It was a special evening on Monday, June 10, when Ford’s Garage held a ribbon cutting to show off the new automotive-themed restaurant located near the food court entrance to the Mall at Wellington Green.
Vintage cars of the Ford Motor Company are displayed throughout the burger and beer establishment, and car-related items are used in the food service, such as onion rings served around an old-time oil can.
Ford’s Garage and 23 Restaurant Services President Marc Brown was on hand to greet the guests with a fine-tuned management staff that made sure things ran smoothly.
Joining Ford’s Garage officials for the ribbon-cutting ceremony were village dignitaries such as Mayor Anne Gerwig and ambassadors from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.
After the VIP opening on Monday, the public opening took place on Tuesday, June 11.
Councilman John McGovern and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Rolando Silva could be seen eating the restaurant’s signature burgers. Silva has a burger named in honor of him. It is the Mushroom Swiss, and it can be seen on the Burgers of Fame mantel poster, where burgers are named after people from the community.
Local equestrian Margie Goldstein-Engle hails the Model T Burger, while Gerwig’s name graces the Ford’s Signature Burger.
The food was served promptly, and throughout the two bar areas, there were tables filled with patrons. Each half hour, the horn would blow from a Model T car hung above the main bar. Then, right away, smokeless fumes would come out of the exhaust pipe. People could be seen walking around, looking at the unique memorabilia of pistons and engines.
The VIP gathering filled the restaurant until some patrons began to gather outside under the enclosed porch where mist and fans extend throughout the exterior canopy area. A vintage Ford pickup has a table extending behind it so that patrons can sit on the truck bed and eat. The festivities on Monday were a dry run for the grand opening on Tuesday.
“We are excited to get opened,” Brown said. “We try to create these restaurants to be a tribute to Henry Ford’s commitment to innovation; many years of providing great products to Americans. We feel we have captured some of the history so people from all different age groups and demographics can enjoy coming in and experiencing the history in their own way.”
The Ford’s Garage team has been working toward this moment for a year, and now the public has a chance to enjoy the newly opened restaurant, located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 122, in the mall’s former Red Robin location.
The menu has an assortment of gourmet burgers, chicken and vegetarian products with salads and light fare to please everyone. They also specialize in “comfort food” with the likes of homemade meatloaf, chili, and macaroni and cheese.
American craft beer is the specialty of the restaurant, but they also offer wine and cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. For the loyal customer, Ford’s Garage Motor Club gives patrons 25 percent off every fourth visit.
For more information, call (561) 805-3673 or visit www.fordsgarageusa.com/locations/wellington.
