A neighborhood entrepreneur and restaurant proprietor is seeking to open a novel restaurant idea — an all-halal meals corridor — a brief drive north of Disney Springs.
Somita Enterprises LLC is behind an software to Orange County that requires a 5,600-square-foot facility, based on a report in GrowthSpotter. The idea, going by the working title “Lake Buena Vista Meals Corridor”, can be constructed on a roughly 1.4-acre property at 11581 S. Apopka Vineland Rd. throughout the road from the Islamic Middle of Orlando, which operates a mosque and a non-public college.
Halal meals, which makes use of components which can be permitted for consumption based on Islamic regulation, incorporates a wide range of meats akin to beef, lamb, hen, goat meat, and most seafood. Most notably, pork and alcohol will not be thought of halal.
The LLC is related to Tahir Ansari, finest referred to as [one of the original owners of the now-closed The Skull Kingdom on International Drive, who owns a franchise location of The Halal Guys in East Orlando. The restaurant features a Mediterranean-inspired menu, with beef gyro, chicken, and falafel sandwiches and platters among the food offerings.
However, halal encompasses a diverse selection of cuisines. Earlier this year, Sanford’s Masjid Al Hayy mosque organized a halal food festival in celebration of Eid. Vendors in attendance included Chaat House (Indo-Chinese), Big Backs BBQ (East African fusion), Dave’s Hot Chicken, Maya Thai Cuisine, Ox’s Way (vegan), Koyla Pakistani BBQ, The Halal Brisket, Melt n Dip, Chef Abu Rimas, The Burger Jawn, and more.
It’s not clear yet what dishes would be served at the proposed food hall, but application materials suggest that the location could feature multiple vendors and kiosks. A site plan calls for outdoor seating adjacent to the one-story building, along with 25 surface-level parking spaces.
Orlando-based Intram Investments owns the land. Randy Hodge, Intram’s Executive Vice President, told GrowthSpotter that Somita Enterprises has a ground lease for the property but declined to comment further.
Numerous restaurants and cafes have opened in the same area over the last couple of years. Among them are Eggs Up Grill, McDonald’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Planet Smoothie, Dutch Bros Coffee, Mango Mango Dessert, and more located on the western portion of Unicorp National Development’s O-Town West development at the southwest corner of S. Apopka Vineland Road and Daryl Carter Parkway, just north of the proposed food hall.
To the south, a retail building with tenants such as @ The Diner, Piezoni’s Pizza, and Pio Pio Vineland, opened in 2023 at 11895 S. Apopka Vineland Rd.
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