Dewey Beach Club moves back to Dewey

Dewey Beach is going to party like its 1989 thanks to a new Dewey Beach Club.

Jeff Treacy plans to open the restaurant, with a blast-from-the-past name, by early spring.

Locals might remember the original Dewey Beach Club that rolled into town just before the '90s. The laid-back eatery, located on Route 1, grew to fame with its juicy pork chops and popular burger night. After closing in 2009, the building was briefly occupied by Port Restaurant.

After Port announced it too was leaving, Treacy quickly snatched up the lease.

"I knew immediately that I wanted the space," he said. "It was perfect for our concept."

Treacy now owns the building with his business partner and father, Tom.

The two intend to knock down the enclosed patio's walls to fully capitalize on the outside space. The building's interior will be repainted and refreshed, and the kitchen will also be upgraded and modernized.

With construction already underway, the Dewey Beach Club hopes for a soft opening in March.

The menu will feature gourmet beach food such as fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as tapas and a variety of small plates, ideal for sharing.

“Many restaurants offer large portions for that ‘wow’ factor, but those kinds of dishes fill you up so quickly,” he said. “Small plates allow you to try an array of different flavors during the same meal.”

Treacy plans to offer his own burger night, to pay homage to the original DBC.

The restaurant's bar will feature four or five rotating local craft beers, as well as a domestic can and bottle selection. Treacy intends to put his bartending skills to good use while crafting the restaurant's unique and playful cocktail list.

Before Dewey Beach Club, he was a bartender at Baywood Greens in Long Neck and the Gate House of Lewes.

Just like the restaurant's menu, the Dewey Beach Club's cocktail list will be made using fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

Dewey Beach Club patrons will be able to sip on tasty concoctions such as spicy pomegranate margaritas, whiskey smashes, rum painkillers and bushwackers, a cocktail often described as a creamy, chocolate piña colada.

Although the Dewey Beach Club will be Treacy's first restaurant, he's no stranger to the industry. In addition to his extensive bartending background, Treacy was practically raised in his parent's tavern style restaurant in Pennsylvania.

"I joke that I learned to play pool before I learned how to walk," he said.

After he finished school, Treacy worked for reputable cellphone companies, AT&T and Verizon. Despite excelling in sales, he missed his restaurant roots. The Delaware bartending gigs helped, but Treacy really had his sights set on owning his own restaurant.

"I'm very excited for this next chapter," he said. "I'm looking forward to working with my father and especially being a part of the Dewey Beach community. It's all very exciting."

302-537-1881, ext. 209

On Twitter @hcarroll_1