- November 23, 2024
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The Polzellas have added a 4,000-square-foot dance hall and garden to their seven-year-old restaurant, on Nova Road.
BY MIKE CAVALIERE | ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Peter and Carol Polzella’s grand opening for the new 4,000-square-foot social hall at D.B. Pickle’s Deli & Bakery Restaurant isn’t until the end of March, but already three events have been booked there.
After nearly seven years of business (the restaurant will close out its sixth year in April), and citing a steady schedule of group luncheons and company meetings that take place there, Peter Polzella knew he needed more space.
“I’ve had to turn down a lot of private parties,” he said, “just because I’ve got to take care of the regular day-to-day business.”
Having groups reserve tables for parties of 20-30 is great, he said, but it also means making his regulars wait. So he’s turned groups away, which hurts, especially in this economy.
“We’re doing all the (renovations) ourselves, pretty much, me and my wife,” Polzella said, standing outside of his new hall, next door to D.B. Pickle’s, at 400 S. Nova Road.
The building, which used to be a bookstore, had been empty the past three or four years, he added, so they’re making some pretty major changes. For the past six weeks, they’ve been re-landscaping the outdoor garden, installing sprinklers, redoing the floors, and the walls, adding a bar, a lounge, a sound system and dance floor, wiring cable, installing wifi.
They’ve already put about $12,000 into changes. By the job’s end, Polzella expects they’ll be up to $25,000.
“I want it to be a show place,” he said — maybe not for “platinum weddings,” but nice. “For the average person. … I don’t think people should go into debt to get married.”
The venue seats about 150 people, and since D.B. owns the building and will also handle all of its catering, Polzella sees it becoming a more budget-friendly alternative to most other local banquet halls.
For an average 100-person wedding party, he says D.B. can host for about $8 less a head than most other venues. And those are numbers he’s comfortable with — he and his wife are not new to the catering game.
“(Catering for) 400 people offsite is tough, but we’re good at it,” he said. “So we’re going be a lot better right here, doing it at home. For me, it’s fun, and it’s exciting. And we’re proud of what we do. … This is just an expansion of the corporation, to give us more depth.”
A formal grand opening of the venue is planned for the end of March. Call 672-1931.
Party for Saint Patty
Local real-estate agent, home-builder, 50-year resident and author of 40-odd books, John Wine will host a Saint Patty’s Day Dinner and Dance 6 p.m. Friday, March 15, at D.B. Pickle’s' new reception hall.
The event will also serve as a public birthday celebration for Wine, who is also involved in the Coalition of Community People, a group that meets weekly to organize My Hope Daytona, an offshoot of the national Billy Graham outreach initiative.
Wine’s latest book, “Don’t Worry, Be Hopeful,” was published Tuesday, Feb. 26, on e-reader.
Entry is $15. RSVP by Friday, March 1. Call 631-7671.
