Detroit Coney Island Opening as a Family-Oriented Diner in Holiday
Detroit-style diner incoming.
HOLIDAY, FL — Detroit Coney Island, a Detroit-style mobile concept, is opening a brick and mortar diner in Holiday at 1908 U.S. 19, Holiday, FL 34690 in early November, Dante Guarascio told Business Debut in a phone interview. Guarascio runs the business with his wife, Barbara Guarascio.
What to Expect
The Holiday location will operate as a full-service, family-style restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guarascio described it as a traditional Coney Island-style diner format.
The phrase, "Coney Island," is Detroit-area slang for "diner." Thus, "Detroit Coney Island" can be understood as Detroit Diner.
Menu and Vision
The menu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Items range from Detroit Coney Hot Dogs, burgers, grilled chicken gyros, friend walleye fish platters, salads, Pierogi platters, deli corned beef sandwiches and much more.
The concept centers on accessible diner fare and consistent hours for regulars and late-night guests.
Menu from Detroit Coney Island
Ownership Background
Dante and Barbara Guarascio launched Detroit Coney Island on Clearwater Beach in 2014 after a lengthy build-out that began in 2010. They later added a Palm Harbor location and operated it for more than eight years.
The couple sold those locations in 2024 after years in the business to slow their pace and consider retirement, Guarascio told Business Debut. They then built a smaller fast-casual Detroit Coney Island on Island Estates in Clearwater Beach and opened an ice cream shop in memory of Guarascio’s mother.
Four months later, Hurricane Helene flooded their home and the new businesses. “We got wiped out,” Guarascio told Business Debut. The family relocated to their home in Detroit for about 18 months while their Florida home remained under construction and while they waited for clarity on insurance and relief.
Guarascio said FEMA assistance never materialized. In December of last year he built a Detroit Coney Island food truck and began operating on the road. That mobile business led to the opportunity in Holiday.
Alongside the restaurant, Guarascio also operates a separate company in Valrico that builds food trucks and trailers. Detroit Coney Island has started franchising its food trucks, with one franchise truck on the road and additional interest from prospective operators.
Opening Timeline
Detroit Coney Island is awaiting final inspections at the Holiday site. He said the team had hoped to open by October 27, but the schedule shifted as approvals progressed.
Guarascio said the restaurant is targeting the first or second week of November for opening.
Hours
Tuesday through Thursday, the restaurant will open 7 a.m. — 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, it will open 7 a.m. — 3 a.m. to serve late-night traffic from nearby bars and clubs.
On Sundays, Detroit Coney Island will open 7 a.m. — 3 p.m. Detroit Coney Island will close on Mondays.
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