Pit & Pub expands north to 127th Street
After six years of success, a popular Ocean City bar has decided to double its doors.
Earlier this month, Steve Hoffman and Mike Horsey, owners of the original Pit & Pub on 28th Street, expanded north to 127th Street, with the help of their longtime friend, Jon "Stat" Johannesmeyer.
Johannesmeyer, from Erie, Pennsylvania, has worked in Ocean City for the last 15 years at a few local dining establishments, including Pit & Pub's flagship location for the last four years.
"Stat was vital for this expansion, we couldn't have done it without him," said Hoffman. "We trust him. We know that he'll uphold the brand and our standards."
The Northside Pit & Pub will offer the same daily specials and menu, featuring fresh, smoked meats and homemade barbecue, as well as popular items like fish tacos, homemade chili and chicken pot pie. Just like the original spot, the full menu will be available until 1 a.m. daily.
There are 70 seats inside and a dozen flat screen TV's surrounding the bar. The eatery has a bunch of arcade games too. But unlike its predecessor, Northside Pit & Pub will be sporting a little less purple.
Instead, Johannesmeyer, Hoffman and Horsey intend to focus on superior food and customer service.
"It's the same but different," said Nadine Horsey, manager of the new location and Mike Horsey's wife.
The south location on 28th Street has long been dubbed Ocean City's unofficial Raven's bar, acting as a second home to Baltimore fans and Raven's Roost #58. It is also located across the street from Buxy's Salty Dog Saloon, the town's unofficial Steeler's bar, which often makes game day exciting.
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Sometimes, tension can even run a little high from across the street.
But the owners assure it's all in good fun.
"Life wouldn't be interesting if we all rooted for the same team," said Doug "Buxy" Buxbaum, owner of Buxy's Salty Dog Saloon.
Although they have only worked across from one another for six years, Buxbaum has known Hoffman and Horsey for nearly, "a lifetime."
"We're close," he said. "We help each other out. My wife and I went to their weddings, all our kids go to school together ... there's nothing but love there."
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Hoffman and Horsey both grew up in Baltimore, but officially made Ocean City home after becoming attached to the town and its residents.
For years, they worked in a number of well-known restaurants — Crab Alley, Ocean City Marlin Club, Mickey Fins, Pickles Pub and Harborside — before building up the nerve to open their own.
They decided to specialize in smoked meats, something no other establishment in town was doing. Everything else, Hoffman said, "just fell into place."
Although the new location has only been open for two weeks, there is already talk of expanding outside Ocean City, perhaps to Fenwick Island or Salisbury. But for now, two is enough.
"We have some big plans but we want to do it the right way," said Horsey. "We're going to learn to walk before we start really running."
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Northside Pit & Pub
Where: 12701 Coastal Highway, Suite 8, Ocean City
When: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, hours subject to change
Call: 443-664-7482
Visit: pitandpub.com