The Story Behind the Name

Mountaineer Coffee began with Daniel and Darby Pritz. In 2013, Daniel started roasting his own beans and selling them as “Mountaineer Coffee,” a name that honors his grandfather, a West Virginian who owned an antique business in Brooksville called Mountaineer Antiques. After three years of learning the craft, the couple opened their flagship shop in downtown Brooksville in 2016. Today Mountaineer also pours in Downtown New Port Richey at 6322 Bank Street.

Mountaineer Coffee at a Glance

• Founders: Daniel and Darby Pritz
• Roasting since: 2013, with beans roasted daily
• Where: 6322 Bank Street, the gateway to Sims Park, across the street from The Hacienda
• New: Mountaineer’s own instant coffee
• Central Perks Partner: Yes

The Gateway to Sims Park

Mountaineer sits about ten steps from The Hacienda, right at the gateway to Sims Park. Grab a cup and you are on the park path before your first sip cools. For residents of The Central, it is a short morning walk and the easiest way to start the day in the middle of everything, in the heart of the Downtown District supported by New Port Richey Main Street.

More Than Coffee

Beans are roasted daily, so the coffee is about as fresh as it gets. The shop is also full of fun retail finds, from gifts and souvenirs to something brand new: Mountaineer’s own instant coffee, an easy way to take the Downtown morning ritual home or send it with a visiting friend.

Why Mountaineer Is a Central Perks Partner

Central Perks is The Central on Orange Lake’s partner program with local Downtown businesses, giving residents exclusive discounts at Downtown favorites. A family-run roaster named for a grandfather’s antique shop is exactly the kind of place the program was built for.

Mountaineer Coffee: Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Mountaineer Coffee in New Port Richey?

6322 Bank Street, at the entrance to Sims Park and across the street from The Hacienda.

Who owns Mountaineer Coffee?

Founders Daniel and Darby Pritz.

Does Mountaineer Coffee sell instant coffee?

Yes, it is their newest product, alongside gifts and souvenirs.

Is Mountaineer Coffee a Central Perks Partner?

Yes. Residents of The Central on Orange Lake get Central Perks discounts at participating Downtown businesses.

Life at The Central

Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post Mountaineer Coffee: The Downtown Morning Ritual Roasted Fresh Every Day appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

This stop in Step Inside The Central heads outdoors, to the shared spaces that turn our corner of Downtown New Port Richey into one big backyard.

The Outdoor Spaces at a Glance

• Lakeside Pavilion: A grill and a fire pit for cookouts and slow evenings
• On the water: Kayak storage, with Orange Lake and Sims Park just across the street
• On two wheels: Bike racks
• For the dogs: A dog washing area, pet waste receptacles and no breed or size restrictions
• On the road: On-site EV chargers and reserved resident parking
• Peace of mind: Controlled access, a gated community

The Lakeside Pavilion: Everybody’s Backyard

Apartment living usually means giving up the backyard cookout. Not here. The Lakeside Pavilion has a grill for Saturday burgers, a weeknight fish fillet or the birthday party that outgrew your kitchen. When the sun drops, the fire pit takes over, and with it the kind of conversation that only happens around a fire. In Florida, fire pit season is short and sweet, which is exactly why the first cool evenings of fall feel like an event.

It is also where neighbors become friends. A pavilion is a shared space by design, and the people you meet over the grill are the same people you will wave to on Grand Boulevard the next morning.

Why Fall Is Outdoor Season in Florida

Up north, fall is when people head inside. Here, it is when we finally head out. The heavy heat of summer breaks, the afternoon storms ease up, and evenings by the water go from survivable to the best part of the day. It is the season for a cookout that does not end in a sprint for the air conditioning, a sunrise paddle before work and an evening ride to dinner on Grand Boulevard. Every shared space on this list was built for exactly these months.

Paddles Ready: Kayak Storage

A kayak is a wonderful thing until you have to store it in a one-bedroom. Kayak storage on property solves that, and the water is close. Orange Lake sits across the street, and Sims Park runs along the Pithlachascotee River, the “Cotee” to locals, which winds through Downtown on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Mornings on the river are one of the quiet luxuries of living here.

Two Wheels and a Charging Cable

Bike racks make it easy to leave the car parked. Downtown New Port Richey is compact enough that a bike gets you to coffee, the library, the theatre and a riverside dinner faster than circling for parking. For the drives you do take, on-site EV chargers mean you can top off without hunting for a station, and reserved resident parking means your spot is waiting when you get home.

For the Dogs

The Central on Orange Lake welcomes up to two pets per home, with no breed or size restrictions, and it plans for what happens after the walk. A lap through Sims Park can end muddy, so the dog washing area lets you rinse paws before anyone sets foot on the floors. Pet waste receptacles around the property keep the grounds clean for everyone who shares them.

Orange Lake and Sims Park at the Doorstep

Step past the gate and you are across the street from Orange Lake and Sims Park, the green heart of Downtown. Through the year, the park hosts free concerts, movie nights and community gatherings, and this fall’s lineup includes the City’s free Concert in the Park on Saturday, Nov. 21. The shops and restaurants that New Port Richey Main Street supports are a few blocks away. The Lakeside Pavilion is the backyard. Sims Park is the front yard. Downtown is the rest of the house.

Outdoor Amenities at The Central: Frequently Asked Questions

What outdoor amenities does The Central on Orange Lake have?

A Lakeside Pavilion with a grill and fire pit, kayak storage, bike racks, on-site EV chargers, a dog washing area and pet waste receptacles.

Is there a grill at The Central on Orange Lake?

Yes. The Lakeside Pavilion has a grill and a fire pit for residents.

Can I store a kayak at The Central?

Yes. The community has kayak storage, and Orange Lake and Sims Park, along the Pithlachascotee River, are across the street.

Does The Central have EV charging?

Yes. There are on-site EV chargers, plus reserved resident parking.

Is The Central on Orange Lake dog friendly?

Yes. Up to two pets are welcome per home, with no breed or size restrictions, and there is a dog washing area on site.

Where is The Central on Orange Lake?

