- November 14, 2024
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After 15 months of hurricane repairs, the original Houligan's Sports Grille in Ormond Beach officially reopened on Monday, Jan. 29, much to the community's delight apparent in the busy scene at the restaurant.
Owner Tim Curtis said it was one of the greatest store openings he's ever seen.The store saw a wait from when they opened at 11 a.m. until they closed that night. Curtis, who has been an Ormond Beach resident for the last 38 years, said people came up to him to thank him for reopening and said it felt like a "family reunion."
Their motto for the reopening? "Welcome Home."
“Our guests take such pride in their store and it is," Curtis said. "It’s just a really, really neat feeling.”
“It’s not about the money. It’s about the people and that’s why we persevered."
Tim Curtis, owner of Houligan's
Houligan's had been closed since Hurricane Matthew due to water damage. Shortly after the hurricane, Curtis brought in an industrial hygienist to inspect the restaurant. The hygienist told him the space had to be brought down to the bare concrete.
The restaurant needed new plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, etc. Basically, everything needed to go. Of course, the restoration of Houligan's presented challenges and they lost some memories.
However, it was all worth it.
“It’s not about the money," Curtis said. "It’s about the people and that’s why we persevered."
Houligan's has been a presence in Ormond Beach for the past 28 years. For Ormond Beach resident Ray Salazar, having wings and a beer at Houligan's was part of his weekend routine. He said he's glad to have the restaurant back.
“It’s outstanding," Salazar said. "If we wanted a Houligan’s fix we’d go to the International Speedway Boulevard or out by Rossmeyer’s, but this one was special. This was the first."
Curtis said everywhere he went in the last 15 months, people asked him when he would re-open. Now that he has, the support from the community has been incredible, he said. Houligan's is more than just a restaurant to him — he said it's part of Ormond Beach history.
“That is part of the heartbeat of Ormond Beach," Curtis said.
