Okay, real talk: I wrote about the Great Southern Box Company when it first opened, and honestly? A lot has changed since then. New vendors, a whole new bar, a new operator, and a weekly event lineup that has turned this place from “cute food hall” into a legit go-to for anyone who lives on this side of town.
So here’s the fully refreshed rundown on Orlando’s Packing District food hall — what’s actually good, what’s new, and how to do it right.
What Is The Great Southern Box Company?
The Great Southern Box Company (locals just say “GSBC” or “So Box”) is a food hall and bar tucked into the Packing District, just west of College Park. If you’ve never done a food hall before: think one big indoor-outdoor space with a bunch of independent food stalls, a central bar, and shared seating so your group can eat five different cuisines at one table without anyone arguing.
The building itself is the good part. It’s Dr. Phillips’ original citrus packing warehouse, restored into a 27,000-square-foot space with 10+ food vendors, two partially covered patios, a private event space, and a bar built for actually hanging out. It’s part of the Dr. Phillips Charities redevelopment of the Packing District — one of the biggest revitalization projects Orlando has seen.
The whole concept leans into immigrant cuisine and locally owned concepts, which is exactly why the food here beats the average food court by a mile.
Great Southern Box Company: Location, Hours & Parking
Address: 2105 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804
Phone: (689) 207-4383
Hours (as of September 2026):
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Heads up: they’re closed on Mondays now, and individual vendors sometimes wrap up before the food hall officially closes. If you’re rolling in late, check the Great Southern Box Co. website first.
Parking: Free, in the big garage steps from the entrance. In Orlando, free parking near anything this nice is basically a love language.
What’s New At Great Southern Box Company In 2026
Things you need to know if you haven’t been in a while.
1. New operator: Pine Street Hospitality
In April 2026, Dr. Phillips Charities announced that Pine Street Hospitality took over operations of the food hall. If that name sounds familiar, it should — they’re the crew behind Bullitt Bar, McQueen’s, Sessions, The Basement and Papi Smash’d Burger. All existing vendors are staying put, and the plan is to level up the programming and offerings.
My take: this is a good thing. Pine Street knows how to run a bar program and knows how to make a room feel busy.
2. Walter’s Tavern is open
The biggest addition. Walter’s Tavern is a 3,800-square-foot bar inside the food hall, named after Walter Phillips, with craft cocktails, live entertainment, and 15 TVs for what they’re calling an elevated sports-viewing experience — plus a speakeasy-style tucked-away vibe in part of the space.
Hours: Mon-Tues CLOSED, Wed-Thurs 4pm-12am, Fri-Sun 11am-12am
Translation: you can watch the game, drink something genuinely well-made, and order food from any vendor in the hall. That combination is rare. If hidden bars are your thing, add it to your list alongside my other favorite Orlando speakeasies.
The Vendors At Great Southern Box Company
Current lineup as of this update:
- Braza – Brazilian steakhouse. The picanha with fries and the empanadas are what I keep going back for.
- Antica Pizza – Neapolitan, critically acclaimed, voted best pizza in Orlando multiple years running. Gluten-free and vegan options on site.
- Fui Yo Mexicana – Birria specialists who built their following on pop-ups and a food truck before landing here. Order the birria tacos with the consommé for dipping.
- Kayos Jamaican Grill – Jerk chicken, oxtail, the whole comfort lineup.
- Eighty Twenty – Burgers, done straightforward and well.
- A Lo Cubano Kitchen – Cuban classics. Perfect when you want a pressed sandwich and no decisions.
- Koa Sushi & Poke – Poke bowls and rolls, the light option in a very heavy building.
- Bangkok Style – Authentic street-style Thai.
- Kabab 2 Go – Family-owned Lebanese, relocated from Charlotte, using spices imported from Lebanon. Get the chicken shawarma and the baba ghanouj.
- Café Barista – Coffee and pastries, which makes this a sneaky-good work-from-the-food-hall spot.
- Waffle Sandwich Bar – Exactly what it sounds like, and yes, it works.
You order at each counter and get a text when your food is ready, so one person can grab tacos while another gets sushi and nobody has to compromise. If you love this format, I ranked the best food halls in Orlando and surrounding areas too.
