1The new Fruitland Park Library officially opened its doors in July – and along with that big event came an eatery that’s quickly become quite popular among patrons, city workers and area residents.
The Gardenia Café, which is named for the old Gardenia Hotel and is located inside the new 12,000-square-foot, $3 million library, has hit the ground running with home-cooked breakfast and lunch specials, as well as some favorites that have become must-haves among customers.
“The Gardenia Hotel welcomed people, fed them and made them comfortable,” said Fruitland Park Library Director JoAnn Glendinning, who said it was very important to remember the past when creating the new facility. “Now, the Gardenia Café is welcoming people, feeding them and making them feel comfortable.”
Kathy Weaver, owner of K&M Creative Catering in Fruitland Park, and her staff oversee the café. In July, Weaver signed a lease that runs through Sept. 30, 2020 to provide food and non-alcoholic beverages for library patrons, staff and others in the 515-square-foot café.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “We weren’t sure what to expect when we started it, but I think it’s taken off great.”
Glendinning, who said she quickly became a “regular” at the café, labeled the food as wonderful.
“They make a peanut butter cake here that every time it sells out in one day,” she said. “So, you have to get here quick.”
“The peanut butter cake is definitely the favorite,” Weaver said, adding that the chocolate and apple cakes also were big hits and her mother is “having the time of her life” making desserts for the café.
Glendinning said portions of the café’s menu changes every day. But she said one item has proven to be a favorite among her and many others who eat there.
“They make the best Reuben in town,” she said. “You’ve got to come early to get your Reuben.”
Glendinning said several other items also have proven to be favorites among library patrons.
“The French onion soup sold out in one day and the broccoli-cheese soup sold out in one hour,” she said. “They were kind enough to make it again the second day and a lot of us came in early and said, ‘Save us a cup. Save us a cup.’”
In the short time the café has been open, Weaver said she’s already established regular customers who visit several times a week.
“We’ve got quite a few,” she said. “The city workers. And JoAnn is our number one,” she added with a laugh.
For her part, Glendinning said it’s exciting to have the café inside the library. And she offered praise to Weaver and her employees.
“We’re just ecstatic over the whole thing,” she said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better company to come in and take over the café.”
Glendinning said it’s also been great to see the café, which is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., staying so busy.
“The food is delicious,” she said. “It’s wonderful and it’s amazing what they can do in just this little spot right here.”
In addition to the name of the café, the library pays homage to Fruitland Park’s history in several ways. A large windmill that once powered the city’s water system towers over the facility. And the foyer of the coastal-themed building is dedicated to the Casino Community Building and contains original oak floors and windows from the historic structure that also once stood on the same site.
