5545 E Silver Springs Boulevard, Silver Springs, FL 34488 - Marion County

Historic 3,114 SF restaurant prominently located on the lighted corner of State Road 40 and County Road 35 in the Ocala, FL MSA, ranked by the U. S. Census Bureau as the fastest-growing metro in the United States (2024). The property is situated approximately 650 feet from the entrance to the nationally renowned Silver Springs State Park, benefiting from strong visibility and year-round visitor traffic. The site encompasses 0.55 acres with approximately 500 feet of total road frontage. Originally developed in the 1940s as a Howard Johnson's Restaurant-then part of the largest restaurant chain in the United States-the current structure was constructed in 1965 as a modernized Howard Johnson's to complement the adjacent Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, which is also available for purchase, presenting a rare opportunity to reunite the historic complex for the first time in more than 30 years. The restaurant was completely remodeled in 2019 and features a fully equipped commercial kitchen with natural gas cooking, including a pizza oven and fryer, a walk-in cooler, and dedicated storage areas. The dining room accommodates up to 120 patrons, and the property previously held a 2COP retail beverage license, permitting the sale of beer and wine by the glass for on-premise consumption. The property lies within Catalyst Site #4 of the Silver Springs CRA Master Plan, which identifies the area for reinvestment and redevelopment. The plan contemplates potential re-routing of State Road 40, which could enhance site frontage and access, and encourages neighborhood-scale mixed-use development, including retail and duplex or triplex residential development of up to 47 dwelling units, subject to applicable approvals. In addition, Marion County's Special Use Permit (SUP) process allows alternative uses to be explored beyond the existing restaurant configuration. Market fundamentals further support long-term demand. The Ocala MSA ranks #36 out of 200 large U. S. metros in the 2024 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index, supported by a 2023 GDP of approximately $16 billion (Milken Institute / Bureau of Economic Analysis). The University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) projects Marion County population growth of up to 30% by 2040. This offering represents a rare opportunity to acquire a fully renovated, historically significant restaurant asset with exceptional corner visibility, CRA-backed redevelopment support, and multiple paths to value creation in one of Florida's most dynamic growth markets.

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