There are many iconic landmarks across Northeast Florida, but for those driving down U.S. 1 the London double-decker bus that stood in front of St. Augustine’s Kings Head Pub for years was one that became a fixture.
However, since the Kings Head Pub closed its doors in September, the bus faced an uncertain future, that is until Craig Smith, owner of St Johns Food Services and Alhambra Theatre & Dining, felt compelled to save it.
Upon hearing the news that the bus was set to be sent to a junkyard if no one put in a offer for it, Smith immediately reached out to the pub’s owner with an proposal to preserve the cherished local landmark.
With his intent to restore the bus, Smith also enlisted the help of Marshall Adkison, owner of Adkison’s Towing, who was then on his way with a team of employees ready to take on the challenge of moving the double-decker bus just 45 minutes after his conversation with Smith.
What made moving the bus a challenge was the fact that it had been in the same place for more than 25 years, which meant they had to dig tracks for it to move along in the dirt just to get it up on the flat bed of a tow truck.
However, within hours, their shared vision of rescuing the bus became a reality and by 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, the bus was safely transported to St Johns Food Service, where it will remain until restoration plans are finalized.
Smith has a history of revitalizing regional icons and giving them new life, as in 2009, he purchased Alhambra Theatre & Dining, which was then in disrepair, and transformed it from a $2.5 million business into a thriving $12 million enterprise.
Over 15 years, Smith has renovated the venue twice and welcomed more than 130,000 guests in 2023 alone.
Similarly, in 2023, Smith revitalized St Johns Food Service, a 75-year-old St. Augustine institution, boosting its sales, growing its customer base, and reshaping its culture.
“I have probably passed this bus 10,000 times in my travels down Phillips Highway, ever since I was a kid, and even more so since I bought St Johns Food Service,” Smith said. “When I saw the news about the bus being taken to the junkyard, I knew I had to save it. So, here we are.”
As for the bus’s future.
“We’ll start by figuring out how to restore it and then work on finding a location where the public can enjoy it,” Smith said. “Like the orange dinosaur on Beach Boulevard, we want to preserve these iconic pieces of Jacksonville’s history, even as our city grows and changes.”
Smith’s dedication to preserving local heritage while fostering growth continues to leave a positive mark on the community.
The rescued double-decker bus is just the latest testament to his commitment to celebrating the past while embracing the future.