- February 25, 2025
After seven years of sitting empty, the space at 31 W. Granada Blvd., opened just in time for 2015.
In the rest of the world, the 1930s might only exist in history books and classic movies. But in Ormond Beach, the post-prohibition era of speakeasies and art deco is very much alive — thanks to the new 31 Supper Club.
After sitting empty for seven years, the art deco-style building at 31 W. Granada Blvd., is now filled with items from the 1930s and its developer’s, Bill Jones, personal collection.
“A bar we have came from a speakeasy in 1935,” club owner Kevin Wakefield said, “There is an art deco fire place from 1931. We have over 30 pieces of art that are original from the era, and have been in Bill’s collection for quite some time. Bill is a big art deco collector, so it’s as much of an art museum as it is a club.”
The artistic pieces also serve as a homage to the era and a specific New York nightclub in the 1930s called Copacabana.
“Because they were just coming out the prohibition, the media was not big on putting club names in the paper,” Wakefield said. “One owner [of the Copacabana) got wise and put this crazy zebra print in his club so it would be recognized. As much as it is an homage to the 1930s, it is also a homage to Ormond Beach. We’re featuring the classic works of artist Frederick Dana Marsh to give a bit of the city’s history.”
Entertainment inside the club includes piano acts, jazz musicians and post-prohibition icon impersonators like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra.
“31 is meant to let you take a step back into time,” Wakefield said. “We want to keep it fresh with things that are not normal to the area. We’re really trying to set the tone for an era gone by.”
Wakefield said he is proud to work with Bill Jones, who has started multiple restaurants in the past, but also the clubs’ General Manger Sloan Bowers and Chef Mark Pullin. Pullin will be delivering classic American cuisine in a kitchen that keeps things so fresh, they don’t even own a can opener.
“The food really speaks for itself,” Wakefield said. “We’ve got the best of the best when it comes to fine dining. I think the initial thought is that 31 is going to lend to more mature crowd. But we are focusing on craft cocktail culture, and that is appealing to a broader audience.”
The club opened its doors on New Years Eve, and Wakefield was surprised to see how quickly they sold out of reservations.
“Before we even made the announcement we were almost sold out,” Wakefield said.”People called with interest two months before we were opening up. We were 70 percent booked before we made announcement and then booked in the next 48 hours. It’s an atmosphere that is fun and entertaining, not pretentious or stuffy. We’re excited to see what the market responds too.”
31 Supper Club is open at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit 31supperclub.com for details.