6332 Grand Boulevard in Downtown New Port Richey, across from Orange Lake and Sims Park.

Life at The Central

The best way to feel the fire pit on a cool night is to sit by it. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post The Lakeside Pavilion and the Shared Spaces at The Central appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

Here’s the full October 2026 calendar, with dates, times, locations, and links to each event.

October 2026 Events at a Glance

• Oct 16–25: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Richey Suncoast Theatre (18+)
• Oct 17: Concert in the Park: TL Jentgens, Sims Park (free)
• Oct 23: Riverside Concert: Lily Holbrook, Sims Park (free)
• Oct 23: Fourth Friday Block Party, Downtown New Port Richey
• Oct 24: One Community Now Pack the Park, Sims Park (free)
• Oct 31: Trick or Treat Downtown NPR, Main Street & Grand Blvd

October Events in Downtown New Port Richey

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Richey Suncoast Theatre

October 16–25 | Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd

The cult classic returns for six performances, with a full live shadow cast acting out every scene in front of the screen. Showtimes are 8 PM on October 16, 17, 23, and 24, and 5 PM on October 18 and 25. Most tickets come with a prop bag, and there’s a costume contest with prizes before every show, so dress up. The Friday, October 23 performance is ASL interpreted. Tickets run $13.75 to $154.25 including fees; buy directly through the theatre’s website, since third-party resellers mark them up. This is an adults-only event, strictly 18 and up.

Concert in the Park: TL Jentgens

Saturday, October 17, 7–9 PM | Sims Park Amphitheater

TL Jentgens puts on a one-man show that mixes live drumming, vocals, and electronic dance music with lights and video effects. It’s free and family-friendly. Bring lawn chairs, grab dinner at one of the downtown restaurants first, and make a night of it. Free downtown parking is available.

Riverside Concert: Lily Holbrook

Friday, October 23, 6 PM | Sims Park, near the Grassin Bridge

The New Port Richey Public Library’s riverside series continues with Lily Holbrook, a St. Petersburg singer-songwriter known for her folk-rock sound. The concert is free and set up in the southwest corner of Sims Park, so bring a blanket or chair.

Fourth Friday Block Party

Friday, October 23, 6–10 PM | Nebraska Ave & Main Street, Downtown New Port Richey

The monthly evening market brings a rotating lineup of local artisans, makers, and small businesses selling handmade goods, art, jewelry, woodwork, and gifts. It’s pet-friendly, and it lands the same night as the Lily Holbrook concert, so you can catch both.

One Community Now Pack the Park

Saturday, October 24, 10 AM–3 PM | Sims Park

A free, family-friendly day benefiting the Pack A Sack Food for Kids program, which provides weekend meals to local children. Expect a Trunk or Treat car show, free pumpkin painting, free kids’ haircuts, a dog costume contest, inflatables, carnival games, a sensory zone, face painting, vendors, and food trucks.

Trick or Treat Downtown NPR

Saturday, October 31, 5–8 PM | Main Street & Grand Blvd, Downtown New Port Richey

Downtown’s annual Halloween night closes Main Street and Grand Boulevard for trick-or-treating, costumes, and local businesses handing out treats. Hosted by Trick or Treat Downtown NPR, The Florida Room NPR, and Downtown New Port Richey.

Cotee River Bike Fest: Rescheduled to January

Originally Saturday, October 10 | Downtown New Port Richey

Weather pushed this year’s ride and festival off the October calendar. It’s now set for January 15–17, 2027, the fest’s 20th anniversary weekend, so there’s still plenty of time to plan for it.

Recurring Favorites

• Riverside Concert Series, continuing Friday evenings at Sims Park through the fall
• Book Club nights at Inchstone Books, held throughout the month
• Group fitness and tennis classes at the New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatics Center, running most weekdays

October in New Port Richey: Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to do in New Port Richey in October 2026?

Highlights include The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live shadow cast at Richey Suncoast Theatre (October 16–25), free concerts at Sims Park on October 17 and 23, the Fourth Friday Block Party on October 23, Pack the Park on October 24, and Trick or Treat Downtown NPR on October 31.

When is Trick or Treat Downtown NPR 2026?

Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 5 to 8 PM along Main Street and Grand Boulevard in downtown New Port Richey.

Are the Sims Park concerts free?

Yes. Both the TL Jentgens Concert in the Park and the Lily Holbrook Riverside Concert are free to attend.

Was the Cotee River Bike Fest canceled?

The October date was called off because of weather. The fest is rescheduled for January 15–17, 2027.

Who can attend The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Richey Suncoast Theatre?

This one is adults only. Guests must be 18 or older to attend any performance.

Life at The Central This October

Between Rocky Horror, live music at Sims Park, and Halloween on Main Street, October gives residents a full month of reasons to head out the door. Grab dinner at a Central Perks partner before a show at the theatre, or make a night of Fourth Friday, then come home to the lake. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post What’s Happening Around Town in October 2026: Downtown New Port Richey Events appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

His time here was short, a single school year. But New Port Richey never forgot him, and he never forgot New Port Richey.

James Irwin at a Glance

• Full name: James Benson Irwin (1930 to 1991)
• Born: March 17, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• In New Port Richey: September 1941 through the end of that school year, in a house at Grand Boulevard and Illinois Avenue
• School: Pierce Elementary and Gulf High School; he appears in the 1942 Gulf High yearbook
• Church: Accepted Christ at a revival at First Baptist Church of New Port Richey at age 11
• Apollo 15: Lunar module pilot, July 26 to August 7, 1971, and the eighth person to walk on the moon
• Came back: In 1966, in 1972 for First Baptist's golden anniversary, in 1979 and again in the 1980s
• Honored today: The Irwin building at The Central on Orange Lake, one of two tower buildings at the gateway to Central Avenue

One School Year on Grand Boulevard

The Irwins came to New Port Richey from Pennsylvania in September 1941. According to Paul Herman, digital media archivist for the West Pasco Historical Society, writing for Tampa Bay Beacons, the family bought a house at the corner of Grand Boulevard and Illinois Avenue from former mayor Fred Howard. Years later, a letter from Irwin's father remembered the furnished home as being on Main Street; the West Pasco Historical Society notes it was more likely the Boulevard.

