OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A new restaurant is taking shape in the heart of downtown Ocala. First Avenue Bar & Bistro will open in the former La Cuisine space at 48 SW 1st Avenue, with renovations already underway and an early-to-mid October target date.
Owner Don Gulling said the team is deliberately avoiding a locked-in public opening day for now.
“There’s renovations underway, and there’s all kinds of inspections and whatnot,” he said. “So we want to make sure we don’t nail it down to the specific date at this moment.”
Between the remaining work and required inspections, Gulling said the goal remains early October.
Gulling purchased the business in July after longtime La Cuisine owners Patrice Perron and Elodie Guinard decided it was time to move on. He has known the couple for about 15 years and considers them friends.
“I’ve known Patrice and Elodie for, you know, 15 years… very well,” Gulling said. “Patrice is a fixture in downtown Ocala. Elodie, of course, obviously a fixture in downtown Ocala. The restaurant has been something I went to myself frequently for many years. I’d sit at the bar. My oldest son had his first drink at the bar there. I consider them friends, and they had a great restaurant for many years. I loved La Cuisine.”
The couple approached him in mid-May. After a short discussion, Gulling submitted a formal letter of intent. The original plan was for La Cuisine to remain open longer, but unforeseen circumstances forced an earlier closing in June. That change allowed renovation work to begin sooner.
“They came to us when they were ready to move on to the next chapter,” Gulling said. “So we bought it in July and immediately undertook plans to do an interior renovation.”
That interior renovation will produce the biggest visible change to the space. The basic layout stays the same, but the space is being transformed into a lighter, brighter, more contemporary environment. The physical bar remains in its current location and is being expanded into the seating area to create a higher-energy bar experience right at the entrance.
“We’re keeping the layout the same, but it will be a new, more contemporary, modern, lighter, brighter environment,” Gulling said. “We’re also keeping the physical bar location the same, but we’re kind of expanding it into our seating area to give a higher-energy bar environment when you first walk in the door.”
The varied menu is designed to appeal to a wide range of diners, including vegetarian and vegan options.
“Our food is going to be high-end American cuisine,” he said. “Some of the things that we’re going to have on there are things like venison tenderloin; we’re going to have bison strip, some other things that we’ve enjoyed over the years, so it’ll be a very varied menu with selections for everybody. People who are vegetarian or vegan will have options as well.”
Gulling emphasized that the experience must deliver both quality and value. “We’re trying to really work hard to get the value to the guests. So guests will have an elevated dining experience with excellent hospitality, a great cocktail and wine program, and feel like they also got the value for their money.”
Staffing and training are already a priority.
“Our plan is for all of our staff to begin training in early September and have a really intense training for several weeks, so that when we do open in October, it feels like a somewhat polished experience in the very beginning,” Gulling said. “So it doesn’t feel as rocky as a new restaurant sometimes does when it first opens.”
Gulling said he was not actively looking for another restaurant when the opportunity arose, but the downtown location sealed the decision. “I’m really bullish on downtown Ocala. I’m a big believer in downtown. So I wanted to make sure that we had the chance to buy and make something special.”
Michael Mink serves as CEO and managing partner. The restaurant’s Facebook page has highlighted his focus on intentional hospitality, creating experiences that feel elevated without pretension through careful attention to the welcome, the pace of service, craft cocktails, and genuine care for every guest.
Updates on the exact opening date, menu details, and reservations will be shared on the restaurant’s website and Facebook page.