Restaurant news: Ocala has a new drive-thru coffee place
A wave of excitement swept over North Pine Avenue on Friday as OLA Drive-Thru Coffee launched its flagship location in Ocala.
OLA Drive-Thru features a wide variety of hot and cold beverages including “espresso-based” coffees, shakes, soda and smoothies and specialties like the signature OLA: a caramel-and-vanilla, half and half-and-espresso mix “breve.”
Customers packed the parking lot of the new business, 920 N. Pine Ave., for a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Events and giveaways followed throughout the day.
Stephen Daley of Ocala was one of the many drivers who pulled into OLA Drive Thru as the grand opening unfolded.
“I had heard about the place from my daughter. I had a frappe. Service was quick and the employees were really nice,” Daley wrote in a text.
Daley said the location is convenient for him.
The name of the drive-through, quick service beverage company means “wave” in Spanish and reflects co-owners Corey Scott and James Maxwell’s interests in high-energy sports like surfing and motocross.
Maxwell has enjoyed surfing at venues including South America.
Quite an event on Friday, June 23
Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn helped kick off Friday's festivities. He, like many residents, had wondered what would replace the former car lot at one of Ocala’s busiest intersections (Pine and Northwest 10th Street/Bonnie Heath Boulevard/U.S. 27.)
Jess Shultz with the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership invited attendees to shout “success” as the ribbon was cut.
Guinn called the southwest corner of Pine Avenue and Northwest 10th Street “a great spot” for company’s first operation. The business employs 30 people at the North Pine location.
Good reviews from customers
A steady stream of drive-through customers like Amanda Mendoza and her mother, Lisa Price, continued to visit throughout the morning.
“Awesome selection,” Mendoza said. Price said she saw the new business on Facebook.
Erica Trowell visited the drive-through for a muffin and beverage. She works in northwest Ocala.
Ben Marciano, local mayoral candidate, joined the celebration. He was pleased to support a “healthy options” business, especially one that supports law enforcement.
Theodora Oatmeyer, marketing and public relations director for OLA Drive-Thru, said the company used social media and an “old school” approach by going “door to door” to distribute grand opening flyers at locations like the local YMCA and first responder and law enforcement locations.
A roughly 10-day soft opening period preceded the grand opening.
Local artist Jason Alsedek painted gift merchandise and a surfboard from JS Garage of Oceanside, California. About 1,000 OLA shirts were planned as giveaways, the release stated.
The company has a second location under construction in the 3200 block of Southeast Maricamp Road. It should open within the next few months. The owners plan up to four new locations over the next three years.
The company extends a 15% discount to active military and veterans, as well as first responders and law enforcement.
Katie Chazel with the 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office tried the offerings at OLA. “Really good,” Chazel said. She said she would come back to OLA Drive-Thru.
Majorie McGee found offerings at OLA Drive-Thru “wonderful.“
Oatmeyer said OLA uses reverse osmosis water filtering as the start for the best tasting coffee.
Horchatas and Dirty Horchatas are also available.
“Dirty in Horchata and chai means it has a shot of espresso in it. Horchata is a cinnamon milk and if it’s dirty then it has a shot of espresso,” Oatmeyer wrote.
Chai and kombucha on the menu are “technically both teas.”
“But you can add espresso to chai which makes it’s a chai latte because you add steam milk and espresso,” she indicated.
Another menu item, Boba, is “a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan. It’s a blending (of) tea with milk, fruit and fruit juices, then adding tasty tapioca pearls,” Oatmeyer explained.
The Bandito is a hazelnut and mocha mix.
On Friday, OLA Drive-Thru employees Hannah Burke, Neo Serna, Alana Deskovic and Van Whitehouse scurried about taking orders, delivering drinks and performing other tasks.
The location has at least two “La Marzocco” commercial expresso machines in the preparation area.
Jim Michels with Patriot Service Dogs of Belleview came to the outdoor grand opening with a service dog, and “Events by Mellow” provided high-energy sounds.
OLA Drive-Thru; 920 N. Pine Ave., Ocala; https://oladrivethru.com/
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: OLA Drive-Thru serves coffee and more on North Pine Avenue in Ocala
