Food with a view: Rooftop bar-restaurant breaks ground in Mount Dora

Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial
Updated ·2 min read
Rendering of the new Yardery under construction in Mount Dora.
Rendering of the new Yardery under construction in Mount Dora.

It's official: The Yardery, a fast-casual dining and outdoor social/entertainment space that will feature Mount Dora's first rooftop bar, is slated to open in the city's downtown district by the end of the year.

G3 Development broke ground on the first new construction project in Downtown Mount Dora in more than 20 years on Jan. 4, according to a company press release.

The project on Baker Street, next to the downtown parking garage, will bring a “family-friendly, pet-friendly, and, well, just plain friendly” ambiance to the local restaurant scene.

The 5,400-square-foot, two-story restaurant with the only rooftop bar in Lake County will also include more than 11,000 square feet of yard and patio space for popular activities and yard games.

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Mount Dora, the second Yardery location, follows the bustling Sanford location and will feature interesting eats, outdoor dining, games like cornhole and table tennis, flatscreen TVs and a rooftop bar.

"It's very different from Sanford," said CEO/founder Suzanne Bonham. "Mount Dora has double the yard from the Sanford location. You can see Lake Dora all the way to Tavares. It's pretty incredible. It will have a huge deck with patio seating and live music, and Mount Dora's Skymark Roofing is incredible as a general contractor. ... We're excited to be a part of the Mount Dora community, and we have enjoyed our time in Sanford."

Bohham co-owns the Yardery with Bernie Huckestein and started her career as a server. She rose in the ranks of the Walt Disney Company in Orlando before opening the Sanford location.

While working as director of development at Disney Springs, she was sympathetic to how frustrated people were who couldn't get out and about and enjoy socializing in public.

"Get out of the four walls and do something!" was her thought as she brainstormed her plans. "It's really about socializing, and eating, drinking and playing in the yard."

The Yardery's Sanford location attracts families to play outside before or after their meals.
The Yardery's Sanford location attracts families to play outside before or after their meals.

It's also about bringing friends and families together, Bonham added about her restaurant brand. "We host special events, we have birthday parties, gender reveals and more. Kids get to run around and have fun, but the rooftop in Mount Dora will be for adults only."

Bonham is careful "not to over-promise and under-deliver" about a projected opening date but says they should have plans firmed up by March-April.

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According to the Mount Dora Buzz, the Yardery menu features “backyard food with a twist” and includes favorites like the Yardery Burger, Cajun fish tacos, barbecue chicken flatbread, in-house smoked ribs, and honey hot fried chicken; plus signature cocktails, craft beer and wine selection.

Check out the Yardery Sanford's Facebook page at facebook.com/TheYarderySanford.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Restaurant with rooftop bar for adults breaks ground in Mount Dora