Dewey Beach Club back in business
To the untrained eye, the white building at 1205 S. Route 1 in Dewey Beach might look the same, but a second glance proves the space has received a few recent upgrades, like a new porch and even a new name. One step inside, though, reveals an enormous transformation has taken place.
The space is now home to the Dewey Beach Club, a laid back restaurant and cocktail bar with a retro, beachy vibe. Owners Tom and Jeff Treacy said after learning the history of the white building, bringing it back to former glory was the only right thing to do.
Locals might remember the original Dewey Beach Club that rolled into town in 1989. The eatery quickly grew to fame with its juicy pork chops and popular burger night. After closing in 2009, the building was briefly occupied by Port Restaurant.
Once Port announced it too was leaving, the father-and-son duo snatched up the lease.
"I knew immediately that I wanted it," Jeff Treacey said. "It was perfect for our concept."
BACKGROUND: Read about the revival of the Dewey Beach Club
The space is open and bright, a stark contrast to what it looked like a few years ago. New hardwood floors have replaced the dark carpet. Freshly painted walls now feature funky, eclectic artwork, adding pops of color and attitude throughout the restaurant. The mantle and fire place have been restored and the once enclosed patio has been ripped down, offering open air seating.
The renovated bar has four beers on tap, as well as a handpicked selection of tequila, rum and whiskey.
Before Dewey Beach Club, Jeff Treacy was a bartender at Baywood Greens in Long Neck and the Gate House of Lewes. He put his bartending skills to good use while crafting the restaurant's unique and playful cocktail list, which features options like habanero pineapple mojitos, spicy pomegranate margaritas and whiskey smashes.
Like most of the restaurant's interior, the kitchen has also been upgraded and modernized.
The menu, handcrafted and executed by Tom Treacy, features gourmet beach food items like artisan meat and cheese boards, fresh salads, sandwiches and steaks, as well as a variety of tapas or small plates, like mini crabcakes, chicken drumettes and barbecue spare ribs, all ideal for sharing.
So far, the grilled lamb chop small plate, topped with rosemary, capers and a homemade burnt butter sauce, is the restaurant's best seller.
"Of course we knew it was good," Tom Treacy said, with a smile. "But we didn't expect it to be the crowd favorite."
Other menu items are also gaining local attention. Dewey Beach Club's slow roasted pork belly tacos took home the trophy this year at the Dewey Beach Bacon Fest.
"Talk about hitting the ground running," Tom Treacy said.
Tom Tracey, a self-taught chef who worked in resort hotel kitchens for years, always dreamed of opening his own restaurant. His eccentric cooking style naturally slants toward Spanish influence, techniques and flavors, he said, but assures the Dewey Beach Club menu has something for every palate.
As the restaurant anticipates its first summer season, the father-and-son duo plan to offer more fresh catch options, as well as live entertainment, special events and a weekly burger night to pay homage to the original Dewey Beach Club. The restaurant will remain open daily through summer, but will switch to offseason hours in September.
"I'm excited for this next chapter," Jeff Treacy said. "I'm looking forward to working with my father and being a part of the Dewey Beach community."
Dewey Beach Club
Where: 1205 SR-1, Dewey Beach
When: 4 p.m Friday through Sunday (open noon daily after Memorial Day)
Call: 302-227-0669
On Twitter @hcarroll_1 and Facebook at Facebook.com/byhannahcarroll
On Instagram @thesassy_banana
302-537-1881, ext. 209