Olde Bay At the Beach
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BUSINESS
Another Chesapeake Current Exclusive
A new restaurant is coming to North Beach, Olde Bay Tavern & Trading Company at 4114 7th Street will be located where Bilvil used to be. “I call what we’ll be doing ‘Maryland Casual.’ You can expect delicious comfort foods here,” says owner Doug McClair of Huntingtown. He and his wife, Colleen, hope to open in time for the Labor Day weekend. “We’re working on inspections and permits, but if those don’t come together in time, we’ll go for the following weekend. But we’ll be open as soon as we can.” He’s had his eye on the place for a while, finding it one evening when he came to the North Beach Friday Night Farmers’ Market. “When we were first married, a long time ago, we lived in a little place in North Beach. We’ve been living in Huntingtown for 25 years, but still have family here. So I feel Doug McClair prepares the kitchen at home,” McClair at his new restaurant, opening soon. adds. “I feel connected to all things nautical in a spiritual way, so the location is perfect. We looked in the window and I saw it was laid out like one of my favorite places in Frederick – Peter Pan Inn – with little, intimate rooms and settings,” McClair says. “So many things came together that I know this is meant to be.” “I’ve been a foodie all my life. I was a dessert chef in my teens and early 20’s. Then I went into IT, and retired after 30 years not too long ago. I’ve had a lot of success with small businesses. I’m good in the kitchen and I like to meet and greet people, so I’m looking forward to it,” he says. What can we expect at Olde Bay Tavern & Trading Company? “We’ll change the menu regularly so the locals won’t get bored, and I really like the ‘farm to table’ concept. We don’t have hardly any freezer space, so you can count on everything being fresh, which is best, anyway,” he says. What’s on the menu? “I’m working on killer a crab cake, a couple of different crab soups, and red and white chili recipes. We’ll have healthy and vegetarian dishes and some gluten-free, along with a couple of chicken
Richard’s Bayside Florist Says Goodbye Olde Bay Tavern & Trading Company will be located in the former Bilvil restaurant on 7th Street in North Beach.
dishes, haddock, tilapia, and scampi, a couple of nice cuts of steak, and soups in bread bowls, like chicken and dumplings. I make one of the best Ruebens around… crab quesadillas, a great fish taco, and wings with an incredible mambo sauce. I want to make the wings in ‘snack packs’ that people can order ahead and carry out for game days,” McClair says. “And our fries are like Boardwalk Fries – thick cut, and crunchy. You’ll love them!” “As for the trading company side, McClair says they will offer canned goods to take home. “I make the most amazing blackberry and strawberry jams, and I’ve perfected peach preserves that are tremendous. I also make my own bread and butter pickles. They’re a little sweet with a little heat and I fry them, too. You can bet I’ll be out at the Farmers’ Market with those,” he laughs. McClair says his goal is to make coming to Olde Bay a pleasant culinary experience. “After being in IT for 30 years, I know the importance of customer service. In here, no one will be waiting for ten minutes for a drink or a half hour for their food. We’ll be fast, efficient, and of course, it will be delicious.” McClair says Olde Bay Tavern and Trading Company will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. On Saturdays and Sundays, they’ll open early for breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and be open Saturday nights until 11:00 p.m. and Sundays until 10:00 p.m. They will be closed on Mondays. “I’m very picky about sausage, so you can expect to get really, really great sausages for breakfast,” McClair adds. “Also, we’ve just been approved to knock out a wall, so we will be adding a small bar, which will take out a couple of chairs, but I think it’s worth it,” McClair adds. The restaurant can seat 40 diners. Watch their web site at www.oldebaytavern. com and the Chesapeake Current for more info on their grand opening.
Richard Penfield has had a flower shop at the corner of 5th and Chesapeake Avenue in North Beach for 18 years. He tells the Chesapeake Current, “October 14 is my last day.” “People have been coming to me for funerals and weddings and special occasions all those years. I feel so bad letting people down - 18 years was a good, long run. It’s hard to say goodbye to all my friends and customers, but it’s time. It really is time to let go,” he says. Penfield has sold the building that houses Richard’s Bayside Florist to the owners of Beauty By the Bay. Phong Le of Owings, better known as “Kim,” will move her salon to the new location, around the corner from where she’s presently located in the ground floor of Bay Walk on Bay Avenue. “I don’t like leaving this town,” says Penfield. “But this recession has killed so many small businesses. I know of three mom and pop florists that went out of business recently. And I ended up selling this place for much less than I expected, so my retirement will not be what I hoped, either.” Still, he’s focused on the future, looking forward to the next phase of his life. “My wife, Carol, will be a painter and I will be a fisher. We will continue to live at Breezy Point, and probably rent an RV and visit some National Parks. That’s something we’ve always wanted to do. We’ll also get to see our grandson and granddaughter in Connecticut rather than just on Facebook. I’d also like to spend some time as an archaeologist down at Jefferson Patterson Park, digging around. I think all these things will be fun.” Meantime, he’s going through a bittersweet transition, having what he calls “a sentimental yard sale” to liquidate his stock. What he can’t sell at a discount to other local retailers, he says he will give to the Habitat ReStore or put on EBay. “For example, I have 120 collectible lighthouses that were collector’s items ten years ago when the manufacturer went out of business, so I think someone probably will buy them online.” Several local retailers have already purchased his display cases along with many of his knickknacks. “Leo at Chesapeake Pharmacy (in Chesapeake Beach) came in and bought my refrigeration case, so they will be adding flowers at the drug store, which will be nice. Bev from the drug store is buying a lot of my card and gift inventory to take to their store, too.” “So I’m leaving little pieces of me all Richard Penfield, long-time owner of around,” he says, with a smile. Richard’s Bayside Florist in North Beach.
Welcome to Butterfly Fields Bed & Breakfast
www.butterfly-fields.com Just 15 minutes to the beaches and boats – 20 minutes to Annapolis!
Situated down a half-mile quiet farm road, Butterfly Fields offers peace and quiet to those looking to “get away from it all” while still being so close to bustling city life. In Lothian on MD Rt. 408 between Routes 2 & 4 (Pennsylvania Avenue)
Chesapeake Current
(410) 271-1433
Spacious rooms have private baths and beautiful pasture views Delicious farm breakfast included! Goose at the Door Pottery on the premises
Thursday, August 25, 2011
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