Ropewalk to open on Chincoteague at old Jackspot

Chincoteague will see the opening of a popular open-air waterfront chain restaurant in the coming months.

Ropewalk, with locations in both Delaware and Maryland, is moving into Virginia and re-opening the doors of the former Jackspot on Marlin Street.

“We wanted to be a part of Chincoteague,” said Marc McFaul, who co-owns the chain with partners Chris Reda and Bill McFaul.

The popular string of restaurants began as a simple endeavor. The McFaul brothers purchased a small bar in Baltimore in 1995 and renovated the building to open the original Ropewalk. As crowds grew, so did the dream. The expansion from bar to restaurant was drastic — 1,000 square feet to 11,000 square feet. The pioneer establishment is now celebrating its 22nd season.

Berlin-based Blue Water Development Corp., founded by Jack Burbage in 2002, is responsible for such real estate development projects as the former Jackspot and the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Chincoteague, and recently purchased the Maddox Family Campground with the intention of building a waterpark on the island. The real estate development company is an investor, said McFaul, but the building and business belong to the McFauls and Reda.

The new Chincoteague location already possessed many of the characteristics of Ropewalk properties, said McFaul. It’s on the water and possessed a beach vibe in a tourism-driven community, but renovations are underway to open up the environment and make the property more cohesive.

“We want it to feel like the whole place is one,” said McFaul, adding that upgrades include the addition of sliding doors for an open-air dining experience, a barge bar on the water to draw noise away from the hotel next door, a playground, cornhole boards and a fire pit.

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“We’re trying to make it more than just a restaurant and more of a destination,” he said.

The menu will be similar if not the same as the menu for Ropewalk's Ocean City location, which includes entrees like lobster pot pie and seafood mac and cheese as well as a kid’s menu and specialty drinks. Plus, the new location will put Ropewalk closer to its oyster sources, said McFaul. The restaurant primarily sources oysters from Tarkill Aquaculture Ventures in Onancock.

McFaul is aiming to open Ropewalk, Chincoteague, in late April and an additional location in Bethany Beach next year. Ropewalk has locations in Fenwick Island, Ocean City and Baltimore.