VOLUME 4 ISSUE 49
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DECEMBER 8 - DECEMBER 14, 2023
Ben Marciano sworn in as next mayor of Ocala
Mellow Mushroom has grand opening in historic downtown
New mayor shares his priorities for the city.
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano speaks after being sworn in during the City Council meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
B
en Marciano was sworn in as the new mayor of the city of Ocala at Tuesday’s city council meeting, taking over for Kent Guinn,
who served as mayor for 12 years. “You have my commitment that as we continue to grow, we don’t lose who we are. In fact, I believe that in a world where there’s a lot of darkness, we can be an example of what’s right,” Marciano said at his
swearing-in ceremony. Marciano, who ran unopposed in the September election, shared his priorities with the “Gazette” the day before he was sworn in as mayor, naming the improvement of the mental and physical health of Ocala’s residents as one of his biggest goals. “My big focus as mayor is to improve the physical and mental health of our community—we are rated one of the worst cities in the state of Florida for overall health,” he said. The 2023 annual county health rankings survey ranked Marion County one of the least healthy counties in Florida, in the lowest 25%. Marciano’s passion for health comes from his long career in fitness and he said he understands those who have, like him, struggled with mental health and addiction issues. He is the owner of Zone Health and Fitness, which has two locations in Ocala. “To improve the physical and mental health of the community, I’m looking forward to partnering with organizations in the community, providing resources, building awareness, really addressing those issues and being a city that is known for their health,” he said. Marciano mentioned the Marion County Hospital District by name as an organization he hopes for the city to partner with, saying that he wants to raise awareness for the programs and free services they already have available, such as for See Marciano, page A2
Potential Jumbolair development meets opposition from area residents P&Z recommends denial in a surprise move, but nearby residents remain worried about air traffic, car traffic, noise and disruption to their rural way of life. By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com
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acing strong headwinds of opposition from nearby homeowners, Marion County officials have for now grounded plans for a nearly 500-unit residential and commercial expansion of the storied Jumbolair Aviation Estates development north of Ocala. Robert Bull and various business entities have purchased multiple parcels in the area near Northeast 77th Street in the sprawling community and are requesting various land use and zoning changes. The Marion County Growth Services staff initially recommended approval of the Planned Unit Development but then reversed course just before a heated Planning & Zoning
Commission meeting on Oct. 30. “Since that report was written, there’s been more research, and we recommend denial,’’ Deputy Director of Growth Services Ken Weyrauch told the P&Z board. “We have to do a lot more research. And we’re willing to work with the applicant to reach common ground. We’ll get there and talk with the agencies.” Staff findings that the proposal is not consistent with Florida Statutes and the Marion County Comprehensive Plan and is incompatible with the surrounding area came as welcome news to the concerned residents who packed the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Auditorium. Since then, a neighborhood meeting with the Jumbolair development team was held Nov. 28 in one of Bull’s four airplane hangars
on Jumbolair’s north side, but the session did not reach common ground for the participants, and many angry residents walked away vowing to continue to fight the proposal. The demeanor of the audience at that meeting was wholly against the entire concept, reported one attendee. “If there were pitchforks and torches available, they would have been wielded,” said neighborhood organizer Jonathan Rivera-Rose Schenck. “From the start to the end, there was no love lost between the two sides.” The application was set to go before the Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 5, but on Nov. 30, attendees from the neighborhood meeting began receiving emails from Bull’s legal team stating that they were See Concerns, page A4
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Next door to the fabulous Florida Horse Park, a 500 acre premier equestrian competition complex and the Marjorie Harris Cross Florida Greenway, which offers over 80 miles of equestrian trails and bridle paths. Centrally located to the World Equestrian Center, downtown Ocala, The Villages, Grand Oaks, shopping, restaurants, and even close to an I-75 ramp! This farm is suitable for multiple disciplines. Build your dream farm in this extraordinary Ocala location–The Horse Capital of the World!®
Valerie Dailey | 352-816-1080 | valerie@showcaseocala.com | showcaseocala.com
Mellow Mushroom’s new location in Ocala had its grand opening on Dec. 4. [Supplied]
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
T
he long-awaited Mellow Mushroom restaurant in downtown Ocala celebrated its grand opening this week, bringing crowds looking to enjoy the down-to-earth, groovy atmosphere of the restaurant chain—this time with a local twist. Even only one day after its grand opening, the restaurant was packed and lively just in time for lunch hour. The restaurant’s owner, Brad Harper of Swamp Dawg Restaurants, said he wanted to expand the franchise while also preserving Ocala’s rich history. “We just wanted something that we felt like the local folks in the community would really enjoy,” said Harper. The restaurant is at 2 W Fort King St. in the Goldman Peek Building, which was rebuilt from the 20th century Cloeman Building. Mellow Mushroom diners will find a lot of the menu showcases familiar classics including the restaurant’s signature stone-baked pizzas and a “buildyour-own” pie option to make the meal your own. Beyond the familiar menu items, customers will also see a “local to your mellow” section, which features options handpicked by the owner and management team special for Ocala. If you’ve ever wanted pizza for brunch, the Ocala location’s local section features a “breakfast spectacular pizza,” complete with bacon, scrambled eggs and sausage toppings. The bar features hand-crafted cocktails, plus 24 taps pouring beers from local brewery Infinite Ale Works and Florida breweries such as Swamp Head Brewery and Cigar City Brewing. Starting with a staff close to 100, at peak times on opening day the restaurant had a maximum of a two-hour wait. “We just tried to set up a great atmosphere,” Harper said. “The wizard is always a spot where people like to take pictures, because it’s kind of like a Mellow Mushroom thing; Whenever you go to a new Mellow, you want to take a picture with a wizard.” A large mural inside the restaurant features the theme of “See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil,” painted by the Miami-based artist Ruben Ubiera. Harper, who also owns Eggs Up Grill and three Zaxby’s locations in Ocala, is renting the entire Goldman Block and the rest of the vacant space in the building and plans to open two more restaurants: Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes on the first floor, the Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar on the second floor and a rooftop bar on the third floor. The building was most recently occupied by the Brother’s Keeper thrift store and was demolished and rebuilt in preparation for the new restaurants. Harper said he and his team wanted to ensure that Ocala’s history could still be preserved with the building’s new use and showed off the common space, where he said he plans on displaying several historical items found below the building. Some of the items included a calendar from November 1918, a framed collection of needles from the record players sold by Goldman, an old newspaper clipping and an advertisement for a mattress sold for $19.75. “What we wanted to do is to pay tribute to old Ocala but create a really fun, lively space with great staff that people that in our community could really enjoy,” Harper said.
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