Young Jim was enrolled at Pierce Elementary for sixth grade and took seventh-grade classes at Gulf High School for half of each day, and he shows up in the 1942 Gulf High yearbook. His father, a steamfitter, could not find steady work locally and took a job at the Orlando Air Base. When the school year ended, the family moved on to Orlando. Herman's account adds one more detail that is hard to read without smiling: at about 12 years old, Irwin reportedly told his mother he wanted to go to the moon.

The Church on Orange Lake

The most important thing that happened to Irwin in New Port Richey happened in church. The West Pasco Historical Society records that he accepted Christ at a revival held at First Baptist Church of New Port Richey when he was 11. It was the start of a faith that would define his life after NASA.

That church has a history of its own. The West Pasco Historical Society's First Baptist history traces the congregation's purchase of a lot at Circle and Central Avenue in 1924, the cornerstone laid on May 30, 1926, and services held in that building until October 29, 1978. After the congregation moved away, the city bought the former First Baptist site on Orange Lake, as Patch reported in 2011. That land is where The Central on Orange Lake stands today. The Irwin building rises on the same ground where an 11-year-old made the decision he would talk about for the rest of his life.

From Gulf High to the Hadley Plain

After Orlando, Irwin finished high school in Salt Lake City in 1947, went on to the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1957. In April 1966, NASA selected him as one of 19 new astronauts.

On Apollo 15, from July 26 to August 7, 1971, Irwin served as lunar module pilot alongside commander David Scott. The two spent just under three days on the moon, 66 hours and 54 minutes, and Irwin became the first automobile passenger on the moon as Scott drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle. Their geology training paid off with one of the most important finds of the Apollo era, a piece of ancient lunar crust known as the Genesis Rock. Herman put the hometown connection simply: "New Port Richey's own James B. Irwin helped to get us there."

Coming Back to New Port Richey

Irwin returned to New Port Richey several times. He brought his wife and children to visit in 1966, the year he joined NASA. On July 9, 1972, less than a year after Apollo 15, he came back to speak at First Baptist's golden anniversary celebration. The St. Petersburg Times reported that "Irwin was in New Port Richey to speak at the golden anniversary observance of the First Baptist Church where he accepted Christ when he was 11." He received a key to the city, and the city council proclaimed a "James B. Irwin" day.

He retired from NASA as a colonel in 1972 and founded the High Flight Foundation, devoting the rest of his life to his faith. Beginning in 1973, he led several expeditions to Mount Ararat in Turkey in search of Noah's Ark. He visited New Port Richey again in October 1979 and in the 1980s. Irwin died on August 8, 1991, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Irwin Building

The buildings at The Central on Orange Lake are named for people who shaped New Port Richey or carried its name out into the world, and Irwin did a bit of both. His building has an important job. Central Avenue was designed with Parisian avenues in mind, buildings that answer one another and a straight line to Orange Lake, and the tower residences in the Irwin and Sarazen buildings stand as its gateway. It is fitting company. Gene Sarazen, the golfer behind the neighboring tower, also spent a short but memorable chapter here and took the town's name a long way from home.

Irwin's New Port Richey years are a reminder that small towns shape big lives. A school year in Downtown New Port Richey, a few blocks from Orange Lake, was enough. You can find more stories like his at the West Pasco Historical Society, and more reasons to slow down and look around in the Downtown District that New Port Richey Main Street works to keep thriving.

Want to go deeper? The West Pasco Historical Society Museum sits in a renovated 1915 schoolhouse in Sims Park, steps from The Central on Orange Lake. It is the best place in town to see New Port Richey's early years up close, and the society's research made much of this story possible. Check their Facebook page for current hours before you stop by.

James Irwin and New Port Richey: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Irwin building at The Central named for?

Apollo 15 astronaut James B. Irwin, who lived in New Port Richey as a boy in 1941 and 1942 and walked on the moon in 1971.

Did James Irwin live in New Port Richey?

Yes, briefly. His family moved here in September 1941, he attended Pierce Elementary and Gulf High School, and the family moved to Orlando at the end of the school year.

When did James Irwin walk on the moon?

On Apollo 15, which flew from July 26 to August 7, 1971. Irwin was the lunar module pilot and the eighth person to walk on the moon.

What is James Irwin's connection to First Baptist Church of New Port Richey?

He accepted Christ at a revival there at age 11, and he returned on July 9, 1972, to speak at the church's golden anniversary. The church stood at Circle and Central Avenue on Orange Lake, the land where The Central on Orange Lake stands today.

Where is The Central on Orange Lake?

6332 Grand Boulevard in Downtown New Port Richey, across from Orange Lake and Sims Park.

Life at The Central

Some neighbors are only here for a school year and still leave their mark. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post The Name Behind the Irwin Building: The New Port Richey Kid Who Walked on the Moon appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

This is the next stop in Step Inside The Central, where we open the doors to the homes and spaces that make up our corner of Downtown New Port Richey.

The Two-Bedroom at a Glance

• Floor plans: The Cara Cara, two bedrooms and two baths, 894 square feet, and the Valencia, two bedrooms and two baths, 989 to 1,215 square feet
• Kitchen: Stone countertops, wood cabinetry, subway tile backsplash and full-size stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher, microwave and disposal
• Living: Bright open concept, high ceilings, wood plank vinyl flooring, ceiling fans, energy-efficient windows and LED lighting
• Storage: Large closets plus extra storage
• Laundry: Washer and dryer in the home
• Outside: Private patio or balcony
• Pets: Up to two, with no breed or size restrictions

Two Oranges, Two Sizes

Our floor plans carry citrus names, a nod to Orange Lake across the street. The Cara Cara takes its name from the pink-fleshed navel orange and is the more compact of the two, at 894 square feet. The Valencia is named for Florida’s classic juice orange and comes in several layouts from 989 to 1,215 square feet. Both have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the same stone-and-wood kitchen and the same in-home washer and dryer, so the choice really comes down to how much room you want to spread out.

Splitting It With a Roommate

Two bedrooms and two bathrooms is the roommate math that works. Nobody waits on the shower, nobody negotiates shelf space at a shared sink, and large closets keep each person’s things on their own side of the hall. The washer and dryer in the home takes laundry off the list of things to coordinate, and the open living space gives you somewhere to share a pizza without anyone having to give up their room.

