- December 26, 2024
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Since opening in late December, owner Slate Gray's vision for Rockefeller's in Ormond Beach has been to create a place for locals to hangout.
The restaurant, located at 142 E. Granada Blvd. in Fountain Square Village, has hosted almost 100 events and themed nights already, he said, ranging from networking opportunities to EDM dance nights.
"We've pretty much had three, four, five events a week since we've opened up," Gray said. "... It always feels like we're either finishing or in the middle of, or starting a new event. We're all about the community."
Prior to becoming Rockefeller's, a name Gray chose to pay tribute to Ormond's history, Gray used to own a smoothie bar in the same space. When he decided to close the smoothie bar, he thought he'd have Rockefeller's up and running in about three months.
It took a year instead. Gray spent a portion of that time visiting different restaurants and bars in Orlando to find inspiration. Ormond has never had a lot of nightlife, Gray said.
"If the city is going to keep growing, then why not have a place where we can go and spend a night late at — a safe place," Gray said.
Rockefeller's serves beer and wine, as well sangria, wine-based cocktails and mocktails. As for food, Rockefeller's offers tacos on Tuesdays for Taco Tuesday, and other small plates. A full kitchen is coming soon, and the restaurant will offer pizza, burgers, chicken sandwiches and other street eats.
An outdoor deck is also in the works for Rockefeller's, and once that's built, the business will be open for lunch and dinner.
Gray co-owns Rockefeller's with his father, Kevin Gray. He said people come to Rockefeller's to socialize — whether they're his son's age, or his.
"We're catering to both crowds," Kevin Gray said. "We're catering to my crowd and catering to his crowd."
The live music has been "killing it," he added. On April 16 at 7 p.m., local musician Tim Rivers will perform at Rockefeller's.
Slate Gray said he liked that Rockefeller's is providing people with a place to go to after frequenting a local restaurant.
"I like people not having to leave Ormond Beach to have a good time," Slate Gray said.
Once the deck and kitchen are in place, Rockefeller's will give people a place to go to both day and night, Kevin Gray said.
"This is really what Ormond Beach needed," Kevin Gray said. "... There's just been a ton of people that just come in and then they'll come back the next night."
Rockefeller's is open Monday-Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
