Names Seen Around Town

Roads, bridges, parks and other landmarks often bear the names of prominent local residents who have helped shape our area’s history. Keep an eye out for the following names as you travel around Indian River County.

The MERRILL P. BARBER BRIDGE is named for a local businessman who served as the eighth mayor of Vero Beach and went on to serve two terms in Tallahassee as a state senator. His two daughters were the first to wield shovels at the 1993 groundbreaking for the current Barber Bridge.

While the name of VERO BEACH is believed to have been derived from the Latin word for “truth,” its neighboring towns are both named after people: SEBASTIAN after third-century Christian martyr ST. SEBASTIAN and FELLSMERE after the town’s founder, EDWARD NELSON FELL. The community of GIFFORD is named for early Vero Beach settlers HENRY and SARAH GIFFORD and their family.

Vero Beach’s other bridge, known for over 30 years as the 17TH STREET BRIDGE, was renamed the ALMA LEE LOY BRIDGE in 2011, in honor of the businesswoman and Indian River County commissioner who was instrumental in bringing it into existence. A Vero Beach native and tireless public servant, Loy died in April 2020 at the age of 90.

SEXTON PLAZA and its adjacent beach bear the name of pioneer Vero Beach resident WALDO E. SEXTON — entrepreneur, rancher and antique collector extraordinaire.

Nestled in a residential area on the western side of the Indian River Lagoon is A.W. YOUNG PARK, which is named after the first mayor of Vero Beach, ANTHONY W. YOUNG.

If you look closely, you may come across a reference to STATE ROAD 60 as OSCEOLA BOULEVARD. Vero Beach is also home to Osceola Magnet School, and our neighboring county to the west is Osceola County. Born BILLY POWELL in Alabama in 1804, Osceola became a prominent Seminole leader in Florida.

Speaking of State Road 60, you may have noticed a sign indicating that the 5-mile segment between 43rd Avenue and Interstate 95 is called “ THE RICHARD RACZKOWSKI MEMORIAL HIGHWAY.” This designation was made in 2009 in memory of the only member of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office ever to have been killed in the line of duty. The 29-year-old deputy was shot by a suspect in 1986.

Another small residential park is found in the MCANSH PARK neighborhood. The circular TROY MOODY PARK is named in honor of 1943 Vero Beach High School graduate TROY MOODY, who joined the U.S. Army and perished in the Korean War at the age of 25. Bonus: The neighborhood itself bears the name of its developer, ANDREW MCANSH

MACWILLIAM PARK, located near the eastern end of the Barber Bridge, has a familiar Vero Beach name that goes back to ALEXANDER MACWILLIAM SR. — World War I veteran, three-time mayor of Vero Beach, and member of the Florida House of Representatives.

The “JOHN” of JOHN’S ISLAND is believed to be JOHN LAROCHE, the Merritt Island citrus grower who, along with his brothers, first purchased land on the island in the late 19th century.

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN was founded as McKee Jungle Gardens by Cleveland industrialist and plant lover ARTHUR MCKEE, in partnership with WALDO SEXTON, in 1932.

Fine Dining

Citron Bistro 772-231-6556 6260 Hwy. A1A, Village Shops citronvero.com ● ●

Citrus 7 72-234-4114 1050 Easter Lily Lane citrusgrillhouse.com ● ●

Cobalt 772-469-1060

Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa 3500 Ocean Drive cobaltrestaurant.com ● ●

Di Mare Vero Beach ................. 772-234-2809 1517 Ocean Drive dimareverobeach.com ● ●

Fire and Wine ............. 772-794-7587 2950 9th St. SW (Oslo Road) fireandwineverobeach.com ●

Joey & Kimmy’s Seafood Market & Restaurant 772-918-8855 1800 U.S. Hwy. 1 joeyandkimmys.com ●