A Home Office With a Door

For anyone who works from home, the second bedroom changes the whole workday. A desk in the corner of the living room means the job never quite leaves. A desk behind a door means you can close it at 5 o’clock and be home. Our homes are designed to bring in natural light, which matters more when you spend eight hours in a room, and an electronic thermostat and ceiling fan keep the office comfortable through a Florida afternoon. When it is time for a break, Orange Lake and Sims Park are right across the street.

Room for the People Who Visit

Live in Florida long enough and you learn that company is coming, especially once the weather up north turns. A second bedroom means the people who visit get a real bed and their own bathroom instead of the couch. Then you get to show off Downtown: coffee in the morning, an afternoon in Sims Park, dinner on Main Street and a show at Richey Suncoast Theatre, all without moving the car.

Space for Two Lives Under One Roof

When two people share a home, a second bedroom is breathing room. It can be a home gym, a craft studio, a reading room or simply the place where one person’s early alarm does not wake the other. A second bathroom ends the morning race to the mirror. The larger Valencia layouts, up to 1,215 square feet, give two schedules, two wardrobes and maybe a dog or two room to settle in.

Step Outside the Front Door

Every two-bedroom shares the same backyard. Down by the water, the Lakeside Pavilion has a grill and a fire pit for evenings with neighbors. There is kayak storage for the river, bike racks for Downtown, on-site EV chargers, a dog washing area and pet waste stations. Controlled access, reserved resident parking, valet trash service and a secure package delivery area handle the everyday, and on-site management and maintenance teams are close by. Past the gate, the shops and restaurants of the Downtown District supported by New Port Richey Main Street are a few blocks away.

Two-Bedroom Apartments at The Central: Frequently Asked Questions

How big are the two-bedroom apartments at The Central on Orange Lake?

The Cara Cara is 894 square feet, and the Valencia ranges from 989 to 1,215 square feet. Both have two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

What is the difference between the Cara Cara and the Valencia?

Size. The Cara Cara is the more compact two-bedroom, and the Valencia offers several larger layouts. Both share the same finishes and in-home washer and dryer.

Do the two-bedroom apartments have two bathrooms?

Yes. Both the Cara Cara and the Valencia have two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Can I have pets in a two-bedroom at The Central?

Yes. The Central on Orange Lake welcomes up to two pets per home, with no breed or size restrictions.

How do I check two-bedroom availability?

Visit the floor plans page at thecentralonorangelake.com or call or text the leasing office at 727.478.0770.

Life at The Central

Two bedrooms can mean a lot of different things. Come find out what it means for you. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post Step Inside a Two-Bedroom Home at The Central on Orange Lake appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

Here is a look at the national numbers behind the move Downtown, and what they look like on the ground in Downtown New Port Richey.

Downtown Living at a Glance

• Location over lot size: 59% of residents in the 50 largest U.S. metros would take a smaller lot in a neighborhood they can get around on foot over a bigger lot that means more driving (National Association of Realtors, 2026)
• Willing to pay for it: 63% say they would pay more to live where they can easily stroll to parks, shops and restaurants
• Rare and valuable: Neighborhoods built for foot traffic cover just 1.2% of the land in the 35 largest U.S. metros but produce 19.1% of the nation’s GDP (Smart Growth America)
• Renting by choice: Over the last decade, most new rental demand has come from higher-income households (Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 2026)
• Home is the office: About 27% of paid workdays in the U.S. were worked from home in December 2025 (WFH Research)
• Right here: The Central on Orange Lake sits across from Orange Lake and Sims Park, a few blocks from Richey Suncoast Theatre and the restaurants of Main Street

What the Numbers Say

Every three years, the National Association of Realtors asks 2,000 residents of the country’s 50 largest metro areas what they want from the place they live. Its 2026 Community and Transportation Preference Survey, released in July, found that 89% consider sidewalks and places to walk important when choosing a home, and 82% want shops and parks within an easy stroll. Nearly two-thirds, 63%, said they would pay more for it.

Here is the catch: people want to live near the things they love, and few places actually deliver it. Smart Growth America’s Foot Traffic Ahead report found that what it calls walkable urban places make up only 1.2% of the land in the 35 largest U.S. metros, yet they are home to 6.8% of the population and generate 19.1% of the country’s GDP. In those places, the report measured rental premiums of 47% for apartments and offices. High demand, thin supply.

Experience Over Square Footage

Renters are not settling for less space. Many are choosing it. Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reported in March that most new rental demand over the last decade has come from higher-income households: renters with options who are deciding what is worth paying for. In a RentCafe survey of renters, 63% called in-unit laundry a must-have, and when renters ranked what matters in a neighborhood, 39% put being able to get around on foot at the top of the list.

Put those together and you get a renter who wants the home to do a few things very well and wants the neighborhood to handle the rest. The second living room is the coffee shop. The backyard is the park. The entertainment budget goes to a show and a glass of wine on Grand Boulevard instead of a bigger house on a quieter street.

The Commute That Disappeared

Remote work did not vanish when the offices reopened. It settled in. Economists at WFH Research, who survey American workers every month, found that about 27% of paid workdays in December 2025 were worked from home. Across 2025, 12% of full-time employees were fully remote and another 27% worked a hybrid schedule.

When the commute shrinks to a hallway, the neighborhood matters more. A home office is only part of the picture. The rest is having somewhere to go at 3 PM when the walls start closing in: a lap around Orange Lake, a coffee on Main Street, a table at the New Port Richey Public Library. In Downtown New Port Richey, all three are a few blocks apart, which makes for a very different workday than one spent two exits away from anything.

Trading Upkeep for Time

The move Downtown is not just a first-apartment story. It makes just as much sense for the empty nesters ready to let go of the big yard, the retirees who came south and never want to replace another roof, and the professionals who simply did the math on their weekends. A lot of people would rather spend Saturday on the river or at a matinee than on a ladder cleaning gutters.

That is the trade: less house to take care of, more life within reach. On-site maintenance handles the repairs. The yard is Sims Park, and somebody else mows it.

