IT WON’T BE LONG YEAH, YEAH, YEAH
T
HE PRESS RELEASE
does not mince words. “Ace
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American outpost of the celebrated
London-based motor-diner (stet), is
rolling toward its scheduled spring
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The Ace expects to draw over 400,
people to downtown annually.
“Much larger than its London
namesake, Ace Cafe Orlando spans
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service restaurant, two kitchens,
four bars, a coffee bar, a communal
counter, a mezzanine that overlooks
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and private and semi-private spaces for
groups both large and small. Rounding
out the offerings inside the Ace are
Peter ‘The Bear’
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branded Ace gear and apparel); a
BMW motorcycle dealer; Dainese
D-Store (Italy’s most famous high-
tech riding gear and accessories
brand); EagleRider motorcycle
rental company (the world’s largest
motorcycle tourism company); and
Stonebridge Motorgallery...
“There is... a nod to Ace Cafe’s
roots with authentic British favorites
like Bangers & Mash, Fish & Chips,
and Chicken Curry. A carefully-
curated list of house-made specialty
craft cocktails, fresh juices, Super
Martinis, wines, cold-pressed and hot
spiked coffee drinks, spiked and non-
spiked fresh gelato milkshakes, and an
amazing beer list of craft, domestic
and imported brews across 104 taps
headline a bountiful array of adult
beverages available from four fully-
stocked bars. The Ace is also family-
friendly, complete with sharable
appetizers, fresh super food salads,Gluten-free options, and a children’s
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Joe’s BBQ, the Kansas City-based
BBQ restaurant.”
Um ,yes, right. I can’t help
wondering what the 1930s Rockers
would have thought of the
“carefully-curated list of house-made
specialty craft cocktails” and the
“would-be enthusiasts who want to
take a rental spin on the weekend”
for whom the Orlando mega-café
is intended to cater with its family-
friendly chain shops.
Actually, I don’t have to wonder. I
think I know.
If you showed up in Orlando
dressed like a real Rocker and riding
a real café racer, nobody there would
know what they were looking at. The
Ace Café, in my mind, is solidly tied
to its time and place. Then again, it’s
always good to see more investment in
motorcycle-themed and targeted retail.
So my reaction is ambivalent.
Perhaps if they’d called it the
Deuce Café.
Oh, and I suspect it won’t be long
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here in Australia. Probably with an
Ettamogah Pub included.GRIZZLING
“Ah, stuff it. Let’s just go home and
have a beer in the backyard...” (Signs
at the top of the Eungella Range).Introduced at the German GP
in 1961 (photo), the concept of the
“Raincoat Girl” eventually evolved
into the “Umbrella Girls” of today.Just how many aces does
the original London café
have up its sleeve?