Sussex eateries honored by state restaurant group
SoDel Concepts president Scott Kammerer and the owners of Henlopen City Oyster House will be honored by the Delaware Restaurant Association Nov. 7 at Wilmington’s World Cafe Live at the Queen.
Kammerer, head of the restaurant group that operates nine Sussex County restaurants including Bluecoast in Bethany Beach and Papa Grande’s in Rehoboth Beach and Fenwick Island, will receive the organization’s Cornerstone Award. The award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the local restaurant community.
Joe Baker and Chris Bisaha, owners of Henlopen City Oyster House in Rehoboth Beach, have been named Delaware Restaurateurs of the Year. Their Wilmington Avenue seafood house is one of the most popular eateries in the resort town, judging by the crowds elbowing for room at the bar and the frequent wait for tables, especially in the summer.
Kammerer became president of SoDel Concepts after founder Matt Haley’s sudden death in 2014. Kammerer is a founding partner of Highwater Management and HaleyKammerer Restaurant Consulting; a co-founder of Matt's Homemade Sodas, a line of craft sodas distributed throughout Delaware; a co-founder of SoDel Salts, a line of chef-inspired flavored sea salt; and executive producer of SoDel Films.
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Kammerer also is the founder of SoDel Cares, a charity that raises funds for causes that benefit children, at-risk youth, adults reentering society from the prison system and the elderly who need assistance.
SoDel Concepts recently signed a lease for its 10th restaurant, Bluecoast Seafood Grill, which will be located in the Rehoboth Gateway shopping center on Del. 1. This is the second Bluecoast location for the company. The 250-seat, 4,500-square-foot restaurant – located near Fresh Market and Bed, Bath & Beyond – is being built from the ground up. An outdoor area will feature fire pits, corn hole games and an acoustic stage. The restaurant will employ more than 100. The opening is planned for spring 2017.
Baker and Bisaha, in the restaurant business since their teens, have operated Henlopen City Oyster House since 2010. This winter, the pair plan to open a second location, The Blue Hen, in the lobby of The Avenue Inn, near their flagship restaurant on Wilmington Avenue. The Blue Hen will serve regional American fare and have “beach casual” decor.
The 15th annual Restaurant Industry Cornerstone Awards run from 6 to 9 p.m. and feature drinks and tastes from local restaurants along with live jazz music. Tickets are available at delawarerestaurant.org/events or by calling (302) 738-2545.
Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 orptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter@pattytalorico