Why Downtown New Port Richey

Florida has no shortage of new apartments. What it has fewer of are true town centers, with a century of history, a working Main Street and a calendar that fills itself. New Port Richey has one, and it has spent the last decade earning it back.

In 2019, Tampa Bay 28 found that very few Downtown storefronts were still empty, and talked to a returning resident who remembered Downtown as “the place you avoided” and now asked, “What is this place? What happened? It’s cool.” By 2024, City Manager Debbie Manns told the station the city had seen three years of steady interest bringing new retail, restaurants and housing styles, “a lot of new direction that we haven’t seen in the past.” Main Street program director Tina Gordon described a safe Downtown where you can cover the whole district on foot and see a lot of different things.

You can see it in the landmarks. The 1927 Hacienda Hotel reopened as a boutique hotel in 2022 after years of restoration. Sims Park has been renovated along the Pithlachascotee River. Richey Suncoast Theatre fills its season on Grand Boulevard, and New Port Richey Main Street keeps the Downtown District busy with Fourth Friday, concerts and markets. The Central on Orange Lake sits in the middle of it all, across from Orange Lake and Sims Park, which is exactly what those national surveys describe, at small-town scale.

Downtown Living: Frequently Asked Questions

Why are more renters choosing Downtown living?

National surveys point to location and lifestyle. In the National Association of Realtors’ 2026 survey, 82% said being within an easy stroll of shops and parks is important, and 59% would choose a smaller lot to get it.

Will people pay more to live near shops and parks?

Yes. In the same 2026 survey, 63% said they would pay more to live where they can easily reach parks, shops and restaurants on foot.

Is working from home still common?

Yes. WFH Research found that about 27% of paid workdays in the U.S. were worked from home in December 2025.

What is there to do in Downtown New Port Richey?

Sims Park concerts and events, shows at Richey Suncoast Theatre, the Fourth Friday Block Party, the New Port Richey Public Library, the Pithlachascotee River, and dozens of restaurants and shops along Main Street and Grand Boulevard.

Where is The Central on Orange Lake?

6332 Grand Boulevard in Downtown New Port Richey, across from Orange Lake and Sims Park.

Life at The Central

The surveys say people want to live close to the good stuff. Come see what that looks like here. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post Why More Renters Are Choosing Downtown Living appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

Dr. Elroy M. Avery at a Glance

• Born: July 14, 1844, Erie, Michigan
• Civil War: Enlisted at 17; rose to sergeant major in the 11th Michigan Cavalry
• Education: University of Michigan, class of 1871
• Career: Teacher, school superintendent, textbook author, historian and publisher in Cleveland
• Public office: Cleveland City Council (1891 to 1892), Ohio State Senate (1893 to 1897)
• Best-known work: A History of the United States and Its People
• In New Port Richey: Arrived June 1919; founded the library that became the New Port Richey Public Library
• First mayor: Chosen when New Port Richey incorporated in October 1924
• Died: December 1935, in New Port Richey, at 91

A Soldier, a Teacher and a Historian

Avery was born in Erie, Michigan, in 1844. At 17 he volunteered for the Union Army, writing dispatches for the Detroit Tribune along the way, and he came home a sergeant major in the 11th Michigan Cavalry. After the war he enrolled at the University of Michigan and graduated in 1871.

He moved to Cleveland that year and became one of its best-known educators: superintendent of the East Cleveland schools, principal of East High School and later of the Cleveland Normal School. He wrote science textbooks, including Elements of Natural Philosophy and The Complete Chemistry, that taught a generation of high school students. He founded the Children’s Fresh Air Camp, served on the Cleveland City Council and spent four years in the Ohio State Senate. And he became a serious historian, producing The Averys of Groton, the three-volume History of Cleveland and Its Environs, and his life’s great project, A History of the United States and Its People.

Catharine Hitchcock Tilden Avery

Elroy Avery’s story is also the story of his first wife. Catharine Hitchcock Tilden, born in Dundee, Michigan, in 1844, was a teacher and principal of Battle Creek High School when the two became secretly engaged in 1869, while he finished his degree. They married in Battle Creek on July 2, 1870, and moved to Cleveland together, where she served as a high school principal while he ran the schools.

Catharine was a force of her own. In 1895 she was elected to the Cleveland City School Board, the first woman in Ohio chosen for an elective office. She founded and led the Western Reserve Chapter, the first chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Ohio, became the DAR’s Ohio state regent and a national Vice President General, and edited the society’s official magazine, The American Monthly, from 1900 until her death. She and Elroy did their historical research and writing side by side. She died in Cleveland in December 1911, eight years before he came to Florida. In 1916 he married Ella Wilson, who came south with him and survived him.

The “Grand Old Man” of New Port Richey

Avery retired from publishing and arrived in New Port Richey in June 1919. He did not slow down. That December he organized the Avery Library and Historical Society, and he donated close to 1,000 books from his own collection, many of them his own titles, to fill it. The Avery Library opened on April 10, 1920, in the Snell Building on Main Street. It grew into today’s New Port Richey Public Library, and several volumes of his history of the United States are held by the West Pasco Historical Society in its museum in Sims Park.

He also helped lead the First State Bank of New Port Richey, opened in 1921 at Boulevard and Main, founded and presided over the Cotee River Boat Club, and belonged to the Congregational Church of New Port Richey. In 1924 he wrote The Genesis of New Port Richey, an account of how the town came to be.

New Port Richey’s First Mayor

In October 1924, residents voted 201 to 4 to incorporate the city of New Port Richey, and they wanted Avery to lead it. He was 80 and, by the historical society’s account, reluctant. But the town had taken to calling him its “Grand Old Man,” and he found it hard to say no. He was sworn in as New Port Richey’s first mayor and served until 1925. At its very first meeting, on December 2, 1924, his new council accepted the land George Sims had given the city for a park, today’s Sims Park, the green heart of Downtown that The Central on Orange Lake sits beside.

Avery died in New Port Richey in December 1935 at the age of 91. The West Pasco Historical Society sums up his late-life chapter with a line worth remembering: “no one is too old to make valuable commitments to our community.”

