In the restaurant business, it is said that a restaurant is only as good as its customers. At Jerry’s Seafood in Lewes, customers enjoy delicious seafood and great employees. For Suzanne Becker, co-owner of Jerry’s, that makes all the hard work worth it.
Becker, 27, is one of the youngest restaurant owners around. She always wanted to work in the service industry and got her start working at the Holiday Inn Express in Rehoboth Beach. She said she fell in love with the area and spent a lot of time in the Cape Region, where her parents own a house.
Becker and her mother opened Jerry’s Seafood in 2005 and the customer base has been steadily growing since then. The former Rose & Crown, the location was already well known to Lewes locals.
She grew up in Maryland and attended Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania where she got her degree in hotel and restaurant management. After graduating in 2003, Becker came to Rehoboth for two years to work in the hotel industry before moving back to Maryland and working at Jerry’s Seafood there.
While she is focused on the business and puts on her game face while working, her smile is well known around town.
“My family had been customers of Jerry’s for 15 years before I started working there,” said Becker. “My mom became the accountant for the restaurant and then we got into silent partners because we knew we wanted to open this.”
They looked at buildings in the Rehoboth and Lewes area, but fell in love with the old Rose & Crown building, which was for sale.
“We just fell in love with the building,” said Becker. “It’s tough to be responsible for a restaurant at such a young age, but I’m learning every day.”
Becker said she had to learn about the restaurant business quickly because she hadn’t worked from a management position in the business before.
“It’s a 24/7 job, so that doesn’t leave much time for me,” said Becker.
Becker recently purchased a house, but doesn’t get to spend much time there because in the restaurant business there is always something that needs attention.
When not working, Becker enjoys reading, playing golf or tennis and hanging out with the great friends she has made since moving to Lewes.
In college, Becker played soccer for four years and basketball for two years. She enjoys the competitive nature of sports and being able to use it as an outlet for stress. While she no longer plays team sports, she enjoys sitting down for a game of poker with a group of friends. She likes to joke with a small group while sitting on the deck at Gilligan’s or play pool at Grotto Pizza, her competitive spirit always shining through.
“Working so much kind of hinders a personal life,” a sentiment felt by many restaurant workers, especially during the busy summer months, said Becker. “But, I’ve made some great friends here.”
Becker says she is happy with her move to the Lewes area and is proud to see the restaurant gaining popularity every day.
“It’s like raising a child,” said Becker. “It needs constant attention.”
