RACE ROCK CAFE - orlando - ABANDONED ! (2/27/10)

[nancarrow2]

I remember eating there back in 2007. Shame it has closed but to honest I wouldn't eat there again.

[Rowdyfan1856]

NASCAR cafe Is better at universal funny two motor-sports restaurant in Orlando crazy 2010 to daytona it was race rock 2011 to daytona dave and busters

[TiGHtRIgHtHeiGhT]

GET IN!



[dinioco5648]

The RACE ROCK CAFE was alsome place to go there. I went there when I was a kid and I got a toy car that said RACE Rock on it and I got a photo of BigFoot.

[RamsPatsJags14]

race rock>dave an busters

[cookiesramazing1007]

i pass by there everytime i went to disney

[trevorthompson6]

i went there it was the highlight of my Florida trip. they had everything my favorite was one of Jeremy mgrath's supercross bikes.

[Legobanditsixtyfour]

its freakin sad they closed they had so much cool shit form a petty car to a earheart car even bigfoot # 7 or recently known as bigfeet 7 and now BIGFUN#7 !!!!!!!!!!!!! i miss all the firsuits and dragsters as well as the cars hanging from the roof tops fond memorys

[goreds07]

Dave and busters is now there and business is booming

[94GenerationAwesome]

I'm from Holland and the first time I went to America (I was 8) we went to Race Rock and me and my little brother and sister loved it there. Went to Florida 6 times and every time we got to Orlando we ate there. We didn't go to Florida for two years because we didn't have any money but we went back christmas/New Year 2009/2010 and I was so excited about eating at race rock again.... Found out they closed T_T Tradition no more :(

[EagleMcBeagle]

dave and busters is now open on the site

[soulbrother08]

Was a great place to eat and chill,great theme

[wingfeathers00]

WTF? I feel like I was just there! I remember watching pro drag cars peeling out at the stoplight out front, after a car show finished up for the day. Good times.

[scsauction]

I opened this restaurant back in 1995 as a head server. Stayed about 6mos and then left to open the Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney. Great crew, solid food and clean. Sad to see it go, but like this cool video.

[teamfab]

What a shame, i was there ten years ago while on a trip to the Daytona 200.

They had a fantastic display of motorsports racing gear from trucks, motorcycles,cars and boats.

A bloody shame..

[superkenp1212]

cool find man

[knightro0216]

This buildings original incarnation was "King Henry's Feast" a medieval themed dinner show ,similar to Medieval times but without the horse show, still "knights" fought and there was a "king" that barked out crap at the diners to do certain entertainment venues.

[srarcade]

@knightro0216 Actually this building was originally Caruso's, a fancy restaurant with a Persian theme. The roof had black and white checkered paint it was really cool. It closed and Race Rock came soon after. King Henry's Feast was actually another building nearby that was demolished and replaced with an Olive Garden. As kids we used to skate at King Henrys before it was knocked down.

[rpelzer]

The original Race Rock up here near Detroit was seized by the government after a major cocaine bust..... we were amazed that the Orlando unit wasn't seized at the same time. It is re-opening as the Orlando Dave & Buster's on July 18, 2011

[dudesgonenuts]

I here they are tearing this place down now

[ErikkFriberg]

The last time I went to Orlando was in 1999. I have been watching a lot of videos of things that are closed. Is international drive basically a Ghost Town now?

[93pinkrockgirl]

@ErikkFriberg Not necessarily. A lot of things just aren't open anymore. I don't think any tourist part of Orlando will become a ghost town, to be honest.

[LandShark151]

Wow I loved that place when I visited to Florida.. Shame its gone

[josh2477]

No Way I Used To eat here when I was a kid an would look up at all the cars on the ceiling was pack full of people

[lmorgan73]

They had a great prime rib there called The King... god, it was a big meal.

[GliTCH11]

I thought you were going inside. Pussies.

[gs193]

Race Rock originally started near Detroit. Same deal here. Started off big and then fizzled a couple years after. Was a very cool joint when it opened!

[mrscottish1993]

why did they shut down race rock, it was pritty good

[RamsPatsJags14]

@mrscottish1993 a company gave a big offer to the owner, right after that company put it up 4 sale, dave and busters bought it but the building was in rough shape so they had 2 tear it down

[soxrok09]

used to go there. sad

[rkeith3]

in rubble now, saw yesturday

[AxmKap]

Great vid. Demolition began last weekend. There's a good chance a Dave & Busters will occupy this space but I wonder if it will be a modified design from the orig d&b layout due to space issues.

