Good Morning Winter Garden

Sunday, March 22, 2026 · West Orange County, FL
☀️ 79° · Clear & Sunny

Your daily dispatch from the heart of West Orange County.

Plant Street & the West Orange Trail · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)

Presented by our sponsors

Reach Winter Garden's most engaged local readers every morning.

Newsletter ads starting at $49/week.

Top Story

Writer's Block Bookstore Closing by End of April — Another Downtown Casualty

The beloved Plant Street bookstore is the latest small business forced out as rising rents reshape downtown Winter Garden.

Writer's Block Bookstore at 32 W. Plant St. will close at the end of April after its landlord terminated the lease in favor of a new tenant willing to pay significantly higher rent. Owner Lauren Zimmerman announced the closure on March 10 — making it the third local business displaced downtown in recent months, following Three Birds Café and Ruby & Rust. The Winter Park location and online store will continue. Meanwhile, there's a bright spot: Driftwood Market, which also lost its Plant Street space, announced Friday it has found a new home at 49 S. Main St. in downtown Winter Garden. Opening details are still forthcoming.

Observer →  ·  WFTV →  ·  Driftwood update →

New Opening Harlow Grove Restaurant & Lounge Now Open on Main St. Two-story restaurant at 186 S. Main St. Three vibes: dining room, oak-shaded terrace, upstairs cocktail lounge. Mon–Sun, dinner from 4 PM. Read more →

Education OCPS Votes to Close 7 Schools Amid Enrollment Decline Board voted unanimously March 10. None in WG area, but district faces $17M funding cut from declining enrollment statewide. Read more →

📣 Downtown Update

The buyout tally keeps growing. $40M+ and counting.

James Larweth's network of 26 LLCs has now spent more than $40 million acquiring 36 properties in and around downtown Winter Garden since 2015. Over 150 residents packed a City Commission meeting earlier this month to voice concerns. Larweth has met with city officials but still hasn't released a public plan — only saying he wants to "restore" the buildings. The city is reviewing all zoning, architecture, and signage ordinances. Next Commission meeting with second reading on the church annexation: March 26.

☀️ This Week's Weather

Winter Garden, FL · Mar 22–28 · NWS Melbourne

Today (Sun)	☀️	79° / 55°
Monday	☀️	83° / 58°
Tuesday	🌧	85° / 65°
Wednesday	🌧	83° / 63°

Clear today, storms possible Tue–Wed (40%) · NWS Melbourne

Around Town

Tragedy West Orange High Senior Dies After Drowning at Ormond Beach Ricky Alejandro Martinez, 19, was caught in a rip current March 14 during spring break. He was swimming in an area without lifeguards. Observer →		City Hall Commission Approves Church Annexation, Lake Apopka Shoreline Grant 3.5-acre annexation for New Life Slavic Church. Plus $600K DEP grant for 60 acres of Lake Apopka shoreline at Newton Park. Read more →
Heads Up School Zone Speed Cameras Going Live — $100 Fines Start Soon Esteem Academy citations start March 25. Whispering Oak Elementary starts April 1. Warning period ending. City updates →		Parks Tucker Ranch Park Addition Wins National Architecture Award 25.6-acre wellness center, teaching farm & activity center opening late 2026. Historic West Orange Country Club arch being moved as centerpiece. Read more →
Roads Tremaine St. Still Closed Through May Between S. Boyd & S. Main St. — water tower refurbishment. Local access maintained, detour in place. City updates →		Regional 350+ Evacuated From Sand Lake Rd. Apartment Building Residents of The Rialto reported popping sounds and cracks Thursday. Structural engineers evaluating — no return date yet. Read more →

Sponsor this section

Your Local Business Name Here

A one-line description of your business, offer, or event — seen by your neighbors.

"We're not leaving Winter Garden — we're just moving around the corner. This next chapter is going to be something special."

Driftwood Market, announcing its new location at 49 S. Main St. — West Orange Observer

Calendar of Events

Mar 22	Farmers Market — Today! 8 AM–1 PM · Downtown Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Ave. · 100+ vendors, live music, free parking · details →
Mar 25	School Zone Speed Cameras Active — Esteem Academy Warning period ends · $100 civil citations for speeding begin · city alert →
Mar 26	City Commission Meeting — Church Annexation Vote Second reading & final vote on New Life Slavic Church annexation · agenda →
Mar 27	Fridays on the Plaza 🎵 7–9 PM · Centennial Plaza Gazebo · Free live music · details →
Mar 28	Evening at the Pops 🎶 Newton Park 6–9:30 PM · Newton Park on Lake Apopka · Plant Street Pops Orchestra · Free community event
Apr 1	Speed Camera Citations Begin — Whispering Oak Elementary $100 civil citations for speeding in school zone · city alert →

Community Partner

Support local journalism — sponsor GMWG

Every edition, every morning. Section sponsorships & display ads available.

We want to hear from you

How are we doing? Tell us.

Got a tip or correction? We read every reply.

✉ Send us a note

☕ Buy us a coffee

Good Morning Winter Garden

gmwgnews.com · hello@gmwgnews.com
West Orange Observer · WFTV · Central Florida Public Media · NWS Melbourne · Mar 22, 2026

You're receiving this because you subscribed to GMWG.
Unsubscribe · View in browser