European Village Rising with KoKoRo and other New Restaurants Arriving Soon

KoKoRo will be moving into the former Barbara Jean’s spot in European Village. A Mexican restaurant and a rumored yogurt shop and a French restaurant may join them.

Palm Coast, FL – August 30, 2012 – European Village continues its comeback with several new restaurants deciding that E.V. is their chosen venue. One of my favorites, Kokoro, is reopening in the former Barbara Jean’s location. Kokoro left their location in the Palm Harbor Shopping Plaza in May. KoKoRo’s great seafood, lava rock-cooking and Sushi will be joined on the menu with more typical steakhouse items. Owners, Lee Barnes and wife Laura, tell me that the new location will also have a full liquor license.
Lee and Laura didn’t stop with one E.V. restaurant. They are also building out Burrito 101. Lee describes Burrito 101 as a Mexican/Latin/Caribbean themed dinning place. Both restaurants will require interior renovation, new signage etc. If construction and Palm Coast’s permitting process go smoothly, KoKoRo should be open in November. Burrito 101 should be open sooner.
The European Village saga has been prolonged and often painful to observe. E.V. was developed as a commercial condominium on the first floor with residential condos above. Owners have suffered, not only as a result of the real estate crash, but also because of the actions of failed developers and a string of their unsavory representatives.
But a core of persistent commercial condo owners not only held on, but prospered. They’ve led E.V.’s revitalization effort. The Commercial Condo Association purchased the courtyard at a tax deed sale in March. The courtyard once sported three fabric screens on which movies or other entertainment could be projected. The screens are long gone, but the framework remained as an ugly reminder of more promising days. The Association has removed the frame and plans to replace it with a pavilion for live entertainment. They’ve also upgraded the courtyard’s landscaping.
Farley’s Pub, another recent arrival at E.V., seems to be developing a loyal clientele. The City of Palm Coast has also sponsored live entertainment at E.V. to attract more patrons.
Rumor
Edging down to the rumor level, I’m told that there are two more restaurant operators planning a move to E.V. One will be selling yogurt. The other will be a French restaurant. I hope the French restaurant will serve sweetbread. I just can’t find this favorite item any more.

2 replies
  1. George Edward Chuddy
    George Edward Chuddy says:

    Palm Coasts Festival Park March

    Palm Coasts own ‘Festival Park March’ –
    Perhaps when the Pavilion for Live Enterentaiment is operational at the European Village then maybe something like this can be offered there. This way the newer ‘Palm Coasters’ can hear Palm Coast’ own ‘Festival Park March’.
    Here is an excerpt of when it was first heard by us:
    Navy Band Orlando Thrills Capacity Crowd at Center

    By Jim Miskelly
    PALM COAST – It was a first for Palm Coast. In and ideal setting for a Sunday afternoon band concert, an overflow crowd estimated at nearly 1,000 packed the Daytona Beach Community College Flagler Center’s new outdoor theater for the performing arts for a performance by the Navy Band Orlando, under the direction of Lt. William D. Myers.
    Palm Coast Professor Charles T. Gabriele conducted the band in playing his own composition " Naval Training Center March," and the premier performance of his "Palm Coasts Festival Park March." commemorating the opening of the Cultural Arts Pavilion. Gabriele, former composer in residence of the Naval Academy Band, earned a standing ovation from the audience and the band alike. Gabrielle dedicated the march to ICDC President Alan Smolen, who in turn shared the honor with ICDC Executives Gary Walters and Vince Viscomi for their part in planning the center.
    The program opened with the ‘Star Spangled Banner," setting the pace for a patriotic afternoon. Center Director Larry Goodemote welcomed the audience and County Commission Merle Shoemaker read a Flagler County Commission resolution proclaiming May 20, 1981 as "American Legion Flagler Post 115 Day."
    The American Legion Post, chartered in 19919 is the oldest veterans ‘ organization in Flagler County and was a sponsor of the concert with the cooperation of DBCC’s Flagler Center and ICDC Shoemaker noted this was the first event at which all local veterans’ organizations were represented and welcomed . American Legion Flagler Post 115. Palm Coast VFW Post 8696 , Flagler County FW Post 5213. DAV Chapter MOWW. Shoemaker presented a copy of the resolutions to the American Legion Post Adjutant Cora Buckles.
    Rear Adm. Pauline M. Hartington, USN, congratulated Professor Gabriele for his years of service in the Navy and cited him for his compositions.
    The concert concluded with ‘Servicemen on Parade," a medley of familiar service songs with an invitation for former veterans to stand when their service connected song was played.

    Wednesday May 23, 1984 – Flagler Palm Coast News Tribune

    Note: The Principal of Matanzas High School says his band will play this, I think only the strings section is scant/missing and can be acquired from Daytona State U.

  2. George Edward Chuddy
    George Edward Chuddy says:

    1987 P.Coasts Festival Park March

    If this Event is planned perhaps this information would be helpful:

    Palm Coasts Festival Park March:

    DBCC relives 30 years in pictures

    By: Jim Miskelly
    PALM COAST – Daytona Beach Community College celebrated its 30th Anniversary, complete with an art exhibit, historic photos depicting the 30 years of growth of the college and a concert by the DBCC Concert Band under the direction of Douglas Peterson.
    The Art exhibit included 186 paintings and pencil drawing by DBCC students of art instructors Pam Greisenger and Barbara Craig. Many of the paintings were for sale. Dr Paul Thompson, vice president in charge of all DBCC Campuses, displayed a framed sketch on napkins, with the inscription : "Flagler Palm Coast Center" Original Plan, approved in concept by Dr. Charles H. Polk, Pine Lakes Country Club. Nov. 1982. by Paul Thompson, DBCC, Jerry Full, ITT, Gary Walters, ITT." Thompson said the original plan followed the concept of Marjorie Merriweather Post’s ‘Wolftrap’ open air theater in Virginia.
    Attendance at the evening holiday concert was quite sparse, due to the cold weather. The band’s opening number was Leroy Andersons’ ‘Sleigh Ride." Charles T. Gabriele conducted the band during the performance of his composition originally played at the dedication of the Flagler Campus,

    "Palm Coast Festival Park March."

    Several Christmas numbers and a sing-along entertained the audience, Sharon Crow, alumni affairs director representing the DBCC Foundation and Alumni Association, and vice president Dr. Len O’Hara presented two full art scholachips to the DBCC campus. Contact Larry Goodemote at 445.4030.
    Guest Conductor – Professor Charles T. Gabriele conducts his own composition.

    Flagler Palm Coast News, Wednesday, December 23, 1987.

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