[imbo8w]

I'm a 17 year old Brit that used to go to this restaurant at least 3 times every time we visited Orlando, we stayed at the Quality Inn Plaza hotel which is almost right next to it. I used to love the place. A few years ago, we decided to go to the restaurant, it appeared to have nothing inside it as you could clearly see inside, it looked really eerie to be honest, it was kinda scary. There was a sign on the front entrance window saying that an auction had taken place, we were gobsmacked!!!

[DJBJR1970]

Wow dude I stopped there on my honeymoon in 96. I have pictures of my wife standing in the wheel of Bigfoot outside. That sucks it was a cool place.

[LOTIL62]

If you go there now, you'll notice that someone had more recently spray painted the word "sorry" in the elevated space where the 2 Stock Cars used to be (and that space would be facing I-4). I've never been there myself, but I do remember always seeing that good ol Bigfoot Monster Truck. Good to hear it found a good home at Fun Spot.

[mudkipzz]

wow... i came here in 5th grade with my dad and brothers. so weird...

[poisonjimmy]

I thought it was a strip club in the 90's

[thehomer33]

I was right next to this at the Olive Garden. Unlike the Hard Rock you can see a good portion of it from the street.

[LOTIL62]

@thehomer33 Which is funny you bring up that Olive Garden (was there today, quite good, not busy as usual too strangely enough), and that Olive Garden stands now used to be another big themed restaurant (sorta) known as King Henry's Feast. I remember it when I was a little tyke some 20 years ago and we'd pass it all the time.

[geldaine]

i used to come here with my dad all the time as a kid and stand in the wheel of the monster truck!

[FarginBastiges]

I like how you transition to pictures of the attractions in your videos. It adds a nice touch of melancholy to the subject. You are the Ken Burns of Lost Florida :^)

[onedollarphilistine]

This was originally built as CARUSO'S PALACE in 1990. That's why it looks has the European dome architecture. They slapped a checkered paint job on the roof and hung a new sign. The food at Race Rock was just basic burgers and whatnot. Not really shocked that it closed. Actually shocked it stayed open as long as it did.

The space is currently slated to become a DAVE & BUSTER'S.

[dahbomb7]

i remember that place was astonished to find it abandoned when i was in florida back in may.

one place you should be looking at is the old 'mercado' next to pirates cove which was supposed to be turned into 'the square' its all levelled but still no new buildings and its supposed to be all complete by 2010, any idea whats going on.

wonder what happened to the guy selling the ice-cream in there with all the football (soccer) pennants and scarves?

[dahbomb7]

i remember that went passed it this year and was amazed it was gone!!! dude the one you should be doing is the lack of progress on the old mercado site which was supposed to become 'the square' some time in 2010, i very much doubt it as when i went in may nothing had been done other than ripping down the old mercado buildings.......i wonder what happened to the guy who sold the ice-cream there with all the football (soccer) stuff there?

[sissymarylen15741a]

I went there on our senior class trip in 1999, Awsome place and great food. really sad its closed

[siman87]

Went there in January 1998, still got the stock car model cars you could buy. That place was brilliant, I was only 10 though when I went.

[RamsPatsJags14]

race rock was it for over ten years. It did not go out of buissness it was very popular, a companany made a offer 2 the owner that he couldnt refuse an the building was sold and everything was auctioned off. since the new owners have decided 2 do nothing with the building.

[throwsparks]

I am opening a restraunt in Jensen Beach , Full Throttle Cafe dedicated to Offshore Boat Racing ,Nascar ,F1 cars,AMA SuperBikes, Racing Fans , & Offshore Poker Runs . Come by OPEN THE END OF THE YEAR!!! There will a Poker Run held at Grand Opening 100+ high performance boats will be present. a Few Celeberties will be there for autographs , The Miss Gieco Race Team will be there with some one of there 50' Twin Turbine race boat !!!

[BigDRedmen68]

i went there when i was a kid and always wanted to go back...i went back winter break decmber 2009. and i almost wanted to cry because that place was awesome

[Parabellum13X]

I was pissed beyond pissed that this place was closed.