Restaurant by day, club by night to open near campus

The Station isn’t your ordinary bar and grill.

Owners Mikey “Stylez” Rubino and Matt Denuzzo have a vision for a new restaurant-meets-nightclub in Orlando that will not only have a dance floor, outdoor seating, full bar and four-star sous chef — it will be the first “green” bar in the area. 

Rubino, who along with Denuzzo believes strongly in helping the environment and community, spoke passionately about the plan as the two walked through the construction site.

“We’re trying to evolve the entertainment industry of Orlando,” Rubino said. “We want to make it classy and unique.”

The restaurant, which is located in the University Commons plaza at the corner of Corporate Boulevard and Alafaya Trail, is being opened by Evolve Group LLC and will bring about 150 jobs to the UCF area. Rubino and Denuzzo will be holding a résumé-optional job fair on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at The Station Bar & Grill. Applicants will fill out forms upon entering the business-casual job fair.

The job fair is for Evolve Group LLC, which means that each and every employee will not only represent the restaurant but the entertainment group as a whole, Denuzzo said.

Tim Nichols, a 24-year-old biology major, said the location across campus close to student-affiliated housing will be perfect for bringing in people at all times of the day. 

“The location is its biggest advantage and disadvantage because the location is very close to several key spots within the UCF area, but the plaza is not very well known,” Nichols said.

The full-scale restaurant, its motto being “eat, drink, dance,” will have a complete menu of unique foods, Rubino and Denuzzo said. Each item was hand-picked for its quality and presentation. 

The pair finds the advantages of a restaurant being opened by an entertainment group are endless, and they have plans for block parties, special performances and many charity and student events.

The restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day and will be family friendly until 10 p.m., when it will be turned into a full-scale nightclub. The age requirement will change to over-18 at 10 p.m. The pair plans to implement strict underage drinking rules.

“We simply will not tolerate it,” Rubino said. 

Students around campus like Amanda Morris didn’t seem to know the place was opening but seemed eager to attend the job fair. 

Marketing major Julie Stokes heard rumors the restaurant wasn’t opening. 

“The previous owners had a hard time getting a license for alcohol so that’s why the Evolve Group bought it from them,” Stokes said. “They have had two job fairs already, and it’s supposed to open in late August or September.” 

Rubino addressed the rumors. 

Working with the city has been the biggest obstacle in getting up and running, he said, but they are planning to open Aug. 20 or Aug. 27.

Rubino and Denuzzo hope The Station becomes the “home base” for UCF and the community and a place for people to have a quick bite and hang out to watch the big game.

“We hope everyone enjoys what we’re doing with the venue, and there’s definitely more to come,” Rubino said.