The Elroy and Avery Buildings

The buildings at The Central on Orange Lake are named for people who shaped New Port Richey, and like Gerben DeVries, Dr. Avery is honored with a pair, one building for each of his names. It suits a man who arrived to retire and instead built the town’s library, chronicled its beginnings and became its first mayor. You can read more in his Wikipedia biography, in Catharine Avery’s, and in the West Pasco Historical Society’s New Port Richey timeline. His library and the museum that keeps his books are a short stroll from home, part of the Downtown District that New Port Richey Main Street supports in Downtown New Port Richey.

Want to see more of the town Dr. Avery helped build? The West Pasco Historical Society Museum sits in a renovated 1915 schoolhouse in Sims Park, steps from The Central on Orange Lake. Check their Facebook page for current hours and stop in.

Dr. Elroy M. Avery and New Port Richey: Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the first mayor of New Port Richey?

Dr. Elroy McKendree Avery, an educator, author and historian who retired here from Cleveland in 1919. He became mayor when the city incorporated in October 1924, at age 80.

Did Elroy Avery found the New Port Richey Public Library?

Yes. He organized the Avery Library and Historical Society in 1919 and donated close to 1,000 of his own books. The library opened on April 10, 1920, and grew into today’s New Port Richey Public Library.

What books did Elroy Avery write?

Science textbooks such as Elements of Natural Philosophy, histories including A History of the United States and Its People and A History of Cleveland and Its Environs, and The Genesis of New Port Richey (1924).

Who was Catharine Hitchcock Tilden Avery?

Elroy Avery’s first wife, an educator and leader who was the first woman in Ohio elected to public office, founded Ohio’s first DAR chapter and edited the DAR’s magazine, The American Monthly. She died in 1911.

Why are two buildings at The Central named Elroy and Avery?

The buildings at The Central on Orange Lake are named for people who shaped New Port Richey. Dr. Elroy M. Avery, the city’s first mayor, is honored with two, one for each of his names.

Life at The Central

History is part of the view here. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post The Elroy and Avery Buildings: Dr. Elroy M. Avery, New Port Richey’s First Mayor appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

September at a Glance

• Wed, Sept. 2, 5:30 to 7:30 PM: Meet Us on Main, Vino and Vibes, 6317 Adams Street
• Fri, Sept. 4, 5 and 8 PM: Turnstiles: The Ultimate Billy Joel Tribute, Richey Suncoast Theatre
• Sat, Sept. 5, 5 to 8 PM: End of Summer Spectacular and Movie in the Park, Sims Park
• Wed, Sept. 9, 6 to 7 PM: Thrive at Night Yoga, Cavalaire Square
• Fri, Sept. 11, 7 PM: 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial and Remembrance Ceremony, Sims Park
• Fri, Sept. 11 to Sun, Sept. 20: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical, Richey Suncoast Theatre
• Sat, Sept. 12, 11 AM to noon: Thrive on the Square, Cavalaire Square
• Sat, Sept. 12, 11 AM to 1 PM: Okra Occasion, New Port Richey Public Library
• Sat, Sept. 12, 7 PM: Concert in the Park with Rooster, Sims Park
• Sun, Sept. 13, 11 AM to 1 PM: Sunshine Sessions, Cavalaire Square
• Fri, Sept. 18, noon: Ribbon cutting for Dough and Drafts, 6351 Grand Boulevard
• Sat, Sept. 19, 8:30 to 11 AM: Cotee River Cleanup, Sims Park Boat Ramp
• Fri, Sept. 25, 6 PM: Riverside Concert Series with Jahfari Reggae Band, Sims Park
• Fri, Sept. 25, 6 to 10 PM: Fourth Friday Block Party and Bazaar, Downtown New Port Richey
• Sat, Sept. 26, 1 to 7 PM: Pasco Pride Festival, various Downtown locations

A Golden Ticket at Richey Suncoast Theatre

The big show of the month is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical, Roald Dahl’s story of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka’s golden ticket, on stage at Richey Suncoast Theatre on Grand Boulevard. It runs two weekends, Sept. 11 to 13 and Sept. 18 to 20, with evening and matinee performances. The Friday, Sept. 18 show is ASL interpreted. Before the run begins, the theatre hosts Turnstiles: The Ultimate Billy Joel Tribute on Friday, Sept. 4, with 5 and 8 PM shows benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Twenty-Five Years Later: Remembering 9/11 in Sims Park

On Friday, Sept. 11, the City of New Port Richey and its 9/11 Committee mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks with a ceremony in Sims Park at 7 PM. NYPD Motorcycle Division officer Robert “Bobby” Albertson will share his experiences from that day and the weeks after, the Seven Springs Middle School Chorus will perform, and local clergy will speak about finding hope. A patriotic country concert by Pfister, Pitts and Pfriends follows at 8 PM. Come early for memorabilia and military vehicle displays and student artwork, and bring a chair; seating is limited.

Saturday, Sept. 12: The Busiest Day of the Month

Start the morning with Thrive on the Square, Main Street’s free monthly wellness series in Cavalaire Square, then walk over to the New Port Richey Public Library for the Okra Occasion, a celebration of one of Florida’s most underrated summer vegetables, with samples, seeds and a recipe tasting contest. That night, the city’s free Concert in the Park series brings Rooster, a Tampa Bay tribute to Alice in Chains, to Sims Park at 7 PM, with Tampa hard rock band Nicaea opening. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on stage the same night if you would rather catch a show.

New on Grand Boulevard: Dough and Drafts

On Friday, Sept. 18 at noon, New Port Richey Main Street celebrates the opening of Dough and Drafts at 6351 Grand Boulevard with a ribbon cutting. It is one of Richey Suncoast Theatre’s VIP Perks partners, and it sits across Grand Boulevard from The Central on Orange Lake.

Give Back to the River

The Cotee River Cleanup returns Saturday, Sept. 19, from 8:30 to 11 AM. Volunteers meet at the Sims Park Boat Ramp for gloves, bags and assignments to clean the river and city parks. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are welcome, and a volunteer cookout follows. Pre-registering gets you a t-shirt.

