FENWICK ISLAND, Del.- SoDel Concepts is expanding. Demolition started Tuesday at what used to be Ropewalk in Fenwick Island. When it's finished, it will be SoDel's third, Matt's Fish Camp location.
"We're going to serve crab cakes, lobster rolls, all the local favorites from the other two Matt's, but some additional things you can only get here at Matt's Fish Camp Fenwick," said Matt Patton with SoDel.
The restaurant group wasted no time on demolition and renovations, eager to welcome the new location this summer.
"We're excited to serve the local Fenwick crowd and the summer locals. We've been looking at Fenwick for a while now to add to the Matt's Fish Camps that we have," said Patton.
Most of the original layout will stay the same. The downstairs and upstairs bars will stick around. Without capacity limits and restrictions, the restaurant will hold around 200 people.
SoDel is the second restaurant group to purchase local restaurants in the past couple of weeks. Big Fish recently bought Striper Bites and Second Street Tavern in Lewes. Bob Yesbek with Rehoboth Foodie credits the recent trend to the pandemic.
"I don't think it's a trend we would see if all this craziness and nonsense with restaurant locks downs hadn't happened," said Yesbek.
He says he's heard some people say, they are worried about bigger companies taking over. But Yesbek says that's not the case.
"They're local people, and they're employing our local families, and neighbors, and their kids," said Yesbek.
Betsy Reamer with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce agrees. She says she's excited to welcome the new, local ownership to Lewes.
"I view this as a transaction between local business people and a locally owned restaurant. I don't see that it would impact negatively at all. We really look forward to getting to know the new business owners," said Reamer.
The new Matt's Fish Camp location will be open by the summer. Right now SoDel is hiring for all positions for the new location.