Beloved Gainesville icon breaks ground today: Reconstruction of the swamp restaurant

Press release from The Swamp Restaurant

The reconstruction of the historic Swamp Restaurant broke ground today and initiated the 10-month construction tour that will revive the popular Gainesville landmark.

A community icon, The Swamp Restaurant closed in 2020 when a contractor bought the land and demolished the charming old building. The Gator Nation struck back: students and alumni alike voiced their outrage at the loss, petitions were encircled on social media, and a state official stood up to save the swamp.

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Due to the overwhelming love of the community for the restaurant, owner Ryan Prodesky decided to rebuild. The Swamp Restaurant is being built at 1026 SW 2nd Avenue in Gainesville’s Innovation District, just a two-minute walk from the University of Florida. The rebuilding in the Innovation District ensures The Swamp is still steps away from campus so students can grab a bite or enjoy spirited tailgates between lessons.

The two-story, 6,000-square-foot building was designed to keep intact all of The Swamp’s fan-favorite features: the charming appearance of a historic home, white picket fence, and front yard. There will also be some updates and improvements to the website. The Swamp Restaurant will be expanded to include more seating, the bar and toilets will be larger, and the kitchen will be more efficient. The old murals and memorabilia will stand alongside new eye-catching works of art that visitors can use to snap photos and make memories. A brick walkway leading to the building is stamped with the community’s love for the project, with The Swamp installing both old and new engraved bricks that have been personalized by guests.

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Local architecture, engineering and construction companies worked hard on the project, which was carried out by Trimark Properties. The Monarch Design Group worked on the architecture and interior design, with Wayland Structural Engineering completing the structural design, CHW Engineering completing the civil engineering and landscape architecture, and Campbell Spellicy Engineering completing the electrical and mechanical engineering. Scorpio leads the building process.

“The Swamp Restaurant is iconic,” said Domenic Scorpio, President and CEO of Scorpio. “These types of opportunities are rare. As a community-based construction company, Scorpio is excited to bring to life a structure so deeply rooted in the heart of the Gator Nation. “

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“The groundbreaking is an exciting day,” said Prodesky. “It makes it feel real. The Swamp Restaurant is coming back and we have made great strides today. “

The Swamp Restaurant is expected to reopen in time for the 2022 college football season.

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The swamp restaurant has been a fixture in Gainesville for 25 years, serving American food and great drinks. Known as a game day hotspot, the Swamp Restaurant has become essential to the entire UF student experience and has served generations of Gators as the home of tailgates, Greek communities, alumni events, and many more happy occasions. Visit our website for more updates on The Swamp Restaurant’s reopening.

The post Beloved Gainesville icon breaks ground today: Reconstruction of the swamp restaurant first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/beloved-gainesville-icon-breaks-ground-today-reconstruction-of-the-swamp-restaurant/