Maison Martinique 772-231-7299 1603 Ocean Drive thecaribbeancourt.com ● ●

Ocean Grill 772-231-5409 1050 Beachland Blvd. ocean-grill.com

Outdoor Seating To-Go Menu Fine Dining 33 Casual 33 Asian 38 International 38 Irish ............................................................. 38 Italian 38 Mediterranean 40 Mexican 40 Coffee/Dessert 42 Tea ............................................................. 42 Live Music 42 Breweries 44 Distilleries 44

Polo Grill 7 72-231-4090 2855 Ocean Drive pgvero.com ● ●

Savor 772-205-2435 901 21st St. savorvero.com ●

The Tides ..................... 772-234-3966 3103 Cardinal Drive tidesofvero.com ● ●

Vero Prime ................... 772-226-7870 2023 14th Ave. veroprime.com ●

The Wave 772-410-0100 3244 Ocean Drive costadeste.com ● ●

Casual Dining American

Barefoot

Bum Bagel Cafe................... 772-492-6773 2263 14th Ave.

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Bobby’s Restaurant & Lounge

Casey’s Place............. 772-231-4790 917 Azalea Lane caseysplace.net ● ●

Chelsea’s .................... 772-234-8300 3201 Cardinal Drive chelseasgourmet.com ● ●

Chill & Grill ................... 772-562-5477 7401 U.S. Hwy. 1 chillandgrillverobeach.wordpress. com ● ●

Chive 772-999-5452 390 21st St. chiveverobeach.com ● ●

C.J. Cannon’s 772-567-7727 at Vero Beach Regional Airport 3414 Cherokee Drive cjcannonsrestaurant.com ● ●

The Crab Stop ............. 7 72-257-5221 89 Royal Palm Pointe crabstoptc.com ● ●

The Crab Stop ............. 772-571-6767 1550 Indian River Drive, Sebastian crabstoptc.com ● ●

Dagwood’s Deli & Sub Shop 772-778-1900 835 17th St. dagwoodsvb.com ●

Earl’s Hideaway 772-589-5700 1405 Indian River Drive, Sebastian earlshideaway.com ● ●

Edgewood Eatery 772-217-3156 1327 21st St. edgewoodeatery.com ●

Fishack .......................... 772-770-0977 1931 Old Dixie Hwy. fishackverobeach.com ● ●

Green Marlin.............. 772-999-5248 1475 U.S. Hwy. 1 thegreenmarlin.com ● ●

Heaton’s Vero Beach 772-469-4444 3500 Ocean Drive heatonsverobeach.com ●

Kilted Mermaid 772-569-5533 1937 Old Dixie Hwy. kiltedmermaid.com ● ●

Kountry Kitchen 772-567-6733 1749 Old Dixie Hwy. ●

La Tabla 772-205-2772 29 Royal Palm Pointe latablavero.com ●

Lemon Tree 772-231-0858 3125 Ocean Drive lemontreevero.com ●

Marsh Landing 772-571-8622 44 N. Broadway St., Fellsmere marshlandingrestaurant.com ● ●

Michael’s on 7th 772-213-8554 2217 7th Ave. michaelson7th.com ● ●

Mr. Manatee’s ............. 7 72-569-9151 30 Royal Palm Pointe mrmanatees.com ● ●

Mrs. Mac’s Fillin’ Station ............. 772-564-8400 951 Old Dixie Hwy. mrsmacs.com ●

Mulligan’s ................... 7 72-492-6744 1025 Beachland Blvd. mulligansbeachhouse.com ● ●

Mulligan’s 7 72-918-4844 806 Indian River Drive, Sebastian mulligansbeachhouse.com ● ●

Post & Vine 772-907-5159 1919 14th Ave. postandvinevb.com ● ●

The Red Onion Eatery............................. 772-492-8881 3001 Ocean Drive redonioneatery.com ● ●

Riverside Cafe .......... 772-234-5550 3341 Bridge Plaza Drive riversidecafe.com ● ●

