Ocoee's new food truck park, The Backyard, is slated to open in early 2025

The Backyard, a new, family-owned outdoor dining experience that aims to recreate the warmth and hospitality of a backyard gathering, is coming to Ocoee in early 2025, according to a press release.

“We have been hard at work for over three years to make this place a reality,” said owner Andrea Halperin. “We are thrilled to bring this experience to the residents of Ocoee, a place they can truly call their own.”

Construction has started on the food park-style concept from owners Joshua and Andrea Halperin, who are known among their friends and family for their backyard gatherings. The Backyard is designed to create a make-yourself-at-home atmosphere.

“We were inspired by visiting food parks and food halls around the country,” Andrea Halperin said in the press release. “We’re bringing our favorite elements from those experiences together, focusing on making our guests feel at home.” 

Beyond making guests feel welcome because the Halperins are parents to school-age children, they wanted to make sure that this was a place for the whole family to gather.

“It was a priority for us to create an experience where adults can enjoy themselves but also to ensure that kids feel entertained and have the space to run and play,” Joshua Halperin said. “Ultimately, our vision is to create a sense of community. A place where locals can relax and connect with each other.”

To accomplish that feat, the Halperins are bringing the food park experience to the backyard.  

The Backyard will feature lounge and table seating on a covered patio and will also have Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, hammocks, yard games and more on the lawn space. String lights will hang all over, bringing the place to life when the sun sets, making it perfect for live music or even movie night. 

Although the environment is paramount to The Backyard's vision, the concept doesn't work without the food to accompany it. 

According to the press release, the location will be able to house six food vendors at a time, allowing guests a good amount of diversity to choose from, while the open kitchen feature of The Backyard will give guests a 24-tap selection of craft beers, wines and more dispensed using self-pour technology, an element that the Halperins are excited about.

“The ease and convenience of helping yourself (using the self-pour technology) feels just like a backyard gathering," Joshua Halperin said. "The guest is in control of tasting, selecting and perfecting their perfect pour.” 

Another unique element of Ocoee's soon-arriving gathering spot is its streamlined checkout experience. Guests will be able to use a single check for all the offerings at The Backyard. This single-check process should make it much quicker to not only take advantage of the multiple vendors but also expedite the payment portion of the process when it’s time to head home.

The Backyard is located at 2214 West Rd. in Ocoee, just off S.R. 429 — conveniently near the West Orange Trail — and for more information, visit its website, thebkyd.com.