Dewey Beach Club returning to Dewey in 2016
Story Location:
Dewey Beach, DE
United States
As self-described traditionalists, Jeff and Tom Treacy said after they learned the history of the restaurant they were about to buy in Dewey, bringing it back to its former glory was the right thing to do.
The former glory is the Dewey Beach Club, and the father-and-son duo knew immediately it was a great space, said Jeff, son of Tom. The space has been Port for the past five years and was Scraps before that.
Marvin and Suzi Guberman were set to open the original Dewey Beach Club in 1989, when Marvin was seriously injured, struck by a car. Bill and Theresa Sponaugle stepped in and went on to turn the restaurant into a Dewey Beach favorite over the next two decades.
"It’s a good location, and we love the layout," Jeff said.
Jeff said they had been looking at other properties to buy to open a restaurant when someone let him know the property, 1205 Coastal Highway, was for sale.
“We’re going to bring back a time when things were simpler,” he said. “It won’t be a party spot, but it’ll be a place where someone can have a good time and get good food and drinks.”
Jeff said he and his father will pay homage to the original Dewey Beach Club, while putting their own spin on things. He said he’ll be in charge of the front end of the restaurant, while his dad will be in charge of the kitchen.
The menu will consist of a lot of small plates, tapas-style, with some fish and steak entrees, said Jeff. “Everything will be fresh,” he said.
Tom said the restaurant's tapas menu will keep true to its Spanish roots.
Jeff, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., moved to the Cape Region a little more than three years ago. He’s tended bar at Baywood Greens in Long Neck and more recently at the Gate House of Lewes.
Jeff said the Hyatt Place is bringing families to the southern end of town, and he’s looking forward to being apart of the circle of restaurants immediately near their location, including Nalu, Rusty Rudder and Que Pasa.
“It’s a good end to be at,” he said.
Renovations will begin in earnest as soon as the Treacys finalize the estimates with contractors, said Jeff. The plan is to completely redo the kitchen, bring a fresh look to the dining area and make a closed porch an open-air porch, he said.
“We’re hoping to have construction wrapped up by late February or early March, and then be ready to open not long after that,” said Jeff.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