Ryder’s..........................772-500-3663 3106 Cardinal Drive rydersgourmetmarket.com ● ●

Sandbar.......................772-388-8588 at Capt. Hiram’s Resort 1580 U.S. Hwy. 1, Sebastian ● ● hirams.com/riverfront-restaurant

Sealantro British Cafe & Market 772-492-3614 2060 6th Ave. sealantro.com ● ●

Seaside Grill 772-231-1911 at Jaycee Park 4200 Ocean Drive ● ●

Sebastian Saltwater Marina Restaurant .................. 772-918-4229 1732 Indian River Drive, Sebastian captnbutcher.com ●

Ski’s Hideaway ............ 772-567-2311 1453 20th St. skishideaway.com

Southern Social ........ 772-205-2212 1932 14th Ave. eatsouthernsocial.com ●

Waldo’s ........................... 772-231-7091 Driftwood Resort 3150 Ocean Drive historicwaldos.com ● ●

Wilke’s 14 Bones Barbecue 772-770-5646 1500 U.S. Hwy. 1 14bones.com ● ●

Wood ‘n Spoon 772-217-3132 2015 9th St. SW (Oslo Road) and 97 Royal Palm Pointe woodnspoon.biz ● ●

Asian

Kata 772-564-8883

1306 20th St. katamenu.com ● ●

Mama Hue 772-999-3967 692 21st St. ●

The Noodle House 772-257-5256 4166 Atlantic Blvd. thenoodlehouseandsushi.com ●

Oniku Hibachi 7 72-617-8088 4125 9th St. SW, 101A (Oslo Road) onikuhibachifl.com ●

Sake 772-978-9798 42 Royal Palm Pointe sakemenus.com ● ●

Shandong Noodle House ............................. 772-257-6775 2089 Indian River Blvd. shandongnoodlehouse.com ●

Siam Orchid ............... 772-999-5279 762 21st St. ●

Sumo House .............. 772-770-0835 713 17th St. sumohousevb.com ●

International

Inti 772-257-6652 2199 7th Ave. intivero.net ●

Irish

Kelley’s Irish Pub ...... 7 72-567-3838 484 21st St. ●

Sean Ryan Pub ............ 772-217-2183 2019 14th Ave. seanryanspubvero.com ● ●

Italian

Baci Trattoria ............. 772-794-4747 1918 14th Ave. bacivero.com ● ●

Cap’s Pizza ...................772-770-2277 725 27th Ave. SW capspizzmenu.com

Francesca’s Italian Kitchen .......... 772-257-5540 3001 Ocean Drive francescasverobeach.com ●

Garage Wood-Fired Pizza & Provisions 772-907-5032 2217B 7th Ave. garagepizzavero.com

Italian Grill 772-567-6640 2180 58th Ave. italiangrill.com ● ●

Italian Kitchen 772-569-0060 2121 14th Ave. italiankitcheninc.com ● ●

Johnny D’s Market & Bistro ........................... 772-234-4181 1409 Hwy. A1A johnnydsvero.com ●

Nino’s Cafe .................... 772-231-9311 1006 Easter Lily Lane ninosrestaurants.com ● ●

Nino’s Corner .............772-562-0276 4236 20th St. ninosrestaurants.com ● ●

Pizza Mia ....................... 772-492-6151 1115 21st St. pizzamiavb.com ● ●

Pizzoodles ................... 772-567-4160 56 Royal Palm Pointe pizzoodles.com ● ●

Pomodoro Grill & Pizza 772-234-1123 3055 Cardinal Drive ● ● pomodorogrillverobeach.com

Scampi Grill 772-563-9766 815 20th St. scampigrill.com ● ●

South Beach Pizzeria ............................. 772-231-1110 1621 Ocean Drive

Cafe

Station 49 Pizza ........ 7 72-492-8342 1802 Old Dixie Hwy. station49pizza.com

Trattoria Dario ............. 772-231-1818 1555 Ocean Drive trattoriadario.com ● ●

