Beefy King Reopens

Posted on by Thor

Beefy King (424 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL) is a family owned restaurant that has been an Orlando landmark since 1968. They have been serving the best roast beef sandwiches in Orlando for over 50 years. They offering a variety of mouthwatering Roast Beef, Ham, Turkey, Pastrami,
Corned Beef, Bar BQ Beef and Bar BQ Pork all served hot, fresh and made
to order.

The restaurant had to close down after a fire behind the property. The manager of Drunken Monkey, the coffee shop that neighbors Beefy
King, called police officers about a man disturbing customers Tuesday
night. One Drunken Monkey employee told police she also saw someone behind Beefy King holding lighters.

Police arrested a man they say started the fire at 1am Tuesday November 11, 2019 at Beefy King. John Huff, 36, was arrested after police said video from a nearby business showed
him behind the building at around the same time the fire was reported. Huff admitted in an affidavit that he set the fire. Police found him at the Drunken Monkey. He uttered twice that he set the fire as he was being transported in the police vehicle. No one knows why he set the fire.

Beefy King owner Shannon Smith – Woodrow could not understand why someone would want to hurt a small local business. The fire caused an estimated $3000 of damage. Luckily most of the damage was outside along the back wall of the building. Huff was booked into the Orange County Jail early Wednesday and was being held on a $3,500 bond. He was expected to appear in court o the same day.

Beefy King reopened on Wednesday November 20, 2019. Contractors offered to do the repairs and the city of Orlando sped up inspections. Customers were waiting in line before the restaurant even opened. Hundreds of dedicated costumers went to dine there on opening day.

Beefy King turns 50

Posted on by Thor

Tom Veigle founded Beefy King in 1968. He had discovered the roast beef sandwich on a trip to New York City and immediately opened the restaurant in Orlando. He also owned a chain of pizza restaurants. Tom sold the original Beefy King location to Freeman Smith that same year. He made the company public and expanded the chain. He eventually sold the Beefy King brand and the Smiths restaurant became the only restaurant to remain in the franchise.

Son Roland Smith took over when Freeman Smith retired. The restaurant changed hands several times over the five decades but remained in the family. Now
Roland Smith’s daughter and son-in-law, Shannon and James “Woody”
Woodrow, run the restaurant.

The restaurant decor clearly  has not changed since the 60s. Tacky clowns hang from the ceiling. They remind me of the paint by number clown painting my parents had hanging in the basement when I was a child in New Jersey. Those clowns had been painted by my older brothers.

I have had lunch at Beefy King several times with the Orange County Regional History Center staff. It makes sense that folks who know about Orlando’s history would be attracted to the place. The sandwich was dissected and photographed for a recent exhibit at the History Center about how things are made. No family secrets were reveled in the process. Melissa Procko stopped in for the 50th anniversary celebration and she shot photos for the History Center archives.

On the day of the 50th celebration the line to get roast beef sandwiches went out the door and wrapped around the building. I went inside immediately and got a seat to start sketching while Pam stood in the line that wrapped around the aisles towards the food counter. Channel 6 News showed up with a TV camera and was interviewing the owners.

The menu hasn’t changed for 50 years. They do one thing and they do it well. It is a simple and direct path to success. I know I will be back.