- November 21, 2024
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Doug Rand is a clam-digging, pizza-making, ice cream-scooping, doughnut-cutting, restaurant-working business owner from Boston. He and his wife of thirty-three years, Lillian Rand, have owned Doug and Lil’s Potato Patch in DeLand for over twenty-five years and Billy’s Tap Room & Grill going into their twelfth year. After years of running two restaurants in different cities, the couple felt that it was time to sell and enjoy life.
“The restaurant business is not easy but it is rewarding. It’s one of the few businesses where you can get instant gratification if you do a good job.”
DOUG RAND, former owner of Billy's Tap Room & Grill
“I’m seventy-four years old and starting to feel like it,” she said.
In 1977, the couple celebrated their move to Florida at Billy’s but Doug’s career in the restaurant business began with Mister-Donut which he bought from his father at the age of twenty-three.
“I can turn thirty-six doughnuts in five seconds,” he said.
Eventually, the Rands purchased Doug and Lil’s Potato Patch which seats fifty-eight and serves breakfast and lunch. They had differing opinions regarding their next venture. Doug always wanted a dinner restaurant while Lillian wanted to spend time with her husband. Little did she know that they would be buying Billy’s where the couple would spend a great deal of time together working the business and building clientele.
In 2010, the restaurant closed due to foreclosure and the Rands notified the bank that they were interested in purchasing the business. After failing to reach an agreement initially, they were pleasantly surprised when the bank contacted them to let them know it was still available. They purchased the restaurant and reopened in May 2011.
“The restaurant business is not easy but it is rewarding,” Doug said. “It’s one of the few businesses where you can get instant gratification if you do a good job.”
Patrons of Billy’s have always been guaranteed quality steaks and seafood along with excellent service—all staples of a successful establishment.
“Seventy percent of the equation is offering good service,” he said. “I tell everyone I hire you can always replace a bad meal but you cannot replace bad service.”
Friends, family and former employees returned to enjoy a meal at Billy’s and say farewell to the Rands.
“I came along in 1946 and my parents were already eating here,” Chris Wickersham said. “This has been a piece of our family and heritage for years. We will definitely miss it. More than that, we will miss Doug and his wife. They are wonderful people.”
For several years, Rand has suggested that Billy’s is for sale. He wanted to sell to a local business owner, preferably with experience in the restaurant business. Developer Bill Jones brought his crew to Billy’s which made the Rands feel that he was serious about the purchase. Both parties successfully reached an agreement and Jones bought the restaurant.
“Knowing it’s the right person, the right buyer, made it worthwhile,” Rand said.
One of the concerns expressed by several patrons was not knowing if the new owner would keep Billy’s vintage look which harkens back to the Rockefeller days and racing on the beach.
“I really hope they keep the same feel,” Lloyd Bowers said. “It’s basically had the same look since the 1920s and everyone loves that.”
Employees also questioned what the future without the Rands would bring. People that work at Billy’s claim they are like family and will miss their customers. Michelle Spicer has been a server at the restaurant for twenty-two years.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “I’ve been with them since they reopened and with two other owners. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s a family. I have a lot of regular customers and I’m going to miss them so much. Some of them are getting older and I don’t want to leave them.”
Tears came to Doug’s eyes as he talked about what Billy’s has meant to him. The Rands said even though they may have had to buy tacos on their way home from working at their restaurants, they always had fun together.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “It’s time to move on and watch other people do it. My feet are sore.”
