Central Florida’s 1st place in Favorite Local LGBTQ Bar/Club, Favorite Local Happy Hour, Favorite Local Place to Buy Art; 2nd place in Favorite New Local Business (Savoy Catering), Favorite Local Caterer (Savoy Catering); 3rd place in Favorite Local Fundraising Event (Celebrity Bartender Night)
When the pandemic hit in March 2020, it impacted everyone and every business, but few were hit as hard as bars, clubs and restaurants.
“The beginning was really tough,” says Savoy owner Brandon Bracale-Llewellyn. “The first six months, having to be closed was a struggle and we’re just starting to finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.”
As the pandemic raged on, Bracale-Llewellyn kept focus on staying open any way he could, not just for himself but for his staff and the droves of regulars who have been coming to Savoy for years. That dedication is what led our readers to pick Savoy as their Favorite Local LGBTQ Bar/Club and Favorite Local Happy Hour.
“We are very fortunate that we were able to make it through and a big heartfelt thank you all of our loyal customers because if it wasn’t for them we would not have been able to make it through these last two years,” Bracale-Llewellyn says.
Something that came about for Savoy because of the pandemic and ended up landing them a second place finish in Favorite Local New Business and Favorite Local Caterer was the creation of Savoy Catering.
“During the pandemic we applied to get our restaurant license because a lot of our neighbors were open way before we were able to because restaurants were allowed to open up before the bars were,” Bracale-Llewellyn says.
Savoy’s restaurant license didn’t come through until after the bars in Florida were allowed to open back up, but it did allow Savoy to create new added income.
“I think people have been quite impressed with what we have been able to do,” Bracale-Llewellyn says. “When we come in, they look at what we have and they’re like ‘Oh wow, this isn’t just bar food.’ We’ve done some corporate lunches and a few dinner parties, social events and it has been a big hit.”
