Where is the first Olive Garden?

[lovfl]

Yes, I-Drive in the 80's that's where we first saw it coming down here on vacation. there was a waiting line outside so we went elsewhere and thought that was coolest name for a restaurant. I still like it!

[cerveza]

Originally Posted by boy3365

I wanted to say that I ate at the first Olive Garden.

If its any consolation, you can eat at the first hooters if you take a drive to clearwater.

[curtislowe]

It was the one on International Dr.IT was a remodel job ,My partner and I did the drywall, and paneling in the kitchen back in the early 80s.They wanted to see if it would take off good before building anymore.We did the kitchen first so the chef could start cooking some recipes.It was nice to work smelling him cook!And sometimes he would bring us some samples and some cheese cakes he made.A guy name Calvin did all the wood work on the Bar and expresso area...awsome work......Curtis Dimsdale.

[curtislowe]

You are correct.I subcontracted the Drywall on it.It was a remodel job to see if it would sell good before building anymore.A guy name Bob was the superintendent for General Mills back then.

[Jjcooler]

Actually the Olive Garden by Dave and busters was not the first one that is a new restaurant. The original is located about 2 miles north on international drive and was a two story building with stairs going upstairs as you walk through the front door

[Jjcooler]

But now I read that the first one was at the Fashion Square Mall

[boy3365]

Originally Posted by Jjcooler

Actually the Olive Garden by Dave and busters was not the first one that is a new restaurant. The original is located about 2 miles north on international drive and was a two story building with stairs going upstairs as you walk through the front door

Originally Posted by Jjcooler

But now I read that the first one was at the Fashion Square Mall

I'm the OP. The follow-up post I wrote with pictures is the original Olive Garden building. It doesn't have the Panda Express and Tilted Kilt anymore. I took a drive down International Drive a couple of weeks ago and the building has changed to another restaurant.

The one next to Dave & Busters is I guess a replacement of the original. Perhaps a flagship.

The Fashion Square location is the oldest continuously operating Olive Garden building. I don't know if that means it was the second location though. https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...more-than-ever

They are replacing that Olive Garden with a new building a couple of hundred feet or so away. Living up to that "Orlando has no history" reputation.