Greene Turtle to take over Rehoboth's Irish Eyes

A new turtle will soon be popping out of its shell.

After 27 years, Irish Eyes in Rehoboth Beach has closed. It is set to reopen under the management of the Greene Turtle.

The Rehoboth commissioners will hold a permit of compliance hearing at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20, for a second Greene Turtle restaurant at 52A Rehoboth Ave. The Greene Turtle’s first location, at the Boardwalk and Wilmington Avenue, opened in 2010.

The Greene Turtle would take over the entire building space, which includes Irish Eyes and the adjacent building, currently housing Hatley clothing store, a combined 4,600 square feet. Greene Turtle co-owner William Frankis said he is eying an Easter opening. The Greene Turtle will operate two restaurants in town; Frankis said the Wilmington Avenue restaurant reaches capacity in the summer, and a second, year-round location would enable Greene Turtle to serve additional customers.

The Greene Turtle’s building plans show the main dining area will have 168 seats. The bar in the middle of the restaurant will be ripped out and relocated, adding another 20 seats. The kitchen area will be expanded.

Frankis said demolition would begin next week; once a permit of compliance is granted, he said the next step would be transferring Irish Eyes' liquor license.

Irish Eyes co-owner Kathy Newcomb said she wanted to focus Irish Eyes’ business on the flagship restaurant in Lewes and the Milton location, both of which are open year-round. The Rehoboth restaurant was seasonal, having opened in 1986 on Wilmington Avenue, where it remained until 2001, when it moved to Rehoboth Avenue.

Newcomb said while closing Rehoboth was bittersweet for her parents, who opened the original Wilmington Avenue restaurant, for her, the Rehoboth location has run its course.