- February 8, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
The Port Orange City Council has approved to find a temporary food service option while looking for a more permanent replacement for The The Tavern at Cypress Head restaurant, which officially closed its doors on Sunday, Aug. 6.
On Tuesday, Aug. 15, the council decided to give permission to City Manger Jake Johansson to bid for short-term food service solutions then go out for request for proposals for a long-term solution at the Cypress Head Golf Course.
Johansson said there have been multiple people who have come to him asking to be part of the short-term solution until the city can get an RFP.
"I would like to see about working a long-term arrangement, similar arrangement-wise, to the one we just had," Johansson said, adding the city may need to "have a little more flexibility on what that group that goes in there can do...I think we start with baby steps and then expand."
The privately-owned restaurant, which served the city-owned golf course, had closed after about 21 months of being in operation.
"The Tavern gave absolutely no indication that they were bailing on us in the middle of the night," Mayor Don Burnette wrote in an email. "It was a real surprise. If they were struggling, I wish they had approached us in advance."
Burnette said there was a food truck in place at the golf course to serve patrons this past weekend. The city announced on their Facebook page the Southern State of Mind food truck was in operation at the golf course on Wednesday, Aug. 9 through Saturday, Aug. 12.
"I thought that was great. At least that's offering some service," John Cameron, chairman of the Golf Advisory Board. "So I think the city did a great job in responding immediately to get something out there to help."
However, Cameron said he would like to get more information on what will happen next, something he added golfers should be informed on as well.
In an email, obtained through a public records request, to the city from Tom Smith, one of the restaurant mangers, indicates the restaurant had financially struggled for months.
"We have come to the conclusion that it is not a profitable venture for us," the email continues.
The manger wrote that special events and promotions of the restaurant weren't enough to "ever be able to break even with this venue."
According to the email, thousands of dollars were lost during the past 19 months, which led to the eventual closure of the restaurant. The manager wrote that all personal property had been removed and and any city property had been returned to the restaurant.
According to city officials, the restaurant had been awarded a competitively-solicited contracted from the city. Kemper Sports, the Golf Course Manager for the city, had previously operated the food and beverage operations at the golf course.
Johansson and the City Council agreed that Kemper Sports would not be returning to take the place of The Tavern.
“We will do a complete inventory of the facility and clean up quickly to get the restaurant back in working order. In the meantime, we are investigating some short-term options to feed the golfers and ensure all the events are covered from a food service standpoint,” Susan Lovallo, Parks and Recreation Director said in the press release. “This is a setback for the city golf course but we can work through it and get back in step.”
