Ace Cafe Orlando
Project Overview
The First Ace Cafe in the USA — Over 100 Speakers, 31 Displays & a 15-Foot Screen
Crunchy Tech completed work on custom AV systems at the first Ace Cafe to open in the United States, a massive entertainment complex located in downtown Orlando, Florida. The iconic Ace Cafe brand — a fan-favorite among motorcycle and automotive enthusiasts with nearly 80 years of rock ’n’ roll heritage — chose Orlando for its flagship American location, and Crunchy Tech was brought in to bring the venue’s audio and visual experience to life.
The work completed by Crunchy Tech includes full audio and video solutions across the over 14,000-square-foot restaurant, bar, fine art gallery, retail stores, and office areas. The installation features over 100 speakers across multiple audio zones, 31 large-format HD LED screens, and a dramatic centerpiece — a 15-foot retractable projector screen — all controlled wirelessly via iPad.
Project Challenges
Scaling Audio and Video Across a Multi-Use 14,000 Sq Ft Complex
The project presented a unique set of challenges driven by the sheer scale and diversity of the venue. Ace Cafe Orlando is not a single-purpose space — it encompasses a full-service restaurant, bar, fine art gallery, retail stores, and office areas, each requiring distinct audio and video treatment. Designing a system that would deliver optimal sound and visual coverage across every zone while maintaining cohesive control demanded careful acoustic planning and infrastructure coordination.
The open ceiling plan added significant complexity to the audio design. Without traditional ceiling tiles to contain and direct sound, speaker placement and coverage mapping required creative solutions to ensure balanced, high-quality audio throughout every area of the building. The 15-foot retractable projector screen centerpiece needed to integrate seamlessly into the architecture while delivering a dramatic visual impact for live events and broadcasts.
Understanding Client Needs
A Visual Brand with an Authentic Soundtrack
Ace Cafe is a deeply visual brand with an authentic soundtrack rooted in nearly 80 years of rock ’n’ roll culture. The client needed an AV system that could celebrate the spirit, history, and culture of the Ace while showcasing motor-centric broadcast programming that their fan community loves. Every corner of the venue needed to look and sound amazing — whether guests were grabbing a morning coffee, enjoying dinner, watching a live show, or browsing the retail shop.
Critically, the management team needed the entire system to be simple to operate. With multiple audio zones spanning diverse spaces and 31 displays running throughout the building, staff needed the ability to control everything wirelessly from a single iPad interface without requiring technical expertise. The system had to deliver professional-grade performance with consumer-level simplicity.
Technical Solutions
Audio, Video, Projection, and Wireless Control Integration
To deliver the comprehensive AV experience Ace Cafe Orlando required, Crunchy Tech designed and integrated a multi-system platform combining large-scale distributed audio, commercial video displays, a dramatic projection centerpiece, and centralized wireless control.
| System Category | Components | Role in Project |
| Audio System | 100+ speakers, multi-zone amplifiers, audio processors, wireless iPad control | Delivered perfectly balanced sound coverage across restaurant, bar, gallery, retail, and office zones |
| Video Displays | 31 large-format HD LED screens, commercial-grade mounts | Provided high-visibility visual content throughout 14,000+ sq ft of indoor spaces |
| Projection System | 15-foot retractable projector screen, HD projector, motorized rigging | Created a dramatic centerpiece for live events, broadcasts, and brand showcasing |
| AV Control | Centralized control system, wireless iPad interface, zone management | Enabled simple, wireless management of all audio and video zones from anywhere in the venue |
Each system was configured to operate as a unified platform. The 100+ speaker array was mapped across multiple independent audio zones covering the restaurant, bar, gallery, retail, and office spaces, with coverage optimized for the open ceiling architecture. The 31 HD displays and 15-foot retractable screen provided high-visibility visual content throughout the complex. The wireless iPad control interface tied everything together, giving staff complete command over all audio and video zones from anywhere in the building.
Implementation Methodology
Coordinated Design-Build Execution
The installation was executed through Crunchy Tech’s integrated design-build methodology. The team began with detailed acoustic planning to address the open ceiling architecture, mapping speaker placement across each zone to ensure maximum, optimal sound coverage throughout the building. The multi-zone audio system was designed to allow independent control of each area while maintaining the ability to unify zones for venue-wide events.
The 31 HD displays were strategically positioned for high visibility across the restaurant, bar, gallery, and retail spaces. The 15-foot retractable projector screen was custom-integrated into the venue’s architecture with motorized rigging, providing a commanding visual centerpiece that deploys seamlessly for events and retracts when not in use. The wireless iPad control interface was programmed to provide an intuitive, staff-friendly management experience for the entire AV ecosystem.
Results and Impact
A Flagship AV Experience for America’s First Ace Cafe
The completed AV installation delivered exactly what the Ace Cafe brand demanded: a system that looks and sounds amazing from every seat in the house. The 100+ speaker array provides perfectly balanced audio across all zones, from the restaurant and bar to the gallery and retail spaces. The 31 HD displays and 15-foot retractable screen bring the Ace’s visual brand to life, showcasing motor-centric programming, live events, and brand content throughout the complex.
The wireless iPad control system has empowered staff to manage the entire AV environment with ease, adjusting audio zones and video content without technical expertise. The result is a venue that delivers an immersive, brand-authentic experience for every guest — whether they’re stopping in for morning coffee, enjoying a live rock ’n’ roll show, or browsing official Ace Cafe gear.
Finishing the Project On Time
Setting the Standard for the Ace Cafe Brand in America
The Ace Cafe Orlando project demonstrates Crunchy Tech’s ability to deliver large-scale, multi-zone AV solutions for complex entertainment venues. By combining distributed audio, commercial video, dramatic projection, and intuitive wireless control into a unified platform, Crunchy Tech created an AV environment that amplifies the Ace Cafe brand and sets the standard for the franchise’s expansion across the United States.
The success of this installation showcases how thoughtful AV design can transform a multi-use entertainment complex into an immersive destination — one that celebrates nearly 80 years of automotive culture and rock ’n’ roll heritage through world-class audio and visual experiences.
