Vintage Ford Themed Restaurant Opening in Florida
Restaurants modeled after a gas station feature classic Ford memorabilia and even a Model T.
In 2012, a burger restaurant in opened in Fort Meyers, Florida named Ford’s Garage. The location was fitting, as it was just minutes away from Henry Ford’s once winter home. In 2013, the restaurant tried to trademark the name but was denied, due to it being too similar to a certain automotive manufacturing giant. However, Ford caught wind of the application and sent somebody down to Florida to check out the restaurant.
The restaurant’s concept was of a 1920s gas station which used Ford memorabilia, photos, and even a genuine Model T to create its unique atmosphere. After seeing the place, Ford got in touch.
“I got a note on my desk that Ford Motor Company had called,” Ford’s Garage Restaurant Group founder, Mike McGuigan recalled to News Press. “I called back, bracing for the cease and desist.” However, it wasn’t the legal department that answered, it was Ford’s licensing department and they liked what the company was doing. Ford’s Garage entered into a licensing agreement with Ford itself. As such, they had the company’s blessing, and were able to use the iconic Blue Oval logo and imagery
Since then, Ford’s Garage has built 12 establishments along the Gulf Coast of Florida, as well as one in Dearborn, Michigan near Ford’s headquarters. Each location has a wealth of rare Ford items from oil cans to classic rides.
According to the Daytona Beach News Journal, they’re about to add another location in Daytona.
The 10,000 square-foot location will seat 280 diners, and lots of cool Ford items.
Ford’s Garage is hoping to keep growing. They recently raised $30 million in equity financing with a goal of building a total of 50 restaurants and possibly even take the company public.
That’s an ambitious plan based on an automotive brand and nostalgia. That may be why it works though. After all, in a time when technology is invasive, going for food somewhere that remembers it wasn’t always like this is refreshing. Plus, anyplace where you can be surrounded by vintage Ford iconography and memorabilia sounds very appealing. Count us in.
Photos: Ford’s Garage
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