Clayton Park - Daytona Beach News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH ― During the COVID-19 ban on dine-in service at Florida restaurants in 2020, Gary Yeomans Ford Lincoln helped keep popular burger joint the Brickyard Lounge in business by placing huge takeout orders for employees. Jeromie Allan, the auto dealership's executive manager, said he ordered more than 100 burgers to go "at least five to six times."

Allan, along with his wife Annette, are now the Brickyard's new owners.

The Ormond Beach couple bought the 30-year-old restaurant from its founders Renny and Penney Miles in a transaction that closed Sept. 5, The Daytona Beach News-Journal has learned.

Renny Miles announced the pending deal in late August, but declined to say who the soon-to-be new owners were. With interior renovations finally nearing completion, Allan said he and his wife can now confirm that they were the Brickyard's mystery buyers. He declined to disclose how much they paid.

The couple did not buy the building, but agreed to sign a new two-year lease with an option to buy.

A banner on the side of the distinctive A-frame building that houses the Brickyard states that it would be reopening Oct. 1.

Allan on Thursday said the new target date is the first week of November.

"We've put in all-new A/C and all-new kitchen equipment and there's going to be a much better bathroom situation that it's had," said Allan. "We're going to be redoing the tile floor, too."

"The good news is that we've really cleaned the place up," he said.

The general contractor for the project is Crunch Construction. The planned improvements include relocating the restroom fixtures to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, confirmed Susan Cerbone, a spokeswoman for the city.

Allan said he and his wife, who will be overseeing the Brickyard as operating manager, have also installed new coolers and refurbished all the seating in the dining area.

One of the things Allan said he and his wife made sure not to change was the restaurant's legendary grill, which dates back to the 1970s when it was The Flame Lounge, which also was known for its burgers.

The new owners have kept the restaurant's extensive collection of NASCAR memorabilia, including photos of many of the stock car race drivers who have been customers over the years.

The Brickyard's fans included the late NASCAR Chairman and CEO Bill France Jr., son of the stock car racing association's founder Bill France Sr.

Allan said he and his wife have retained all seven of the Brickyard's current employees and have added four more who used to work at the restaurant.

"It's going to be a modern-day Brickyard with the same staff and the same great burgers," Allan said.

Amber MacMahon, a server at the Brickyard for the past two years, has been promoted to manager.

"I love the new owners," she said. "I love the ideas they have including expanding to add more locations. We also plan on doing special events in the future." MacMahon said she is anxious to get going.

"I can't wait," she said. "We have plenty of people waiting for us to reopen."

The Brickyard under its previous owners was only open five days a week. Allan said he and his wife plan to keep it open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. "We will be offering Brickyard brunches on the weekends," he added.

Renny and Penney Miles in April announced plans to close the restaurant at the end of August if they couldn't find a buyer by then.

Allan, a longtime customer, said he immediately headed to the Brickyard for lunch on the day The News-Journal article was published to inquire about possibly buying the restaurant.

"I wanted to save the place. I spoke to Renny and made an offer on the spot. He gave me an asking price that was sky high, but after a few months he finally agreed to lower it," Allan said.

Allan has never owned a restaurant before, but his mom owned cafes in Kansas when he was growing up. "I worked in restaurants as a young man," he said, adding, "It's been a dream of mine to have a restaurant for a long time."

Annette Allan has extensive management experience and previously worked in the aircraft industry, he said.

Before it moved to the Daytona International Auto Mall next to the Interstate 95/LPGA Boulevard interchange in November 2001, Gary Yeomans Ford used to be across the street from the Brickyard at 740 West International Speedway Blvd.

Clayton Park

This is the new logo for the Brickyard Lounge restaurant at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach that new owners Jeromie and Annette Allan plan to introduce when they reopen the popular burger joint the first week of November 2023 after extensively renovating the 62-year-old standalone A-frame building.

This is the new menu for the Brickyard Lounge & Grill at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach, which is set to reopen 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. The 30-year-old NASCAR-themed burger joint was recently sold by founders Renny and Penney Miles to Jeromie and Annette Allan.

Clayton Park/News-Journal

Workers paint checkered flags on one of the new support columns for the awning over the entrance to the Brickyard Lounge & Grill at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. The NASCAR-themed burger joint is set to reopen after two months of renovation at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 13.

David Tucker/News-Journal

Construction workers put the finishing touches on one of the newly installed support columns for the awning over the entrance to the Brickyard Lounge & Grill at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. The 30-year-old NASCAR-themed burger joint was recently sold to local couple Jeromie and Annette Allan who plan to reopen it after extensively renovating the interior at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13.

Clayton Park/News-Journal

New owner Jeromie Allan checks out the interior of the Brickyard Lounge & Grill at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach as renovation work nears completion on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. The 30-year-old NASCAR-themed burger joint was recently sold by its founders to Allan and his wife Annette. Promising the "same great burgers and same great staff," the couple plan to reopen the eatery at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13.

David Tucker/News-Journal

General Manager Amber MacMahon and Kitchen Manager Mike Gurin set up the kitchen at the newly renovated Brickyard Lounge & Grill at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach, on Wednesday, Nov, 8, 2023. The iconic burger joint is set to reopen after being closed two months for construction on Monday, Nov. 13, starting at 11 a.m.

David Tucker/News-Journal

Amber MacMahon, left, and Mike Gurin check out the interior of the Brickyard Lounge & Grill as renovation of the 30-year-old Daytona Beach burger joint nears completion on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. MacMahon is the new general manager. Gurin is the new kitchen manager. The NASCAR-themed restaurant at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. is set to reopen 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 8.

Clayton Park/News-Journal

A burger with fries and coleslaw basket at the Brickyard Lounge & Grill at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

Clayton Park/News-Journal

A plate of chicken wings at the Brickyard Lounge & Grill at 747 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

Clayton Park/News-Journal