Hello Sunday.
October 25 2026
Take out and take off from Lakeland Linder’s potential new restaurant: Waco Kitchen.
Since its last renovation in 2001, the restaurant space has remained relatively untouched until now. If you remember back to 2019, the previous tenant, Hallback’s Bar & Grill, closed, and the space has been empty ever since — with a few rumors and rumblings of potential restaurants over the past two years.
Now, the space could be the home of a restaurant concept based out of Battle Creek, Michigan at the Battle Creek Executive Airport. All that’s standing between the restaurant and reality is a vote today from the city commission. The Lakeland Real Estate and Transportation Committee approved the lease on Friday for the restaurant to inhabit the second-floor space.
Now, with the area surrounding Lakeland Linder expanding, the restaurant would bring a new option to surrounding neighborhoods and residents on that side of Lakeland. Plus, the potential for commercial flights is still not 100% off the table for Lakeland’s future.
Views from the restaurant would overlook the airstrip, Waco Kitchen, MI | Photo via @wacokitchen
Here are a few highlights of the restaurant, should it come to fruition:
- The restaurant concept is considered “farm to table,” meaning that the ingredients served are locally sourced.
- Cuisine-wise, the menu is an American-European fusion by chefs with international training.
- Due to the difference in climate and location, Lakeland’s potential menu will feature some different items than Battle Creek, with an emphasis on fish.
- The restaurant will have its own bar serving up beer and wine, and liquor.
- Should everything pan out today, construction would quite literally begin tomorrow with a $3 million renovation by the buyer.
- Currently, an opening date is slated sometime in March before SUN ‘n FUN, should all of the details fall into place.
Which aspect of the tentative restaurant gets you the most excited?
Sit a spell and share your thoughts with us
- Another new eatery in Lakeland
- The potential for more jobs for Lakelanders
- A locally sourced menu
- Plans for a quick opening date
Monday
- Open Mic Night | Mon., Nov. 1 | 6-9 p.m. | Gram Parsons’ Derry Down, 297 5th St. NW | Free | Musicians of any age can sign up and perform up to three songs for a live audience. 🎤
Tuesday
- Proper Wednesday | Tues., Nov. 2 | 8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Stream this live performance by Proper Wednesday from the comfort of your home.
Wednesday
- Ritmo Yoga | Wed., Nov. 3 | 6-7 p.m. | Ultimate Dance Center, 2980 Lakeland Highlands Rd. | $5+ | Kids or adults can enjoy this yoga class with adaptations for all skill levels.
Thursday
- S'mores-n-Pours | Thurs., Nov. 4 | 6 p.m. | Camp Fire Sunshine, 2600 Buckingham Ave. | Free | Adults can enjoy free local brews, wine, and s'mores while listening to music and playing games. 🍫
Friday
- First Friday: Buffalo Soldiers of Florida | Fri., Nov. 5 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Experience live music, vendors, family fun + a parade at 7 p.m. featuring the Buffalo Soldier Motorcycle Clubs of Florida.
Saturday
Sunday
- Harvest Holler Corn Maze | Sun., Nov. 7 | 12-5 p.m. | Harvest Holler Corn Maze, 950 Tavares Rd. | $12+ | Run through the corn maze, see farm animals, enjoy seasonal activities + food. 🌽
Monday
- Business Breakfast Tour | Mon., Nov. 8 | 7:30-8:30 a.m. | Somos Church, 3125 US Highway 98 S. | $15 | Speaker Jeff Henderson will help you build your business and career over breakfast. 🍳
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Tomorrow, Nov. 2 is the big day — the local election. To celebrate another election season in Lakeland, we’re walking down memory lane and sharing the history of some of Lakeland’s mayors from the past 50 years.
1982-present
- Bill Mutz, 2018-present | Bill was the President & Co-Owner of Lakeland Automall, is a father to 12 children, and has served on 21 not-for-profit or business boards.
- R. Howard Wiggs, 2014–2018 | Mayor Wiggs was a vice president of marketing for SunTrust Bank of Central Florida, won the Jere Annis Award from Leadership Lakeland, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Florida Southern College.
- Gow Fields, 2010–2013 | Gow was the first Black mayor to be elected in Lakeland, was inducted into the Polk County Public Schools Hall of Fame, and won the George Jenkins Award in 2019.
Weather
- 79º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Sports
- Joseph Lunsford, a Polk County native, is heading to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando for bocce ball. Joseph is an athlete with down syndrome, a diagnosis he received as a baby, but that hasn’t held him back — especially when it comes to his love for sports. 🎉 (Bay News 9)
Biz
- Stephanie Archibald is taking her biz on the road. The Lakelander and owner of SB&B Seafood Bar & Grill — a restaurant, bar, and seafood market — plans to open up a food truck, operating her biz out of a 30-foot Ford Stepvan. (Business Observer FL)
- Tinsley Creative has expanded its team as the brand management firm looks to enter multiple new industries. The team welcomed new hires for roles such as Digital Brand Developer and Brand Manager, to name a couple.
- Last week, Bandidas Test Kitchen delivered its first round of “Bandi Boxes.” Orders included specialty food items like pie dough, mango curd, coconut cardamom, art, and music — to name a few items. The biz hinted at another round of orders in the future. 🚚
Cause
- Watson Clinic recently donated $100,000 to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida. The donation is part of the clinic’s promise to donate $100,000 a year for three years. This round was the final installment. 🎀 (The Ledger)
Lakelander
- David “Jah D” Goldfine is a is a Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, and bass player, as well as a Lakeland local and owner of record label Zion High Productions. You can read up on The Lakelander’s interview with David here.
Traffic
Seasonal
- Florida’s one and only alpine snow park, Snowcat Ridge (27839 St Joe Rd.), will reopen to the public for its second season on Nov. 10. The park will operate through March 27 and will feature a rentable ice rink, private igloos, and food, amongst other attractions from last year. (Tampa Bay Times)
Listen
- Today might be Nov. 1, but that doesn’t mean you can’t extend spooky season for a few more hours, right? Florida Men on Florida Man released their Halloween episode, “The Wonder House,” recorded at the notorious Bartow home. Listen to it here. 🏚️
Concert
- The RPFunding Center announced on Friday that tickets for the April 6 concert, The Music of Cream featuring Kofi Baker and Will Johns, will go on sale on Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. Tickets start at $31 and will be available for purchase online and at the box office. 🤘
Community
- Happy November, Lakeland. As we kick off a new month, our updated calendar of November events is officially live and ready for viewing. You can take a peek at what’s to come this month in Swan City here.
Award
- Congratulations to MIDFLORIDA Credit Union for bringing home 4 “Best Of” awards from LKLD Magazine, Haven Magazine, The Hometown News, and The Ledger. 🏆 Ⓟ
Union Hall, a local music venue + date night spot off of South Florida Avenue, shared its take on a classic cocktail, better known as an old fashioned. Instead of trying to describe it to you, we’ll let the experts do the talking — or mixing.
Watch the full video here.
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