To the shock of both customers and employees, this Ormond Beach dining fixture of nearly two decades has closed.
D.B. Pickles, located at 400 S. Nova Road, permanently shut its doors Monday under the ownership of Michael Dekorte, according to the Florida Division of Corporations. The closure, effective immediately, was announced through an early morning text message sent to staff July 21, according to a former D.B. Pickles employee’s recent Facebook post.
“Everyone, with great sadness, and my apologies for sending so late, I am informing you that we can no longer stay in business,” the text reads. “The extraordinary costs of repairing, and lately the replacing of high value equipment, and now roof top AC replacement is just not feasible, the hole is just too deep.”
Upon visiting the restaurant Monday morning, customers were met with a sign taped to the front door confirming its closure and thanking patrons for their support.
D.B. Pickles Ormond Beach employees left without pay, post states
Dekorte’s text message also stated plans to file for bankruptcy, according to the employee’s Facebook post, listing each employee in the filing, as insufficient funds have prevented payroll from being met during the most recent pay period. The restaurant’s employees can expect to be contacted by a court-appointed trustee in the near future, the message continues.
“I am sorry, I tried, and hoped to find a way to pull through the slow season, but it’s just too high of a hill to climb,” the owner’s text continues. “Thank you to all for your support and contributions to help make Pickles a success, many of you have so many years here, thank you!”
A GoFundMe to support D.B. Pickles’ employees was created Monday afternoon. Of the fundraiser’s $88,000 goal, just over $500 had been raised as of Tuesday morning.
“DB Pickles, a unique deli and bakery, has been a staple in our community since the early 2000s. Overnight, our team of 22 dedicated workers lost our jobs when the restaurant closed unexpectedly,” the GoFundMe reads.
“Many of us have worked together for years, building close relationships with each other and with our loyal customers. The sudden closure has left us without our paychecks for this week, and we’re all facing immediate financial challenges as we try to cover rent, groceries, and other essentials. We’re reaching out for support as we navigate the next few months, which is how long we expect it may take to find new jobs, with it being slow season,” the statement continues, noting funds raised will be evenly split between workers.
D.B. Pickles original owners react to closure
D.B Pickles opened in 2006 under former owner Pete Polzella, before being sold to Dekorte roughly two years ago. Polzella’s son, Stephen, shared a statement on social media following news of the restaurant’s shuttering.
“My family’s restaurant, DB Pickles, closed its doors today. My father sold it a couple years ago and the new owner is now filing bankruptcy. It’s very sad for us, because that was my father’s brainchild and he put in so many long hours making it a decent place for families in Ormond to dine at for nearly two decades,” his Facebook post reads.
“It was turning a profit when he sold it but if you don’t have the drive and experience a restaurant can turn on you very quickly. When there is no longer a person involved to constantly make sure standards are set at the expense of their free time and general wellbeing it will show almost immediately to your customers and employees alike,” the post continues.
The News-Journal reached out to D.B. Pickles and a former employee through social media and did receive a response before publishing. This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Local restaurant permanently closes after nearly 20 years in Ormond Beach
Reporting by Helena Perray, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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