It was once a gas station... then a place to buy a bus ticket... and then it sat empty.
Now the city of Gainesville is partnering with a private business to keep downtown Gainesville vibrant and well fed.
The lunch box is a new restaurant which features Latin and Asian sandwiches next door to the plaza.
The cafe is a partnership with the city of Gainesville, which owns the land and is leasing the space to the restaurant.
The two entities cooked up a way to up-hold the charm of the downtown Gainesville area while starting a business that can survive a tough economic environment.
The lunch box will open their doors in two weeks.
An added perk? The cafe will serve local produce and fish when possible and is designed to be environmentally sustainable.