Mills 50 Adds Over 20 New Restaurants and Businesses in Orlando
What’s Happening in Mills 50?
Orlando‘s Mills 50 district — already known as one of the city’s most walkable and culinarily diverse neighborhoods — is in the middle of a major growth wave. More than 20 new restaurants, retailers, and specialty concepts are opening or preparing to open along the corridor, according to Orlando Weekly’s latest count.
What New Restaurants Are Opening in Mills 50?
A few of the standout additions:
- Udon Fifty (1222 E. Colonial Drive) — an udon noodle shop from Sonny Nguyen, the chef behind Domu, Tori Tori, Gyukatsu Rose, and Rion’s Ocean Room, taking over the former Dochi space
- Wavy Baby (1242 E. Colonial Drive) — a Filipino-inspired breakfast and lunch sandwich concept with its own pastry program, set to open in late 2026 or early 2027 in the former LA Boiling Seafood Crab & Crawfish space
- Nomori (1232 E. Colonial Drive) — a new concept from Akasaka/Tapanomi chef-owner Dong Shin, moving into the old Saigon Market space
- Jay Lucy’s (1030 N. Mills Ave.) — a grass-fed burger and tallow fries joint, already soft-open, replacing the former Plantees space after that plant-based burger brand was sold and relocated to Arizona
- Uji Matcha Cafe (1016 E. Colonial Drive) — a new matcha and tea spot, not yet open
- Pomelo (1632 N. Mills Ave.) — a Southeast Asian shareable-plates concept from Top Chef Season 3 champ Hung Huynh, not yet open
What Other Businesses Are Part of This Wave?
The full list also includes Amp’d Guitar Den (1503 N. Mills Ave.), Tremble Pilates (1486 N. Mills Ave.), Earth Grounds Coffee + Matcha (750 N. Thornton Ave.), Oza Izakaya (1821 E. Colonial Drive), Koa Sushi & Poke (912 N. Mills Ave.), Fan Hwa (709 N. Mills Ave.), Catchè (709 N. Mills Ave.), Little Sister Dumpling (713 N. Mills Ave.), Hayashi Tarō (714 N. Mills Ave.), Ngoc Ha Vietnamese (831 N. Mills Ave.), Robin’s Creamery (926 N. Mills Ave.), Rews on Mills (1322 N. Mills Ave.), and Kapé Kaya’s new bakery (618 N. Thornton Ave.).
A cluster of concepts is also opening right at the Mills & Colonial intersection inside Mills Market (1110 E. Colonial Drive), including Unimart Konbini, Cowboy Curry, and Okonomi.
How Many Businesses Are Actually Opening?
Orlando Weekly counted 22 total new businesses and restaurants moving into the corridor, with several already soft-open (Jay Lucy’s, Catchè, Amp’d Guitar Den) and the rest — including Pomelo, Oza Izakaya, Robin’s Creamery, and Rews on Mills — still on the way.
Why Is Mills 50 Growing So Fast Right Now?
The commercial strip along East Colonial Drive, anchored by Bb.q Chicken, is getting a facelift alongside the wave of new tenants — a sign the district is investing in its physical footprint to match the demand. Mills 50 has built its reputation over the years as a hub for diverse, chef-driven concepts, and this latest wave leans heavily into that identity, with several openings coming from chefs who already have a track record in the neighborhood.
What Does This Mean for the Surrounding Area?
A corridor filling up with this much tenant depth — near-full storefronts, a mix of established local chefs and new-to-market brands — tends to be a strong signal for the surrounding residential streets in Orange County, particularly those with walkable access to the district without sitting directly on Colonial Drive’s traffic and parking pressure.
Browse Other Communities
Your Local Expert
Contact Patrick Today
Ready to buy or sell in Central Florida? With 18+ years of experience and 400+ homes sold, I am here to guide you every step of the way. Let's talk about your real estate goals.
