to create jobs and to help Mulberry be known for something,” Bucklew says. “Parks are nice, but it’s not another park—it’s something that is really money being put into something that can make a huge difference, especially alongside what has already been done to the Gem Theatre and the other projects in the works.”
Bucklew and city leaders are ecstatic to bring 90 to 110 jobs to the area that will provide Mulberry High School students and other job seekers opportunities for growth.
Depot 303 will include an indoor and outdoor space that can be rented for private parties, celebrations of life, corporate meetings, etc.
Stay in the loop about the rest of the Depot 303 vendor announcements and the official grand opening date by following @depot.303 on Instagram.
“Parks are nice, but it’s not another park—it’s something that is really money being put into something that can make a huge difference, especially alongside what has already been done to the Gem Theatre and the other projects in the works.”
