Popular burger-and-brew chain Ford’s Garage is expected to open in Viera’s booming Borrows West dining, retail and entertainment development in July.
Locals who have been waiting for casual dining restaurant Ford’s Garage to open in Viera can stop by for a food fill-up starting this summer.
The restaurant chain, which offers prime burgers and craft beers in a dining area with the look and feel of a 1920s-era service station, is adding its 25th location at 5480 Lake Andrew Drive in the growing Borrows West development south of Viera Boulevard and west of Interstate 95.
The 9,300-square-foot, one-story restaurant is expected to open in July, said Lisa Longest, the director of marketing for Tampa-based hospitality company 23 Restaurant Services, the Florida operator of 19 Ford’s Garage locations.
“We are excited to become a part of the community,” Longest said.
Founded in 2012, Ford’s Garage opened its first restaurant in Fort Myers, near the winter home of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford. It’s the only restaurant chain licensed to use Ford branding and memorabilia, including its iconic blue oval logo. Franchising started in 2015, and Ford’s Garage now has locations in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Texas.
At the 272 seat Viera location, guests will find vintage Ford vehicles on display as well as fixtures, gas pumps and other automobile-related memorabilia.
Servers and bartenders wear auto shop uniforms and use blue grease rags as napkins. Bathroom sinks are made from car tires, with fuel pump nozzles as faucets.
“It’s important that almost all your senses are affected when you come into one of our restaurants, whether it’s the sound or whether you’re seeing the decor,” Longest said.
Customers can watch sports on numerous big-screen TVs while they chow down on a dozen varieties of hamburgers made with half-pound Black Angus beef, bison or a vegetarian option on buns branded with the Ford’s Garage logo.
The restaurant also will offer several Burgers of Fame, named after local celebrities and community leaders such as Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Sheriff’s Dog Junny, and IHRA World Champion driver and Larsen Motorsports co-founder Elaine Larsen, Longest said.
Other menu items include popular American comfort foods such as meatloaf, ribs, chicken wings, chicken sandwiches and tenders, onion rings, and four styles of macaroni and cheese. For dessert, guests can try sweet treats such as Turtle Brownies, Key Lime Pie and Caramel Apple Cookie Skillet. Diners wanting lighter fare can enjoy fresh salads, grilled chicken and seafood items.
“There’s a little bit of something for everyone,” Longest said.
The Viera location’s center bar, complete with a hand-hammered copper bar top, will offer dozens of brands of beer, including creations from local breweries, Longest said. Ford’s also serves wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.
A Model A Ford will be suspended over the bar, and several other classic cars will be on display inside and at the outdoor patio area, Longest said.
The restaurant will employ 135 people, Longest said.
Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Ford’s Garage is the first of two 23 Restaurant Services eateries planned for Borrows West. As-yet unbuilt Tiki Docks Bar + Grill will offer seafood and burgers in a Polynesian setting, Longest said.
Scott Miller, the executive vice president of sales, marketing and community development for The Viera Company, welcomed Ford’s Garage “and their fun and nostalgic environment with great burgers and drinks.”
“We increasingly view good food as an amenity to the community and having a Florida-based restaurant that is new to the Space Coast and that serves high-quality casual food and drinks will be a welcomed dining addition for both our residents and our visitors alike,” Miller stated in an email.
For more information, go to fordsgarageusa.com or call 321-405-3673.
