Swell overcomes devastating fire, reopens for summer
After a long recovery from a fire, The Swell Tiki Bar & Grill has reopened its doors.
The fire, which was confined to the roof, attic and ceiling of the Rehoboth Beach establishment, was caused by an electrical problem and occurred after it closed for the evening on Sept. 3, 2015.
"It was a devastating blow," said owner Helen Fausnaught, adding the fire occurred the night before Labor Day weekend. "It was really, really hard."
Instead of allowing herself to fall into despair, though, Fausnaught spent the next seven months rebuilding and upgrading, determined to make her bar even better than before.
"There were so many days I felt like giving up," she said, recalling numerous, unforeseen obstacles encountered along the way. "But Jamie never let me. She was my rock."
Fausnaught met Jamie Foshey, her business partner, in Rehoboth nearly four years ago.
The two instantly connected and developed a strong friendship. They had a lot in common — both were from Pennsylvania, where Foshey still works — and both dreamed of one day owning a bar or restaurant.
"We were out one night and started playing the 'what if' game," Foshey said. "You know, like 'what if we really did own a bar, what would we call it? What would the concept be? Where would it be?' "
The date organically turned into a business dinner, she said, as the two discussed ideas and even drew up a mock logo for their potential venture.
Fausnaught and Foshey turned dreams into reality and opened The Swell Tiki Bar & Grill in May of 2015 on Rehoboth Ave Ext. in the Henlopen Junction.
The space, like it was before the fire, is painted in vibrant shades of orange and blue and features a tin roof ceiling and low lit, hanging bar lights. Its one of a kind, wooden bar is trimmed in local driftwood.
The "new and improved menu," Foshey said, features options like grilled veggie plates, tiki fries, fresh salads, crab cakes, grilled flatbreads, Kobe beef burgers and Moroccan-spiced salmon.
"Believe it or not," she said. "We're known for our calamari. People say its phenomenal."
The Swell's full-service bar offers a small selection of beer, wine and a number of handcrafted cocktails. The bar's signature drink, Hippie Juice, is made with watermelon vodka, lemonade and fresh strawberries. In the coming months, Fausnaught hopes to offer an additional "hang out space" outside, which will feature a full service tiki bar with twinkling lights, torches and fresh flowers.
Live entertainment will continue to be offered weekly, including Kathy Gorman on Wednesday nights, Matthew Kenworthy from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and karaoke on Saturdays with Seashell Michelle.
The Swell Tiki Bar & Grill officially opened June 1, and already, Fausnaught said, response from the community has been tremendously positive.
"The community has just been incredible throughout this entire transition," she said, adding that Minuteman Press in Dewey Beach donated the first batch of menus. "The outpouring of love we've received ... it's just been wonderful."
The Swell Tiki Bar & Grill
Where: 37385 Rehoboth Ave Ext., Rehoboth Beach (in Henlopen Junction)
When: 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily
Call: 302-227-9355
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