Church opposes Fins’ Big Oyster Brewery

First Baptist Church of Lewes and some neighboring residents have protested liquor applications for the planned Fins’ Big Oyster Brewery on Kings Highway, outside Lewes.

Representatives of the church and neighbors asked the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission to deny the application at a public hearing Aug. 8 in Georgetown. Big Oyster owner Jeff Hamer is seeking a license to operate a brewpub, serve alcohol on a patio and serve alcohol on Sundays.

Big Oyster Brewery currently has a seven-barrel brewhouse at Fins Ale House on Route 1. The new brewpub would contain a 15-barrel brewery and a 52-seat restaurant on a narrow, commercially zoned property between church property and Lane Builders. 

David Munro, senior pastor, objected to the licenses because of light and noise from vehicles and increased traffic. He is also against the application because of the brewpub’s proximity to the church and recreation building and the home of its assistant pastor. The church has been located on Kings Highway for 60 years, Munro said.

“Although mini breweries have become popular throughout the country, that movement is erasing the fear of alcohol that often leads to alcoholism, making the dangerous and bad side effects of alcohol a less fearful thing,” he said, adding the church has counseled wives and children who have been innocent victims of alcohol abuse.  

Hamer said in drafting a plan for the brewpub, he tried to eliminate any impact on the church. The brewpub, which will take its design from the Lingo barn across from Cape Henlopen High School, would sit toward the back of the property, away from Kings Highway. The restaurant and proposed patio would be situated on the side farthest from the church property, and the brewpub property would be surrounded by a 6-foot fence with trees planted to provide more privacy, Hamer said.

Hamer said the brewpub would be closed by 11 p.m. every night; there would be no entertainment at the restaurant; and no speakers would be placed on the patio.

“I did that because I didn't want to interfere with anything in the area,” he said. “I respect the fact that the church is next to us.”

Other neighbors’ concerns included the odor caused from brewing beer. Hamer said the smell would be minimal, as the brewery would only brew one to two hours per day about 10 days a month. 

Jonathan Reddick, assistant pastor, lives with his wife and three children in the church home that sits 10 to 15 feet from the property line. He said his children's bedroom windows overlook where the brewpub would be built.

“It doesn't take a whole lot of light and noise to distract young children from the sleep they need,” he said.

Reddick said he was also concerned the church parking lot would serve as overflow parking. He said it already occurs when the RISE fitness center parking lot fills up.

“As a church, we desire that the community see our property as open to all and inviting should they seek help for a spiritual need,” he said. “I would hate to have to put up no parking or no trespassing signs should the brewery exceed expectations.”

Reddick and Munro also asked the ABC commissioner to consider the potential effect on the Cape Henlopen High School students who would walk past the brewpub every day before and after school.

“I fear this will reinforce the message our culture has been feeding them their whole lives, that alcohol is a normal and necessary part of life,” Reddick said.

Munro added, “There are two places traditionally where bars and restaurants with alcohol consumption have not been next to and that's a church and a school,” he said. “To say brewing alcohol is an honorable business is far from the truth the way we see it.”

Hamer said he has an exemplary track record in terms of complying with liquor license requirements. He is the owner of two Rehoboth restaurants, Claws and Fins Fish House, and another, Fins Ale House, on Route 1. He was also the original owner of Arena's in Rehoboth. He said he's never had any issues with the ABC.

Hamer provided the ABC commissioner with a petition in support of the brewpub, containing many signatures from nearby neighbors. He also read into the record a letter in support from Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes.

If the licenses are granted, Munro said, the church will move on.

“We are not an enemy of Mr. Hamer, and we will not be an enemy if he’s granted a license,” Munro said.

ABC Commissioner John Cordrey did not make a decision at the Aug. 8 meeting. He said he will review comments and relevant case law and render a decision soon.