Henlopen City Oyster House named SBA’s top small business
One of Rehoboth Beach's most popular eateries has been named Delaware's top small business by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“These small business owners represent the best of the best and showcase daily their entrepreneurial spirit and what it takes to be successful in today’s evolving and competitive business environment,” said SBA administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.
Henlopen City Oyster House owners Chris Bisaha and Joe Baker said they opened the 50 Wilmington Ave. restaurant only six years ago, with help from SBA loans.
“You hope when you start, but you can’t imagine the scope,” Baker said of their success.
Baker and Bisaha said the key to their success in the competitive Rehoboth restaurant scene is constant evolution and research. Baker said they are always scoping out new farms and new craft brewers, as well as studying restaurants in other extremely competitive food scenes such as Austin and Philadelphia.
“It’s just about staying on top of everything. We’re always trying to evolve with what’s going on,” Baker said.
“Keeping your service top-notch is super important,” Bisaha added. “We try to keep the building fresh. From aesthetically, to the food sourcing, to the wine and beer.”
Henlopen City Oyster House’s success is even more impressive in light of the fact that they are not on Rehoboth Avenue, and they are not in the beach blocks. Right from the start, Bisaha and Baker wanted to make their mark on Wilmington Avenue’s second block.
“When this place was for sale, we saw the potential of this block,” Baker said. “The restaurants and hotels around us have done such a great job. It just complements the whole street. It’s spiraled into a real busy street, which is great.”
One might think the recent boom in breweries and brewpubs in coastal Delaware would hurt a craft beer place like Henlopen City Oyster House, but Bisaha and Baker said the new brewers are good for business.
“It’s one more reason for people to come to Delaware,” Baker said.
For Henlopen City Oyster House owners, the SBA award validates the hard work they’ve put in, and they credited their staff with helping to keep the business humming.
Henlopen City Oyster House was one of 54 winners, a group that includes businesses from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The winners will be honored at ceremonies to take place in Washington, D.C., Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 2.
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.
