Pavilion construction underway at The Starboard

Construction is officially underway on The Starboard’s permanent outdoor dining pavilion in Dewey Beach, following approval of the project late last year.

The pavilion will replace the temporary tent structure that was put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic to accommodate additional outdoor seating options. The renovations are intended to support year-round outdoor dining in a safer, more durable environment. 

“Obviously, COVID changed the world in many ways,” said The Starboard owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery. “One of the silver linings was outdoor dining throughout the state of Delaware. For The Starboard, it really brought dining way more into the forefront of who we are.”

The preliminary work, including groundwork and underground utility installation, has already been completed. The tent has been temporarily reinstalled to accommodate holiday events, but will be removed after New Year’s Eve, with construction of the permanent structure set to begin in early January. The project is expected to be completed by the end of February. 

“We broke it into two halves, so to speak,” said Montgomery. “After Dewey Goes Pink, we took the tent down, took the pavers out, and we did all the underground work. And then we put the tent back up to cater to all the holiday parties, as well as New Year’s Eve.”

Once finished, the new outdoor dining pavilion will feature a permanent, steel-supported structure designed for year-round use. Retractable side walls will allow the space to adapt to changing weather conditions while continuing to provide an outdoor dining experience for everyone. 

Throughout the process, the project has received strong community support. Neighbors and nearby businesses have expressed enthusiasm for replacing the long-standing tent with a permanent, visually improved structure.

“Outdoor dining overall has really brought Dewey Beach into a more well-rounded town,” said Montgomery. “And that's the thing that we've been pushing as business owners for over 10 years with the Dewey Business Partnership: family events are No. 1, keeping Dewey a very lively, nightlife, fun town, because it is that, but also making it more well-rounded for the local community, the kids, the families. And Dewey has achieved that better than it ever has in its history.”