Fourth Friday, Live Reggae and Pasco Pride

The last weekend of the month is a big one. On Friday, Sept. 25, the New Port Richey Public Library’s Riverside Concert Series opens its season in Sims Park at 6 PM with the Jahfari Reggae Band, playing ska, rocksteady, roots and dancehall. The same evening, Grand Boulevard, Nebraska Avenue and Main Street close to cars for the Fourth Friday Block Party and Bazaar, the monthly evening market of local artisans, makers, bakers and small businesses, from 6 to 10 PM. On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Pasco Pride Festival fills Downtown from 1 to 7 PM with live performances, vendors, food trucks, a family fun area and a low-stimulation zone.

Every Week Downtown

A few rhythms keep going all month: the Tasty Tuesdays Community Market in the library courtyard at 5939 Main Street on Tuesday mornings, the Walk and Talk Club leaving from the same courtyard on Monday mornings, and Sunshine Sessions, the city’s free, all-ages music gathering in Cavalaire Square on Sunday, Sept. 13.

September in New Port Richey: Frequently Asked Questions

When is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Richey Suncoast Theatre?

Sept. 11 to 13 and Sept. 18 to 20, 2026, with evening and matinee performances. The Sept. 18 performance is ASL interpreted.

When is Fourth Friday in September?

Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, from 6 to 10 PM in Downtown New Port Richey.

Who is playing Concert in the Park in September?

Rooster, a Tampa Bay Alice in Chains tribute band, with opener Nicaea, on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 PM in Sims Park. The concert is free.

Is New Port Richey holding a 9/11 ceremony in 2026?

Yes. The 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial and Remembrance Ceremony is Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 PM in Sims Park, followed by a concert at 8 PM.

When is the Cotee River Cleanup?

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, from 8:30 to 11 AM, starting at the Sims Park Boat Ramp.

When is Pasco Pride 2026?

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, from 1 to 7 PM at locations across Downtown New Port Richey.

Life at The Central

September is easier when the theatre, the park and the river are all a short stroll from your front door. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

Featured photo: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical at Richey Suncoast Theatre. Photo courtesy of Richey Suncoast Theatre.

The post What’s Happening in Downtown New Port Richey This September appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

Gerben DeVries at a Glance

• Full name: Gerben Myer DeVries (1880 to 1953)
• Born: Iowa
• First visit: The day after Thanksgiving, 1913
• Moved here: June 1914, bringing his family from St. Johns, Michigan
• First job in town: An early employee of the Port Richey Company, the developer of the new town site
• Postmaster: New Port Richey’s first, commissioned in 1915 and serving about 20 years
• Also known for: Writing the legend behind the first Chasco Fiesta in 1922
• Honored today: The Gerben DeVries Parking Area marker on Main Street, and the DeVries and Gerben buildings at The Central

A Town Without a Post Office

DeVries first saw this stretch of the Gulf Coast the day after Thanksgiving in 1913. He later remembered that Port Richey then had a store and a post office run by David Clark, and not much else. The Port Richey Company was laying out a new town along the Cotee River and around Orange Lake, and DeVries, who went to work for the company, moved his family down from Michigan in June 1914.

The new settlement had big plans but no mail of its own. According to a history of the twin towns published by Patch, a carrier even refused the route residents proposed down Madison Street. So the neighbors petitioned Washington for their own office.

How New Port Richey Got Its Name

Getting a post office meant getting a name, and that turned out to be harder than it sounds. On March 30, 1914, a post office inspector came to size up the need. Residents asked for “Newport-Richey.” The Post Office Department said no, worried about confusion with Newport, Florida, and with Port Richey itself. “Chascotee” was turned down too. It was Congressman Stephen Sparkman who offered the compromise: split “Newport” into two words. New Port Richey was born.

The application for the office is dated February 20, 1915. On April 4, the Tampa Morning Tribune reported that “Gerben M. DeVries is applicant for postmaster.” His commission came through that summer, dated July 21, 1915, and the New Port Richey post office opened on August 30, 1915.

A Four-by-Six Post Office

It started small. By DeVries’s own account, the first New Port Richey post office worked out of a four-by-six-foot space in the Hermanson and Draft building. Money orders followed on November 1, 1915, and by January 1916 the office had moved into the drug store. Chester Wilcox, recalling the town of those years, placed the post office right on the main street, with the newspaper office just beyond it.

As the town grew, so did the office. It advanced to third class in July 1920, and in 1921 DeVries, writing as postmaster in the New Port Richey Press, put the town’s population at about 1,500. A 1948 profile credited him with serving the town for 20 years and lifting the office from fourth class to second class.

The Postmaster Who Invented a Legend

DeVries was not just the man who sorted the mail. He was one of the town’s great promoters, and in the winter of 1915 he chronicled the new board of trade formed to sell New Port Richey to the world. His most lasting promotion came in 1922.

That January, the story goes, DeVries was fishing on the Pithlachascotee River on New Year’s Day when he found a clay cylinder holding a parchment signed by a “Padre Luis.” The scroll told of a Spanish girl, Isabella, adopted by the local tribe and crowned Queen Chasco, and of her love for Prince Pithla. The Tampa Morning Tribune ran the find on February 8, 1922, under the headline “Find Record of Old Tribe of Indians.” The first Chasco Fiesta followed in March 1922 in what is now Sims Park.

DeVries later admitted the scroll was his invention, a tale modeled on Tampa’s Gasparilla and created to draw crowds to the city. It worked. The West Pasco Historical Society tells the full story of that first fiesta, and the Chasco Fiesta still brings crowds to Sims Park every spring.

The DeVries and Gerben Buildings

The buildings at The Central on Orange Lake are named for people who shaped New Port Richey, and Gerben DeVries gets two, one for each half of his name. It fits. He helped give the town its mail, its name on the map and its most famous festival. You can see his name on Main Street, too, where the Gerben DeVries Parking Area marker honors him as “an early promoter of New Port Richey.” The West Pasco Historical Society’s New Port Richey timeline and the city’s Wikipedia history are the best places to dig deeper, and his story is one more reason the Downtown District, supported by New Port Richey Main Street, rewards anyone who slows down and reads the markers in Downtown New Port Richey.

