Kingston Gourmet moves into McQuay’s Market
After 15 years in the restaurant business in Bethany Beach, chef Bruce Kingston was ready for a change.
He’s found it by taking over a Rehoboth Beach landmark: the venerable McQuay’s Market at 510 Rehoboth Ave.
The market has been rechristened Kingston Gourmet and came about rather quickly for Kingston and his partners Mary Ann and Ray Sokola.
“We looked at other businesses around here but then saw this location and thought, ‘Oh, this would be rather neat to get out of Bethany,” Kingston said. “We’re trying to keep the history of McQuay’s Market as much as possible. Doing a lot of the things a lot of the former people have done – the nice lobster salads and shrimp salads.”
Kingston said Kingston Gourmet would be selling black angus and wagyu beef, Italian meats, seafood such as lobster tails and dry packed scallops, gourmet cheeses, fresh baked bread and pastries and desserts.
Besides food, Kingston Gourmet is also selling drinks such as fruit smoothies and Illy Espresso coffee from Italy.
Down the road, Kingston plans to have a small bistro and bar with martinis and wine along with a small-plate, tapas-style menu.
“Cold cheese things and hors d'oeuvres-y type stuff. We’re not going to be a restaurant per se. We’re going to redo the patio so we can put eight to 10 tables out there,” he said.
Kingston said he also hopes to have curbside pickup for customers who order in advance.
He said Kingston Gourmet plans to be open year-round, and although the store has only been open since May 24, so far reaction has been good.
“It’s been very good. They seem very happy with the way we’ve designed it," he said.
Kingston said he does not feel any pressure to live up to the history of McQuay’s Market, which has existed in some form or another since Butch McQuay founded it in the late 1940s.
“This, to me, is like retiring. I don’t feel any pressure at all,” Kingston said.
Kingston Gourmet is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with reduced hours in the offseason. For more information, call 302-727-5959 or go to kingstongourmet.com.
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.
