Capt. Hiram’s Resort owner Will Collins admits, “We don’t have a lot of 100-year-old people lining up at the door.”
He quickly adds, however: “But we do see a few of them.”
And when they do show up for breakfast, lunch or dinner, their meals are on the house – everything on the menu, every day, for everyone at least 100 years old.
“We don’t make a big deal of it and, obviously, it’s only a small part of our business,” Collins said. “But we think it’s a good thing to do. If you’re 100 or older, and you make the effort to come to Capt. Hiram’s, it’s the least we can do to show our appreciation.”
Collins said the resort’s restaurants began offering the free meals a few years ago, a practice that began when he was sitting with a couple of World War II veterans who had come to the Sebastian lagoon-front landmark for lunch.
During their conversation, he casually asked, “How old are you guys?”
One said he was 100, the other was 101.
Flattered by their patronage, Collins told them, “We’re buying your lunch,” and a tradition was born.
Since that day, Capt. Hiram’s has been offering free meals to every customer who has reached the century mark. Sometimes, the servers will ask older customers if they qualify. Other times, the customers will mention it.
Collins did not know how many of those free meals he had provided.
“We don’t get a ton of people coming in and saying, ‘Hey, I’m 100 years old and I want a free meal,’” Collins said. “But we have had people ask about it. Frankly, we have regulars who come in a lot.”
There could be more coming soon.
Two weeks ago, the resort’s Facebook page publicized the century special: “If you have the pleasure of making it to 100 years old, we got you covered! Every day, forever!”
The Facebook post evoked a rousing response. As of Monday morning, it was shared nearly 800 times and received more than 125 comments.
“You put it on Facebook, and somebody’s grandson or granddaughter might see it and want to bring their grandparents to Capt. Hiram’s for lunch or dinner,” Collins said. “We hope they do.”
Photos by Brenda Ahearn
