Former downtown Orlando venue and restaurant Ace Cafe looks to reopen in Sanford

"It's on, and it's official."

By Matthew Moyer on Thu, May 16, 2024 at 12:34 pm

Photo by Jen Cray

A latter-day Black Flag playing at the old downtown Ace Cafe.

Despite shuttering its downtown Orlando headquarters last year, Ace Cafe looks to have risen from the ashes — in Sanford.

"It's on, and it's official," read a post on the brand-spanking-new Ace Cafe Sanford Facebook account on Wednesday. The combination venue/restaurant/retail space and motorcycle enthusiasts hub will reopen at 115 N. Laurel Ave. in Sanford. The space was formerly Horstmeyer Farm & Garden.

Top brass from the former Ace Cafe in Orlando and Ace Cafe London — along with Sean Kelley of 73 Moto — are partnering up to bring the venue and restaurant to its new spot further up on I-4 East.

Plans filed with the City of Sanford suggest the new Ace will include a stage, bar, kitchen, workroom and retail space. No firm reopening timeline has been set yet.

The old Ace in downtown Orlando hosted everything from car meet-ups to Orlando Breaks shows to Black Flag and the Rev. Horton Heat.

Downtown Orlando venue Ace Cafe is closing: More big change afoot in downtown Orlando

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