On Tuesday, Luma on Park announced the upcoming closure of its Park Avenue location via social media. The restaurant, which has been operating out of its current location for the past fifteen years, has been a staple in the Winter Park fine dining scene since its inception. The owners of Luma, Park Lights Hospitality, led by chef Brandon McGlamery, also own Prato on Park Avenue and Luke’s Kitchen and Bar in Maitland.
The message was signed by the eatery’s co-owners, McGlamery, Time Noelke and Austin Tate, explaining that the restaurant is unable to continue operating in agreement with the current rent structure. The group thanked its landlord, Battaglia Group Management LLC, and wished them well in the future. According to an Orlando Business Journal article, Foundry Commercial will lease out the space on 290 S. Park Avenue, a spacious and coveted location on the corner of Park Avenue and E. New England Avenue.
The restaurant’s social media post also made mention of upcoming good news about the future, sharing that Park Light Hospitality has been contacted by other property owners interested in working with the group. However, it is unclear whether Luma will reopen.
Many businesses throughout Winter Park and along Park Avenue have struggled to navigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The popularity of the Park Avenue area is indicative of high commercial rental rates, which can be difficult to meet when business is slower than usual. Other Park Avenue businesses have struggled amid the pandemic and, unfortunately, Luma has not been the first one to close since COVID-19 hit.
