OUT+ABOUT

The year was 1988. ¶ George H.W. Bush was elected president, “The Last Emperor” won nine Oscar awards and a U.S. Airlines Boeing 747 circled the world in less than 37 hours.

Big things were happening in Lake County, as well. A visionary restaurateur named Vic Donahey combined his love for food, folks and fun and introduced fi ne dining to the area.

For 25 years, Vic’s Embers Supper Club was the place where locals fl ocked to enjoy fi ve-star dining with a side of superior hospitality. The elegant supper club—complete with wood panels, dim lighting, gothic white China and candlelit booths—often was compared to steakhouses in Chicago and New York City.

Plenty of memories were served up over a quartercentury. The 73-year-old’s eyes light up like a Christmas tree when he talks about some of the restaurant’s most esteemed visitors, including astronaut Dave Walker, journalist David Brinkley and actor Danny Glover.

However, the most rewarding aspect of owning Vic’s Embers was forging strong friendships and relationships with countless Lake County residents.

“It has always been all about the people,” he said.

Unfortunately, the restaurant met an untimely fate in December 2013 when a fi re destroyed the facility.

RISING FROM THE ASHES

Because of a long insurance process and the doubt of ever getting the smoke stench from the building, Vic never reopened Embers. "I looked at my age, numbers, the insurance and what it would take to reopen, and decided not to," he said. “All good things must come to an end.”

But, do they?

Vic and his son, Victor, currently continue their love for feeding people delicious food through their extremely successful catering business. Based in the Morrison United Methodist Church in Leesburg, they continue Vic’s legacy by serving hundreds of people every week.

On the Saturday of Leesburg Bikefest, for example, Vic and Victor spent their morning atop a downtown parking garage on Meadow Street. But, they weren’t there to show off power-packed machines and swap tales of the open road. Instead, they proudly served up delicious cuisine to hundreds of hungry leather-clad, vest-wearing bikers.

Victor worked at his father’s restaurant for many years. The father-son team collaborated closely to help Vic’s Embers strike a perfect balance between service, food quality and ambiance. Their bond is strong, and that’s why they continue catering together.

“I enjoy working with my son in the catering business. He’s a very talented, wonderful cook.”

Catering has always been a big part of Vic’s success. And throughout the years he’s catered to the most improbable places. Among them is the now defunct Leesburg City Jail, where he would deliver food to inmates.

“They had a city jail here years ago and we used to feed the prisoners,” he recalled. “I don’t care if I’m feeding prisoners or my friends; I want the food to be good.”

When he visits Two Old Hags in downtown Leesburg, Vic often shares these wonderful memories with friends over a glass of wine. Of course, he isn’t the only one who has fond memories of the restaurant.

David Chapman, a close friend of Vic and longtime Lake County resident, frequented the supper club during its heyday. “It was the place to be,” David said. “My wife Monte and

I went there all the time. There always were lots of people there who we knew, including friends and neighbors.”

Being a restaurant owner has allowed Vic to form many close friendships like the one he has with David. That’s one reason he continues living in Leesburg with his wife, Pamela, and English sheepdog, Caesar. Although Vic has seen the county’s population increase considerably since moving here in 1981, he feels it still retains a small-town feel.

“It wasn’t long after moving here before I felt like I knew everyone,” said Vic, whose fi rst restaurant in Lake County was Squires III. “And I still do.”

“WE’RE ONLY AS GOOD AS OUR LAST CUP OF COFFEE.”

Though he may not consider himself strictly a businessman, Vic sure knows how to operate like one.

He credits his success, in part, to adhering to the pillars of good service: quality, courtesy, cleanliness and friendliness.

That’s food for thought for young whippersnappers hoping to become successful restaurateurs.

PAYING TRIBUTE TO VIC:

DR. JEFF GLOVER, of Glover Chiropractic Clinic: “I only went once, but I remember it well. I went to watch a football game there with a friend and had some appetizers. It was a really nice, relaxed atmosphere and the food was good.”

OVER THE YEARS…

Vic moved to Florida

in 1981, and with two partners, opened Squires III in Leesburg.

Vic's Embers Supper Club was built in 1988.

Vic built Dead River

Vic's in 1998, the same year his son Victor joined him in the management of the Embers.

They sold the Dead River Vic’s establishment in 2005.

Vic’s Embers Supper

Club caught fi re December 2013.

VIC DONAHEY

MARY ANN WETTSTEINSTOOTHOFF, of Anytime Fitness: “I used to say, ‘It’s where everyone knows your name,’ because it was true. That’s where you saw your friends for more than 20 years.” DR. KARSTEN WEBER, of Lakeside Foot & Ankle: “It was a very elegant atmosphere and easily the fi nest cuisine anywhere near Leesburg. It was hard to fi nd steak of that caliber outside of Orlando—it was like a Ruth’s Chris, but with a personal touch.” DON RIXIE, of Veterans Carpet Care: “It was outside of the norm for Lake County. It was a comfortable atmosphere and they had really good steaks. The ambiance was nice; Vic was always there walking around and checking on the guests.”