JAM Bistro reopens

JAM Bistro is back in business.

The Rehoboth Beach restaurant recently completed its move from the downstairs of Celebration Mall to its new location at the former Camel’s Hump at 21 Baltimore Ave.

According to co-owner Mark Hunker, the move took nine and a half weeks, which was longer than anticipated because of structural improvements needed in the building, which has sat empty since the Camel’s Hump closed in 2007. Hunker said the building was sitting on hard, packed sand.

“There were no concrete footers and when they took these windows out, this front part started to fall in. Like the windows were literally holding the building together,” Hunker said.

He said the entire interior was gutted and rebuilt, with new walls and improvements to the ceiling and the electric system.

“The building was in a lot worse shape than the owner thought,” Hunker said. “We closed over there April 2 and we really thought we would be getting the key here May 1. Then it was May 20, then it was June 5, then it was ‘We’ll be open by Fourth of July,’ and then it’s August.”

Hunker said once JAM, which stands for "Jeff [McCracken, co-owner] And Mark," got its certificate of occupancy, it opened 50 minutes later to family and friends before opening to the public the next day with no advertising.

“The first night, we did 102 dinners. We were happily freaked out,” Hunker said.

Hunker and McCracken are also co-owners of Eden, the first restaurant they started together. Hunker said JAM will offer the food quality of Eden, but at a lower price point.

The menu has remained mostly the same, with its twists on classic American foods, such as the Kobe beef burger, JAM’s steak frites, bacon-wrapped meatloaf and oven fried chicken. JAM also has seven variations on the french fry, with the smoked bacon and melted cheddar cheese being a standout.

JAM has also made sure to pay homage to its long-running predecessor, the Camel’s Hump. A few menu items from the Camel’s Hump are now served at JAM, distinguished on the menu by the little camel icon next to the item. Hunker said some of the holdovers include lamb kabobs, baba ghanoush, a Euro sandwich and baklava.

“We feel we’ve been entrusted with the legacy of the Camel’s Hump. We saved the camel’s humps on the fences that were here and we’re going to save some of them and put them up around here,” he said.

Hunker said the best part about moving to the new location is that it is above ground.

“It makes all the difference,” he said.

Hunker said he and McCracken already had the concept for JAM ready to go when they were approached to go into Celebration Mall. While JAM was successful there, Hunker said, the building had limitations as far as visibility goes.

When their landlord Eric Kessler - who also owns the Wooden Indian building next to Eden - bought the Camel’s Hump, he approached Hunker and McCracken about relocating JAM there.

“It took longer than we had hoped, but we were very eager to get it done. And it has proved itself,” Hunker said. “I think the word has gotten out that our food is really approachable and fun. I think we like to take the food and deconstruct it and make it different.”

JAM Bistro is open year-round, seven days a week, from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday feature a football brunch at the bar for college and pro games.

For more information on JAM Bistro, call 226-5266 or visit www.jambistro.com.