Off the Eaten Path: DeLand

With so many options in such a small area, where does one start an excursion? To get right to the urban action, head to the intersection of New York Avenue and Woodland Boulevard and park in a public lot or find a street-side spot. This is a walkable town, and one can easily spend a day exploring on foot.

Start the day with a cup from Trilogy Coffee Roasting Co., brewed in a cozy café located at 136 W Georgia Avenue, with an atmosphere that suggests all customers are instantly regulars. The menu includes espresso beverages, teas, pastries and even a selection of popsicles from The Hyppo. Check out the artwork displayed on the walls as the barista prepares the seasonal Sweet Bloom, a honey-lavender cold brew, and listen to locals review the previous night’s offering at Café daVinci, a musical venue down the street.

Trilogy’s owner Clay Cass began roasting coffee at home, learning about flavor profiles from a friend. He did not set out to open a café. His venture into the coffee business began at the DeLand Farmers' Market in 2014 and, based on the positive reception he received at the weekly market, Cass realized how DeLand would benefit from a good local coffeehouse.

“Coffee is a catalyst for community, and we want to create a memorable experience for our customers and our town. Our business is primarily more about people than coffee,” said Cass. The name Trilogy represents Cass’s three-pronged philosophy on what it takes to get a great cup of java: start with high quality ingredients, work with passionate people and support the community.

According to Cass, DeLand’s strong local identity and multigenerational population help create a “craft culture,” with an appreciation for the arts, good food and community. “We are always looking for a reason to shut down Woodlawn Avenue and have a party, as a way to promote meaningful connections with each other,” he said.

Hungry again? A great lunch spot can be found at 110 Artisan Alley – BakeChop, a small eatery serving dishes with a focus on sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. Co-owners Stevie Vermillion and Taylor Bass worked together at a previous restaurant in the same location. When the former owner closed the restaurant, Vermillion and Bass decided to keep the business going, putting their culinary beliefs into action. They re-opened in 2016, with a lot of help from friends and family. A cousin made the tables from cypress trees in her yard, while other family members helped with painting and other renovations.

The name BakeChop is a combination of the co-owners’ culinary pursuits: Vermillion is passionate about pastry, while Bass trained as a chef at a culinary school in New York. Collaboration has been key to their success. “We got a lot of support from the culinary community in DeLand,” said Vermillion. “We wanted to create a restaurant that we could feel good about coming to, serving familiar and comforting ingredients. Now we have regulars who come every day.”

Dish names reflect the playful spirit at BakeChop. Daily specials, referred to as the Daily Dally, are based on what one of their chefs brings in from his garden, where he grows vegetables, herbs and fruit year-round. Adventurous eaters should try the Yeti, with venison sausage, caramelized onions, charred sweet peppers, mushrooms and herbed cheese. Seafood lovers, meanwhile, will enjoy diving into the Who’s Wanda, featuring grilled shrimp, grilled avocado, pineapple salsa and a tangy adobo mayo. Desserts, baked in-house, are a must.

“We have been really lucky. Ten years ago, people wouldn’t come to this side of town. Now DeLand is receptive to progressive thinking and businesses with a green mindset,” said Vermillion. “This town has come together to create a family, a really good community.”

At this point in the day, a break in the urban environment may be needed. Fortunately, between strolls downtown, there are several springs close by and scenic parks near the majestic St. Johns River (the only American Heritage River in Florida), providing spectacular natural beauty, fascinating birds and an abundance of wildlife. Outside the city limits sits De Leon Springs State Park. Take the plunge and go 25 feet down to the mouth of the springs, where about 16 million gallons of water are released a day. Bird-watchers at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge can get an eyeful of birds and other wildlife, while manatees can be spotted at Blue Spring State Park. If you are ready to leave the city, consider Hontoon Island State Park, accessible only by private boat or park ferry. Canoe or hike around the island, then check out the Hontoon Island Museum to learn about the area’s first inhabitants.

Finally, if Happy Hour is in order, make sure a visit to DeLand includes a stop at Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company, whose motto is Drink Sensibly, but Get Weird. Partners Robbie Carelli and Andy Sistrunk met several years ago when Carelli’s then-girlfriend was babysitting Sistrunk’s children. They bonded over music and brewing beer at home. When their third batch won an award at a home brewers gathering, they decided to jump into the craft brewing business together to pursue their passion for American and Belgian-style craft ale. Some of their beers are made with fruit from local farmers, and the partners feel it is important to have relationships with local growers. “We get our citrus from Vo-LaSalle Farms in DeLeon Springs, and our spent grain goes to a local cattle operation,” said Sistrunk.

The brewery, opened in 2014, is located in a 1920’s former parking garage and Western Auto Shop at 111 W. Georgia Avenue. Persimmon Hollow is part of the SoNY (South of New York Ave) neighborhood. “The city invested in this street and through a public-private partnership, we won an underutilized building grant from DeLand’s downtown community redevelopment agency,” said Carelli. “The vision is a thriving arts and entertainment district supported by strong retail.”

After a spending a day in DeLand, this vision of collaboration and the sense that "all boats rise with the tide" is clearly on display. Don't be surprised if you find that your next visit will need to be longer, allowing more time for meals and strolls through downtown. Fortunately this pedestrian-friendly place makes it easy to do just that.