Vic’s Pizza Italian Restaurant 772-589-8989 1140 U.S. Hwy. 1, Sebastian vicspizzafl.com ●

Vincent’s Ristorante ................... 772-569-4333 510 21st St. vincentsvero.com ●

Mediterranean

Sammy’s Mediterranean Cafe ................................. 772-217-3897 1130 20th Place ● ●

Spiro’s Taverna .......... 772-217-3074 1555 U.S. Hwy. 1 spirostaverna.com ● ●

Mexican Ay! Jalisco 772-778-8489 1902 U.S. Hwy. 1 ● ●

Ay! Jalisco 772-978-0661 1909 20th St. ●

Ay! Jalisco................... 772-388-2368 1814 U.S. Hwy. 1, Sebastian ● ●

Blue Agave ................. 772-999-3484 1979 14th Ave. blueagaveverobeach.com ● ● El Sid Taqueria .......... 772-234-8299 3300 Ocean Drive elsid.com ● ● El Tapatio Mexican Grill 772-213-8249 4165 9th St. SW, #107 (Oslo Road) ●

Taco Dive 772-999-3607 1901 14th Ave. tacodive.com ● ●

Taco Mobil 772-581-8775 825 Sebastian Blvd. ● ●

Tea

Tea and Chi ................ 7 72-563-0620 2044 14th Ave. teaandchi.com ●

Bubble House............ 772-783-6960 768 21st St. ●

Live Music

Backbeat Music Parlor 772-226-7287 3005 Aviation Blvd. backbeatmusicparlor.com

Grind + Grape 772-231-5536 925 Bougainvillea Lane grindandgrape.com

The Grove .................... 772-492-8565 2115 14th Ave.

Havana Nights Piano Bar ...................... 772-234-9041 1605 Ocean Drive thecaribbeancourt.com

Coffee/Dessert

Abbott’s Frozen Custard 772-567-7338 4140 20th St. abbottscustard.com ● ●

Coffeehouse 1420 772-925-1572 2001 14th Ave. coffeehouse1420.com ● ●

Countryside Citrus............................. 7 72-234-8299 3300 Ocean Drive countrysidecitrus.com ● ●

Cravings ....................... 772-231-0208 3149 Ocean Drive cravingsbymail.com ●

Frosting ......................... 772-234-2915 2915 Cardinal Drive eatfrostingcupcakes.com ●

Grind + Grape 7 72-231-5536 925 Bougainvillea Lane grindandgrape.com ● ●

Palato Cafe 772-643-4975 915 17th St., Suite 101 palatocafevero.com ●

Rio Coco Cafe ........... 772-492-6794 1412 21st St. riococobeans.com ● ●

Rio Coco Cafe ............772-226-5760 3300 43rd Ave. riococobeans.com ● ●

Tasty-O Donuts ........ 772-567-5505 1700 14th Ave. ● ●

Vero Caffe 772-538-9500 3225 Cardinal Drive ● ●

Heaton’s Vero Beach ................ 772-469-4444 3500 Ocean Drive heatonsverobeach.com ●

Kilted Mermaid ........ 772-569-5533 1937 Old Dixie Hwy. kiltedmermaid.com ●

Marsh Landing .......... 772-571-8622 44 N. Broadway St., Fellsmere marshlandingrestaurant.com

Post & Vine 772-907-5159 1919 14th Ave. postandvinevb.com ●

Riverside Cafe 772-234-5550 3341 Bridge Plaza Drive riversidecafe.com ●

Sean Ryan Pub 772-217-2183 2019 14th Ave. seanryanspubvero.com

Sunset Saturday Night ............................... 772-410-8376 3000 Ocean Drive (Humiston Park) verobeachoba.com ●

Tiki Bar & Grill ............ 772-388-1080 1130 Indian River Drive, Sebastian sebastiantiki.com ●