FOOD

New Rehoboth tavern plans to serve classic fare with modern cuisine

The Daily Times

Less than a year into retirement, Bob Suppies is on his way to opening a restaurant.

"It was a short-lived retirement," he said, laughing.

Along with co-owner Tyler Townsend, Suppies is slated to open The Pines, a modern coastal tavern on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach come spring 2018.

Suppies was a retail executive for several years, but since childhood, he's wanted to own a restaurant. More than that, he sought to create an environment where people could relax and enjoy affordable, land-to-seafood cuisine.

"I just fell in love with that building," Suppies said of the tavern-to-be, where Hobos served healthful veggie fare for seven years before closing in 2016.

Bob Suppies and co-owner Tyler Townsend stand outside their new restaurant, The Pines, in Rehoboth Beach. It's slated to open in the spring of 2018.

The Pines is taking a different approach, with "chef-driven contemporary American" plates.

The coastal joint will have a raw bar, hand-selected wine and craft beer, "crafty cocktails," local produce and "modern twists on classic tavern food," according to The Pines website.

Healthy grub, gluten-free and vegetarian options will balance the menu's heavier, classic-tavern-laden steaks and fried chicken, Suppies said.

Suppies and Townsend, who was a minor league player for the Orioles organization and most recently served as bar manager for Blue Coast, are working with Lewes-based R Squared Design to create a comfortable and warm space.

The Pines will boast 750 square feet of outdoor dining (that's about 40 seats) on both floors of the tavern.

The building will get a clean, off-white coat of paint over the current beige-brown exterior. Inside, lighter neutral colors will balance deeper-toned furniture and accents.

Born and raised in Rehoboth Beach, Townsend wants to adorn the tavern with vintage art that echoes the town's sandy, nostalgic "then" and now, when many restaurants can stay open year-round and survive.

Just in front of The Pines, a big dumpster waited until the next day, when Townsend and Suppies would start clearing out the previous restaurant's innards.

"We really want to keep it within the area and highlight what Sussex County and the Eastern Shore has to offer when it comes to food and hospitality," Townsend said, standing on the building's brick patio.

At one of the tavern's windows, the two peered into a dusty history, dark panels and teal popcorn ceiling — what would become their future imprint on Rehoboth's culinary sphere.

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