Brickyard Lounge & Grill’s final day of operation at its current location is quickly approaching, so we asked readers where they think the burger joint would thrive in the future.
The longtime favorite among local burger enthusiasts announced earlier this month that it will temporarily close on Jan. 25, following the end of its lease.
“This isn’t goodbye — just a pause,” the restaurant’s recent Facebook post states.
The iconic A-frame building, where the NASCAR-themed eatery has operated for more than 30 years, was not sold, property owners Rick and Denise Hilliard confirmed, though Brickyard’s owners, who signed a two-year lease in 2023 with first right of refusal, are planning to relocate, according to the restaurant’s official Facebook page.
Ahead of its closure, we asked News-Journal readers where they could see the beloved restaurant flourishing. The online poll, which opened Friday, Jan. 16, and closed Monday, Jan. 19, included the most popular suggestions from social media, as well as an option to submit your own.
Over the weekend, votes poured in, and the results revealed one clear winner.
Zappi’s Italian Garden, which closed over the summer after more than a decade in Daytona Beach, took the top spot with nearly 47% of the votes. The Beach Street eatery was often recognized by its large outdoor piazza — a cozy escape for downtown diners — doused in florals and string lights.
D.B. Pickles, a dining fixture of nearly 20 years that abruptly shuttered in July, earned second place with about 39% of voters rooting for the 400 S. Nova Road restaurant in Ormond Beach.
The poll’s write-in option was the third most popular choice among readers — though suggestions varied from generic responses, like “New Smyrna Beach,” to former restaurants, like Beaches Daytona — followed by Alfie’s Restaurant, which wrapped up a near 40-year run in Ormond-by-the-Sea just months ago.
For information and updates on where Brickyard Lounge & Grill plans to reopen, visit facebook.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Where should Daytona’s Brickyard relocate? The results are in.
Reporting by Helena Perray, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
