ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 10
STARRING MS. MARIE PAGE 1B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025
Volusia to invest $40M in the Ocean Center As the Ocean Center marks its 40th anniversary, county outlines how it plans to reimagine the facility. PAGE 8A
City staff gets more fiscal leeway
‘Hands Off!’ Joining thousands nationwide, locals hold rallies to protest Trump and Musk. PAGE 12A
Commission increases purchasing threshold for expenditures. PAGE 2A INSIDE MAYOR QUESTIONED Ormond mayor tours Barracks of Hope, then questioned on alleged offer of city funds. PAGE 3A
BALLET AT THE PAC
Ormond Ballet to present ‘Prometheus’ on Sunday. PAGE 8A
Sunbather struck by vehicle on the beach A 33-year-old Ocala man was injured on the beach after a vehicle ran over him on Saturday, near the Cardinal Drive beach ramp in Ormond Beach. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office reported that the man was sunbathing around 10:43 a.m. when a 61-yearold Ormond Beach woman driving a Jeep hit him as she attempted to back into a parking spot. The man suffered injuries to his thigh and arm and was transported to the hospital. He is reported to be in stable condition. The driver was cited with careless driving.
INDEX
Business....................PAGE 13A McMillan....................PAGE 12A Public Notices...........PAGE 10B Sports..........................PAGE 7B Real Estate................PAGE 10A
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Protesters chant against Donald Trump and his policies at the nationwide ‘Hands Off’ rally at the Daytona Beach City Hall on Saturday, April 5. Photos by Michele Meyers
Locals leave corporate world to open diner JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
When local couple Evgeny Dzyubin and Danielle Armenta opened Ormond Beach Diner six months ago, they wanted their first restaurant together to be their “happy place.” Both previously worked corporate jobs at the same company, and as they looked to embark in the next chapter of their lives, they were looking to do something different — but still together. As Dzyubin worked in New York restaurants for most Evgeny Dzyubin and Danielle Arof his life, opening a New-York- menta. Photo by Jarleene Almestyle diner in Ormond-by-the- nas Sea was “the obvious answer,” he said. “I met the previous owners meatloaf, pastas and short rib. here, and as soon as I heard they “I think the main highlight of were ready to close the doors ... all of our entree dishes is just the I was here before the ‘for sale’ freshness,” Dzyubin said. sign was even up,” Dzyubin said. Because they are a small resOrmond Beach Diner is locat- taurant — with Dzyubin working ed at 1460 Ocean Shore Blvd., as the chef and Armenta helpreplacing the former Sun and ing in the front, and staff to help Sand Cafe. The diner serves them both — they go shopping breakfast and lunch on Wednes- for ingredients after the restauday through Monday (closed on rant closes, and prep them to be Tuesdays) as well as dinner on ready the next day. Fridays and Saturdays. Dzyubin moved to Ormond The menu, which Dzyubin Beach in 2019, looking for a said has “anything and every- place he could surf and hang thing” features breakfast staples out in his daily life. Growing up, such as eggs Benedict, french Ormond was a place his family toast, pancakes and omelettes, would vacation often. as well as lunch items including Dzyubin had wanted to open sandwiches, burgers and wraps. a restaurant for a long time. He For dinner, Ormond Beach Diner started in the culinary industry serves specials like homestyle as a dishwasher and climbed up
the ranks to become the general manager of a restaurant while he was in college. But he knew that working in the culinary industry would not help him achieve his dream of opening a restaurant. So he went into IT and saved up as much as he could. And once he had the keys to the space at Ocean Shore Plaza, Armenta planned for a big step of her own: Moving from Los Angeles to Ormond Beach to be with her fiancé. “One coast to the other coast — you can’t go wrong,” Armenta said. Ormond Beach diner’s decor also includes an inside joke for the couple: Pigs with wings. “We never believed that we would own a restaurant, so when we finally did open it, pigs are flying,” Armenta said. The community has embraced Ormond Beach Diner, the couple said. Early on, when they were wondering what to do about a blank wall inside the restaurant, one of their regulars showed up with a ladder and a stack of vehicle plates. Other customers took notice, and started donating their old ones too. It’s proof that the Ormond Beach Diner is becoming their “happy place” too, Armenta said. “We just never expected it to be as happy as it is,” Armenta said. “It’s better than what we could have ever asked for, honestly.”
Coach competes Seabreeze teacher Paul Shuler sets two personal records, wins a team gold medal at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships.
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Revenge games Seabreeze avenges two losses to finish third at Five Star torunament.
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