Want to see the town Gerben DeVries helped name? The West Pasco Historical Society Museum sits in a renovated 1915 schoolhouse in Sims Park, steps from The Central on Orange Lake. Check their Facebook page for current hours and stop in.

Gerben DeVries and New Port Richey: Frequently Asked Questions

Who was New Port Richey’s first postmaster?

Gerben Myer DeVries. His commission was dated July 21, 1915, and the New Port Richey post office opened on August 30, 1915.

How did New Port Richey get its name?

Residents asked for “Newport-Richey,” but the Post Office Department rejected it. Congressman Stephen Sparkman suggested splitting “Newport” into two words, giving the town the name New Port Richey.

Did Gerben DeVries start the Chasco Fiesta?

He wrote the legend behind it. In 1922 he announced the “discovery” of a scroll telling the story of Queen Chasco, later admitting he made it up to draw crowds. The first Chasco Fiesta was held in March 1922.

Where is the Gerben DeVries marker?

On Main Street in Downtown New Port Richey, where a parking area is named in his honor.

Why are two buildings at The Central named DeVries and Gerben?

The buildings at The Central on Orange Lake are named for people who shaped New Port Richey. Gerben DeVries is honored with two, one for each half of his name.

Life at The Central

History is part of the neighborhood here. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post The Name Behind the DeVries and Gerben Buildings: New Port Richey’s First Postmaster appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.

Sip’s own motto is three words long: Sip. Nibble. Relax. The bar explains the idea behind it simply: “Because we want to savor a moment with people we love to be with, facilitated by a beverage of our choosing.”

Sip on Grand at a Glance

• Where: 6231 Grand Boulevard, Downtown New Port Richey, a short stroll down Grand Boulevard from The Central on Orange Lake
• What it is: A cozy, speakeasy-style wine and craft beer bar with charcuterie, panini and sweet and savory bites
• On tap: House organic wines, plus Florida craft beer, cider and espresso
• Private room: A speakeasy-style room for parties, celebrations and small gatherings
• Weekly favorites: Date Night Wednesdays and Aperitivi Hour on Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday; check sipongrand.com for current hours
• Phone: 727.203.8107
• Central Perks Partner: Yes
• Richey Suncoast Theatre VIP Perks partner: Yes

A Few Chapters on Grand Boulevard

Sip opened its doors in 2016, back when Downtown New Port Richey was in the middle of its fresh start. Two years in, the Tampa Bay Times stopped by and found a cozy room with an old-timey vibe: live jazz, classic movies from the ’50s and ’60s on a big screen, ten craft beers on tap.

Sip has changed hands over the years, and in 2020 it rode out the pandemic the way so many Downtown favorites did: carried by a local crowd that mixes longtime residents with newcomers who came for the small-town feel.

Owners have come and gone, but the formula has held: good wine, good company, and a room that makes you want to stay for one more glass.

What to Order

Start with a board. Sip’s charcuterie arrives with warmed baguette, fruit, pickled vegetables, olives and nuts, and the lineup runs from the numbered boards to “The Pope.” If you are hungrier, the panini and piadinas, like the Meat Lover’s panino, turn a glass of wine into dinner. Save room for something from the dolce side of the menu; “The Goat” is a good place to start.

The drink list leans on certified organic wines, many of them poured from the tap, alongside other fine wines, Florida craft beer and cider. And if you are not drinking, there is espresso.

Make It a Weeknight Ritual

Sip is closed Monday and Tuesday, which makes Wednesday feel like the start of its week, and it treats it that way. Date Night Wednesdays pair a board with two glasses of house tap wine or beer for one set price. Aperitivi Hour, on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 PM, takes a dollar off craft beer and the house organic tap wines, with small boards to match. On select nights each month, Sip hosts curated wine tastings. Check the menu for current pricing and dates.

Planning something bigger? Ask about the speakeasy room, a private space for birthdays, celebrations and small gatherings. Walk-ins are always welcome, and the bar also takes reservations by phone.

Pre-Show Pours, Steps From the Theatre

Sip on Grand is a VIP Perks partner of Richey Suncoast Theatre, the historic theatre just up the block at 6237 Grand Boulevard. Theatre members show their membership card at participating partners for a pre-show perk, so a glass and a shared board before curtain is an easy plan. For residents of The Central, the whole evening, from first pour to final bow, happens within a few blocks of home.

Why Sip on Grand Is a Central Perks Partner

Central Perks is The Central on Orange Lake’s partner program with local Downtown businesses, giving residents exclusive discounts at Downtown favorites. Sip belongs on that list because it is exactly the kind of place that makes Downtown feel like an extension of home: a room built for lingering over a shared board, where a Wednesday can feel like a weekend, and where the walk back to Orange Lake is part of the evening. You will find it in the Downtown District that New Port Richey Main Street works to keep thriving.

Sip on Grand: Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sip on Grand in New Port Richey?

6231 Grand Boulevard in Downtown New Port Richey, steps from Richey Suncoast Theatre and a short stroll from The Central on Orange Lake.

What does Sip on Grand serve?

Organic wines on tap, other fine wines, Florida craft beer, cider and espresso, along with charcuterie boards, panini, piadinas and sweet bites.

Does Sip on Grand take reservations?

Walk-ins are always welcome, and reservations are accepted by phone at 727.203.8107.

Does Sip on Grand have a private room?

Yes. Its speakeasy-style room can be reserved for parties, celebrations and small gatherings.

Is Sip on Grand a Richey Suncoast Theatre VIP Perks partner?

Yes. Richey Suncoast Theatre members can show their membership card at Sip on Grand for a pre-show perk.

Is Sip on Grand a Central Perks Partner?

Yes. Residents of The Central on Orange Lake get Central Perks discounts at participating Downtown businesses, and Sip on Grand is one of them.

Life at The Central

When the wine bar is a short stroll away, date night never needs a designated driver. Take a look at our community amenities, check floor plans and availability, or schedule a tour. You can also call or text 727.478.0770 to learn more about life here.

The post Sip on Grand: Wine, Charcuterie and a Speakeasy Room on Grand Boulevard appeared first on The Central on Orange Lake Apartments Blog.