Shakers American Cafe, the popular College Park diner that has been an Orlando fixture for 31 years, has been sold. Lee Pitts, a longtime businessman and entrepreneur, took ownership from Greg and Terry Granda on Friday.
“We felt like it’s time,” said Greg Granda in a phone conversation Tuesday. “Sometimes you’ve just got to make a decision, trust yourself and go with it.”
Pitts, who also spoke via telephone, said that his immediate plans for the restaurant is not to “mess the thing up.” “It’s a good restaurant, with good food,” he said. “I just want to continue what doing what the previous owners have been doing.”
Which is not to say he doesn’t have plans for Shakers.
Pitts was previously senior vice president for Dave & Buster’s, and grew that restaurant and entertainment business over 20 years from when it had only two locations.
“I’d like to grow this brand,” he said. “I’d like to see more Shakers around Florida.”
Pitts’ daughter Chelsea is relocating to Orlando to manage the business.
“I think it’s kind of cool that it will be a father/daughter operation,” Granda said.
Shakers, which is named for the hundreds of salt and pepper shakers that line the shelves of the small cafe, opened on Aug. 23, 1993. The Grandas were the fourth owners of the breakfast-and-lunch restaurant. Granda said that he and his wife plan to retire and travel.
