- November 25, 2024
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It’s a dream that took a lot of work and planning to come true. And a lot of love.
Kevin Wakefield and his employees supplied the work and planning for the recently-opened Ormond Garage Brewing at 48 W. Granada Blvd.
The love was provided by Caley Hayes, who supplied the restaurant/brewery with antique automobiles and parts left over from the lifetime hobby of her grandfather, Charles “Bud” Pike Jr., who died in September 2018 at age 79.
Hayes calls it a personal tribute.
“He was my best friend,” she said. “We went everywhere together.”
In addition to antique automobiles, there are shelves made from gas tanks, foot rests from car bumpers, purse hooks from clutch parts, mirrors made from a windshield, etc., all retrieved from Pike’s former home.
Just inside the front door are shelves made from antique wheels displaying items such an oil can and jar of nuts and bolts, taken directly from Pike’s garage.
Hayes’ voice starts to break when she tells of currently selling the home in Ormond Beach where she was raised by her grandparents. But she said she now feels close to her grandfather at the Ormond Garage, where she helps out as a server and bartender.
“I thank Kevin for letting me be part of this,” she said.
Well-known in the area, Pike was founder of the Volusia Region Antique Automobile Club of America and was involved with events such as the annual Gaslight Parade.
HISTORY IN A MODERN SETTING
Ormond Garage Brewery combines the modern trend of locally-brewed beer with a setting that reflects the racing history of the city, a dream Wakefield, owner of Grind Gastropub and Tiki Bar across the street, had since 2015.
“We’re celebrating city history,” he said. “It’s important to me that we do justice to the history of racing.”
Ormond Garage Brewing opens at 11 a.m., serving lunch and dinner, and will stay open until 11 p.m. or later. Adam Bolwerk, head brewer, said they will have a few staple beers as well as rotating, seasonal, beers. They will start serving their own brewed beer in about a week and in the meantime have several guest beers.
They plan on live music occasionally, and Wakefield wants to bring in bands from outside the area.
Hayes, who also works as an event designer in the area, will help with events.
“We hope to get a crowd here during the Gaslight Parade,” she said.
A GRANDFATHER’S WISH
Bud Pike drove his granddaughter, Hayes, to school every day, and when they passed the Ormond Garage, he told her with a wink that she could buy it for him someday. When going through his things after he died, Hayes was amazed to find a blueprint showing how he would convert the garage to a museum. She’s now helping his plans come true.
“I think people will feel the history.”
CALEY HAYES, who supplied the auto decor
Hayes said the business will keep history alive for future generations.
Above the bar are a 1903 Ford and 1911 Ford Model T Speedster and out in back is a 1930s-era Ford. All of them were raced on the beach in the early 2000s when the world-famous time-trials of 100 years ago were recreated.
In addition to memorabilia supplied by Hayes, the “Rocket,” a replica of a 1906 racecar on loan from the city, is on display.
“I think people will feel the history,” Hayes said.
POSTCARDS OF THANKS
Hayes tells how Paga, as she called her grandfather, shared his love of restoring old cars with not only the family, but everyone he met.
“He turned everybody into a car enthusiast,” she said. “It was his passion.”
Her grandfather always sent postcards, so when he was sick, Hayes asked, through Facebook, for friends to send him postcards. He received them from all over the world, with many of the writers thanking Pike for introducing them to car restoration, which sometimes helped them overcome problems. Pike shed tears when he read each one.
“It still gives me goosebumps to think about it,” she said. “They would say, ‘You changed my life.’”
