Navy veteran Nino Villamor takes over Lola's Filipino Cafe and Mini Store in Orange Park

Nino Villamor, a Navy culinary specialist for 22 years, and his family took over ownership of Lola's Filipino Cafe and Mini Store at 1241 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park, Florida, this month, making it 100% veteran owned.

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Nino Villamor and his family officially took over ownership of Lola's Filipino Cafe and Mini Store in Orange Park, Florida, this month, Clay Today reported on 15 October. The cafe is at 1241 Blanding Blvd. and had been owned by a husband and wife since 2021. It is now 100% veteran owned.

Villamor spent 22 years in the military as a Navy culinary specialist. "It's always been my passion, surrounding food service. We wanted to share that tradition and the culture through the food," he told Clay Today. "Lola means 'grandma' in Filipino. The concept was the home cooking of a grandmother."

The menu includes adobo chicken and pork, lumpia, traditional pompano and pancit, and the mini store sells a selection of Filipino snacks and groceries. "Anything you can pick up in a Filipino household, we try to have it," Villamor said.

Because October is Filipino American History Month, the family is practising culinary traditions throughout the month. "When I was in the military, we celebrated every Filipino Heritage Month. There are traditions that are unique, like we make a whole roasted pig," Villamor said.

"We are the only Filipino restaurant in the vicinity of [Orange Park]," Villamor told Clay Today, adding that he hopes to expand the business to other areas of North Florida. The Fleming Island-Orange Park Times also reported the change of ownership on 20 October.