Exhibit A of my Florida paradox: I love, love, love the State of Florida. I hate its government.
Just a little background: The Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant is about an hour north of Orlando. It's located inside De Leon Springs State Park and sits right next to the freshwater spring in an old 19th Century sugar mill building.
The pancakes are--without any sort of exaggeration--the best pancakes I've ever tasted in my life. They are absolutely delicious.
And they are cheap, too. $5 for two jugs of batter (white and whole grain). Comes with syrup, honey and molasses. You can add your own toppings like blueberries or chocolate chips.
The catch is, you cook it up all yourself. There's a griddle in the middle of the table, and your pour as many pancakes as your heart's delight.
And it's a crazy popular place. On weekends and all throughout the summer, it's typical that there will be a 2 hour wait. So in the meantime while people wait, they typically explore the state park around them.
So what's the problem? Apparently the State of Florida has yet to renew the concession license necessary to keep the place open past September. They haven't even bothered to reach out to the family who's operated the restaurant for years.
You know, Rick Scott and the majority of numbskulls in the Florida legislature go on and on about how "pro business" they are, how they want to attract all these out of state businesses to Florida, no matter how qualified they are.
Meanwhile, there's an existing local business in Florida on state land that is wildly successful and has a near perfect business model. It attracts tourists who come for the theme parks in Orlando, venture up the road, and are introduced to Florida's state park system and to its priceless natural springs. And they are rewarded with deliciousness.
But I guess because it involves a low cost operation on government land, it's okay to give them the shaft, no matter how successful or iconic their product is.
What is wrong with them?
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http://www.clickorlando.com/news/hidden-treasure-could-be-closing-inside-deleon-springs-state-park
Old Spanish Sugar Mill at DeLeon Springs State Park might be closing
Restaurant opened in 1961
By Loren Korn - Reporter
Posted: 7:55 PM, July 17, 2017
Updated: 7:27 AM, July 18, 2017
A well-known restaurant praised for its pancakes could be closing its doors.
It's the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House, tucked inside DeLeon Springs State Park.
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But those family traditions may soon be coming to an end.
"The restaurant operates as a concession for the Florida Parks Service. Every five years or so, they have to offer us an opportunity to continue doing business or make a decision that they want someone else to do business here," said Schwarze.
The owner said she's been requesting renewal since January, but hasn't heard a peep, and without a contract, the pancake house could close as early as September 30.
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Our gov is in the top 5 worst.
Hope Gwen Graham has a successful run
They must want to drill for oil
And I agree completely. I hate what Republicans have done to this odd, quirky, beautiful state. 