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Take a step back into history.
Billy’s is just like coming home again.
Owner
Maria Reisch,
"Chef"
Clay Pletcher and General Manager Robert Wulfekuhl
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Reservations accepted.
Purchase Gift Certificates by either calling, faxing or emailing
Fax us at 386-672-5516.
You will love the ambiance of the original solid maple bar and mahogany paneling. Much
like the Oak Room at the Plaza in New York or an English neighborhood
restaurant, which is simply alive with 1920 atmosphere and warm
congeniality. Old photos, period art and sketches, along with
memorabilia, are reminiscent of another time. Dining at Billy’s in
Ormond Beach is a landmark experience. This historic restaurant, established by Billy and Elizabeth
MacDonald in 1922, has the reputation as a place where good friends
meet, dine, and enjoy the spirits of good times.
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You and your friends will join all the locals.
Patrons of Billy’s can choose to entertain there.
Billy’s has two beautiful Banquet Rooms for private parties, wedding
rehearsals and receptions, office meetings and parties, luncheons,
dinners, and cocktail parties. You name it, WE CAN DO IT! Give us a call
at (386) 672-1910. We will help you make all the arrangements.
If you enjoy a taste of the grape with your dinner,
Billy’s has a fine selection of domestic and imported wines. Our professional bartenders prepare the best cocktails in the county.
Hours |
Lunch 11:30 - 5:00PM |
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Twilight 3:00 - 5:30 PM |
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Twilight 4:30 - 5:30 PM |
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Dinner 5:00- 10:00 PM |
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Closed Sundays
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The History of
Billy’s Tap Room and Grill
BILLY’S TAP ROOM & GRILL actually began as a TEA ROOM
on the property of the beautiful Ormond Hotel in 1922. The owners of the
hotel knew Billy MacDonald, in New York City, where he was the manager of
all lounges within the ASTOR & PLAZA HOTELS. They asked Billy to come to
Ormond Beach. The hotel opened each year the Sunday after Halloween, and
remained open through Easter Sunday. Liking the area so well, Billy
purchased the building, currently known as Billy’s Tap Room & Grill,
at 58 E. Granada Boulevard in 1926. BILLY’S began as a Gift
Shop/Tea Room.
Before Billy MacDonald’s purchase of the property at 58 E. Granada
Boulevard, as best, that can be determined, the actual building was
constructed in 1910 and operated as a Drug Store. The MacDonald family moved
upstairs and remained there until 1939, when they purchased the property,
currently known as the "MacDonald House," for $3,900, to be their
home.
BILLY’S sold fruits, jellies, newspapers, sandwiches, and gifts
during the business’s first years. As time went on, BILLY’S produced
homemade beer. Additionally, as quoted by Frank MacDonald, the oldest son
and ultimate impresario of BILLY’S TAP ROOM, "There was a
button behind the bar. They would step on it and doors would open and there
were slot machines. In the mid 1930’s the gift shop shrank and we served
dinners. By 1937, the place was a true pub, serving draft beer for a nickel
and Manhattan’s for a quarter."
Rita Cooney, a MacDonald daughter, told us that "During the war
everything changed and the WACS were at the Ormond and Coquina Hotels. They
loved BILLY’S and jammed it."
Billy Jr., the second son of Billy & Elizabeth MacDonald still
resides in Ormond Beach. He was a bartender during the 1940’s, when his
father had a heart attack, reducing his involvement in the business. Billy,
Jr. explained "After the war, we went into the food business, although
we still made our biggest profit from the liquor. But in the mid 1950’s,
when the cut-rate liquor stores moved in, it got rough and we went into the
food business in a big way."
By the 1960’s, the original 20’ x 60’ room, with its 1939 expansion
of another 26’ x 80’ room, opened the upstairs for the ROTARY, LIONS,
and other clubs.
Frank and Billy, Jr., decided to retire in 1985 and sold the business to
a couple from New Jersey, the Youngs. One year later they then sold the
business to Kathy Jones. In 1990, the business was sold to Monk and Joyce
Noell.
The Noells considered BILLY’S "a bar with a
restaurant." Monk did not want to operate a bar, so he made the
decision to make BILLY’S "a restaurant with a bar." Joyce
passed away in 1994. Two years later, Monk married a girl from Leesburg,
Florida, whom he had known since 1945, Jackie Tate McCoy.
Monk and Jackie owned BILLY’S TAP ROOM & GRILL under the
management of Brad Disch, originally hired by Frank
MacDonald in 1984. An additional store-front was acquired at BILLY’S
and affectionately named the "Shockney Room," in honor of Monk’s
uncle Ted Shockney.
In 1999, the upstairs banquet room was extensively renovated, remodeled,
and awarded the name "MacDonald Room" in honor of the MacDonald
family. Both banquet rooms have retained their historic décor, with deep
rich wood finishes and an extensive collection of photographs depicted the
early history of Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach. These rooms are used for
banquets, parties, meetings, luncheons, dinners, and many special events.
In May of 2006, Monk and Jackie sold Billy's to Maria Reisch. Maria former owner of Old Salty's Inn
in Daytona Beach, met the criteria Monk and Jackie set forth to continue the standards of quality
service and menu selections that loyal customers have come to expect from Billy's. Maria, originally from
Holland, has worked in the television and record industry there prior to acquiring Old Salty's Inn and looks
forward to working with long time managers Robert Wulfekuhl and Clay Pletcher. "Their tenure of leadership and management skills
are unmatched within the restaurant industry here in Volusia County and together we will focus on business
continuity" says Maria.
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