ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Ormond Beach’s downtown has been undergoing a dramatic transformation, and the man behind it all is as intriguing as the changes themselves.
Bill Jones, a 70-year-old New Yorker with a signature handlebar mustache, has been quietly buying up properties in the heart of the city. His goal? To breathe new life into the historic district-one building at a time.
When he first started buying properties, locals were skeptical.
“Hell yeah, they were,” Jones admitted.
Jones claims his mission was never about profit alone. His late father always told him, “Somebody needs to do something about this downtown.” And since 2001, Jones has taken those words to heart.
According to property records, he and his holding companies have acquired nearly every available lot and business along West Granada Boulevard and north to New Britain.
Jones owns a successful auto electronics business called Metra, which is based in Holly Hill. His passion project has become downtown Ormond beach. Rather than tearing down old buildings, Jones has focused on restoring them to their former glory.
His projects include:
- Alexander’s - A high-end steakhouse rebuilt from the ground up.
- Ormond Garage - A restaurant now acting as a tribute to the city’s racing history.
- Rose Villa - A stunning restoration of the early 1900s inn where Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Will Rogers once stayed.
“There’s so much history in this town,” Jones said. “It was just hidden under layers of time.”
Unlike typical investors, Jones isn’t hiking up rents or forcing businesses out. Instead, he’s leasing his restored spaces and attracting passionate entrepreneurs.
Every piece of art inside is owned by Jones. It’s a turnkey lease, according to restaurant owner Joseph Oliva.
“It’s a pleasure to be here,” said Oliva, owner of Alexander’s. “The cost of doing business here is nothing like New York.”
At 70, Jones isn’t slowing down. He plans to expand the revitalization north to New Britain Street, adding a mix of housing and storefronts.
Jones' ultimate goal?
“You can have the biggest tombstone in the cemetery, or you can leave behind a legacy. I’d rather leave something my kids and grandkids can be proud of,” Jones said.
With decades of work already shaping Ormond Beach’s future, Jones' impact is undeniable.
Whether you love his vision or remain skeptical, one thing is clear; his mark on the city is here to stay.
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