28 Groves: The Cocktail Bar At The Center
The 40-seat elevated cocktail bar anchoring the middle of the hall is 28 Groves, named for the 28 orange groves Dr. Phillips owned — the legacy that funds Dr. Phillips Charities to this day.
It’s not a token food-hall beer counter. The cocktail list gets genuinely creative: Bergamot Martini, Pimento Margarita, Snap Pea Mojito, Rhubarb Sour, plus draft beer, wine and mocktails. I went with the bergamot martini and it was lovely — bright, a little bitter, exactly my thing.
Between 28 Groves and Walter’s Tavern, the drink program here now competes with places I’d normally send you downtown for. Speaking of which: my roundup of the best cocktails in Orlando has more if you’re building a night out.
Weekly Events & Deals (This Is The Real Insider Tip)
The programming calendar is the reason to become a regular. Current weekly lineup Great Southern Box Co.:
| Day | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Service Industry Night – $8 house cocktails, $6 draft beer and wine by the glass, $6 wells |
| Wednesday | Kids Eat Free (all day, with a $25 purchase per vendor) + Sip & Paint for $12 + Wine Down Wednesday with $6 house wines and 50% off bottles |
| Thursday | Ladies’ Night – $8 martini menu, $6 house margaritas, a $12 “girl dinner” menu and weekly chick flicks, plus Trivia at 7 p.m. |
| Friday | Late Night Happy Hour – $8 house cocktails, $6 drafts and wine, $6 wells, $6–$12 tapas + Movies on the Deck with free popcorn and slushees |
| Sunday | College Park Farmers Market – around 30 vendors, bottomless mimosas for $25, kids zone and live music |
Happy hour also runs Tuesday through Friday, roughly 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
That Wednesday combo — kids eat free, cheap wine, and a craft project — is one of the better parenting hacks in this city, and it slots right into my list of cheap things to do in Orlando. The Sunday market is also a great add to your Orlando farmers market rotation.
Deals and dates do shift, so confirm on their site before you plan around one!
Is Great Southern Box Company Worth It? My Honest Take
Yes — and it’s better now than when it opened.
Go if you: have a group that never agrees on food, want a kid-friendly dinner that still has a real cocktail list, need a place to watch a game that isn’t a chain sports bar, or want free parking and zero stress on a weeknight.
Maybe skip if you: want a quiet, romantic, tablecloth kind of night. This is a big open warehouse. It’s lively, and on Friday nights it’s loud. That’s the point.
How I’d do it: Get there around 5, split birria tacos from Fui Yo and a pizza from Antica, take drinks out to the patio while it’s still golden hour, then move to Walter’s Tavern for one more. Total spend for two, comfortably under $80.
Great Southern Box Company FAQ
Where is the Great Southern Box Company?
2105 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804, in the Packing District just west of College Park, at Orange Blossom Trail and Princeton.
Is parking free at Great Southern Box Company?
Yes. There’s a large free parking garage steps from the entrance.
What are the Great Southern Box Company hours?
Closed Mondays; Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Individual vendor hours can vary.
Is Great Southern Box Company kid-friendly?
Very. There’s open seating, patios, and kids eat free all day Wednesday with a $25 purchase per vendor.
Is there a bar at Great Southern Box Company?
Two. 28 Groves is the 40-seat craft cocktail bar in the center of the hall, and Walter’s Tavern (Hours: Wed-Thurs 4pm-12am, Fri-Sun 11am-12am) is a 3,800-square-foot bar with craft cocktails, live entertainment and 15 TVs.
Can you order takeout from Great Southern Box Company?
Yes, to-go ordering is available through their website.
Can you book the space for a private event?
Yes — there’s a 5,590-square-foot private event space on site.
More Orlando Eats & Drinks You’ll Love
- The Best Food Halls In Orlando & Surrounding Areas
- Things To Do In Orlando This Month
- The Best Speakeasies In Orlando & Beyond
- Top Orlando Happy Hours
- The Best Cocktails In Orlando
- Best Brunch Spots In Orlando
- Orlando Coffee Shops Worth The Drive
- The 5 Best Taco Spots In Orlando
- Cheap Things To Do In Orlando
- Orlando Farmers Markets & Farm Boxes
Thanks for reading!
