There are lots of great places to eat and drink in Bloomdale. Local coffee shops, such as the Big Bear Cafe, serve breakfast until 3 p.m. and also feature a late-day menu from noon to close. The community is also home to many special events and festivals.
Crispus Attucks Park
Bloomingdale’s crispus Attucks Park is a quaint neighborhood park that’s just over an acre in size. Surrounded by rowhomes, the park features benches, a garden, and space for dogs. The park is also home to numerous neighborhood events throughout the year, including Bloomie Nights, a summer picnic, and Bloomingdale Community Day, one of the largest events in the area.
The park’s preservation is overseen by the Crispus Attucks Development Corporation, a nonprofit that is dedicated to preserving the park. While the park may not be as pristine as some other urban parks in Bloomdale, it’s a peaceful place to walk or sit on a bench. While the park is small, there are enough benches and blankets to accommodate everyone. Visitors to the park are encouraged to pick up after themselves and make it a nice place to visit.
The park is a hidden gem in Bloomingdale. The park is located on land that was once owned by C & P Telephone and then transferred to a non-profit in the 1970s. It’s one of the few public parks that remains free and open to the public.
Crispus Attucks Park is operated by the Crispus Attucks Development Corporation, which relies on donations and volunteer efforts to keep the park looking great. All donations to the nonprofit organization go directly to protecting and maintaining the park.
Forty Carrots
The Bloomdale location of Forty Carrots serves a unique menu, incorporating a local flare with traditional flavors. Instead of the chopped salad that is served at other locations, this location offers slow-cooked Ni’ihau lamb and other locally sourced meats. This new menu was created by award-winning chef Jon Matsubara, and is unique to this location.
Located on Level 6 in Bloomingdale’s, Forty Carrots serves frozen yogurt, smoothies, salads and sandwiches. The restaurant also offers table service and takeout. You can enjoy this ice cream shop by the window or on the go. The location is near the Route 9 entrance.
The salad menu at Forty Carrots offers a variety of choices, including a classic tuna salad, Sonoma chicken, egg salad, and carrot-raisin salad. You can also add extra toppings to your salad. Some of the other salads include grilled chicken with mango and avocado, grilled Atlantic salmon, and quinoa and feta cheese. The salads are made from fresh ingredients and served with fresh-baked bread or organic flatbread.
In addition to the salad menu, Forty Carrots also offers frozen yogurt, which is served with a classic dressing. The café is open Monday through Sunday, and offers delivery or takeout.
DCity Smokehouse
The DCity Smokehouse in Bloomdale is a hip and trendy place for a smoked meat fix. You can order sandwiches, combo platters, and veggie sides. The place also serves beer, wine, and bourbon drinks. The decor is modern and clean. It also has a large outdoor patio.
The smokehouse’s food is a modern twist on barbecue and soul food favorites. Smoked pork belly and fried chicken are some of the staples on the menu. You can also try bourbon-syrup-infused red velvet waffles. There are also sandwiches, hushpuppies, and even macaroni and jack cheese. Although the menu is mostly barbecue-focused, you can still try other items like sandwiches and macaroni and cheese.
The chef behind DCity Smokehouse is Rob Sonderman, who has a background in fine dining and a passion for barbecue and soul food. His aim is to bring the quality of top-end restaurants to a comfortable pit-style restaurant setting. Prior to starting DCity Smokehouse, he was the Pitmaster at Hill Country Barbecue in the Penn Quarter/Chinatown area. After that, he worked for James Beard award-winning chefs. In Boston, he studied under Master Chef Robert Mancuso. In Washington, DC, Rob grew up in Chinatown and still lives in the area.
The DCity Smokehouse is mostly a to-go destination, but it also offers catering. It has five seating areas and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 8 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Christ
The First Baptist Church of Christ is one of the best places to go in Bloomdale if you’re looking for a great place to worship. Founded in 1890, this church is a Baptist congregation affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Their historic sanctuary is a great place to worship and learn about their faith.
Its mission is to help people live as Christ did by helping them develop a deeper relationship with God. This church is scripturally-based and welcoming to all people. Its worship is geared toward helping people of all backgrounds find God’s love.
Ron Garl Signature Course
The Ron Garl Signature Course at Bloomingdale Golfers Club is a fantastic test of skill. The course is home to 100-year-old oak trees, towering pines and natural marshland, and is a great place to play if you are looking for a challenging round of golf. The course also boasts excellent course conditions with CHAMPION Dwarf Bermudagrass greens that rival those found at PGA Tour venues.
Ron Garl is an American golf course architect who has been in the golf industry since 1973. He holds degrees in architecture and landscape architecture, and his firm, Ron Garl Golf Design, was established in Lakeland, Florida. Garl earned his pilot’s license at 16 and is the youngest president of the Florida State Golf Association.
Garl has won numerous awards and honors for his courses. He was named Golf Designer of the Year by the International Network of Golf in 2002 and has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida. He has personal experience in the golf industry, and his design philosophy focuses on environmental sustainability.
Once one of the premier public golf courses in Tampa, the Bloomingdale Golfers Club has fallen out of favor, but it still has some serious potential. The course has great greens, but the courses are notoriously long and crowded on the weekends. It’s not uncommon for three groups to be playing the same hole.
Meacham Grove
If you’re looking for a great place to go hiking in Bloomdale, check out the Meacham Grove Forest Preserve. This 1.3-mile loop has no elevation gain and is rated easy. You can also picnic or fish in the lake. The area is also home to a number of native plant species.
Originally, the area was populated by Potawatomi. In the 1830s, the Meacham brothers acquired 1,200 acres, mostly woodlands, to use for construction and fences. In 1977, the Forest Preserve District purchased 40 acres from the Heinberg family and additional parcels in the mid-1990s.
In 1833, Meacham’s wife died and her body was buried in the grove. During the next few years, the grove began to grow in population. By 1834, there were about 12 to 15 families. It was served by the Chicago-Galena Highway and was an important stop for travelers. In 1839, the Bloomingdale Township was incorporated. At the time, the northern section of Bloomingdale wanted to develop commercially, while the southern part wanted to remain a farming community.
Visitors to Bloomingdale should take advantage of the many outdoor activities and parks available in the area. There is an array of activities to enjoy, from rock climbing to driving go-carts. You can also enjoy an afternoon at the Meacham Grove Nature Preserve. The area also has numerous restaurants, art museums, and independent stores.
