Big Oyster Brewery expanding again
Big Oyster Brewery in Lewes is expanding its operations again. At its Oct. 13 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a revised final site plan for a 3,000-square-foot storage building and a 1,624-square-foot enclosed outdoor patio in back of the brewery and restaurant along Kings Highway, Lewes.
Since the Lewes brewery opened in 2017, restaurant owner Jeff Hamer has purchased two additional parcels for expansion over the past two years. The company purchased land owned by First Baptist Church adjacent to the brewery and restaurant, and converted the existing buildings into offices and additional space for the brewery. An outdoor eating area and more parking were also added. Sussex County officials approved commercial zoning for the property in November 2020.
In May 2019, the company purchased a 1.3-acre parcel owned by the Mitchell Family to add parking and storage space.
During the meeting, commissioners questioned how the new plan would be impacted by the future Kings Highway expansion project and Historic Lewes Byway requirements.
Planning and Zoning Director Jamie Whitehouse said there was no final plan for the Kings Highway project, but one parking space along the road frontage could be impacted. The developer had requested four parking spaces within the front-yard setback of the property.
During the meeting, commissioners also questioned road interconnectivity to the adjacent Mitchell property, the site of future office buildings and housing units. The Cape Henlopen Medical Center at the intersection of Gills Neck Road and Kings Highway is part of the parcel.
Engineer Cliff Mumford of Davis, Bowen and Friedel said there is land set aside at the rear of the Big Oyster property for a connector road to the adjacent property. In addition, he said, the company has plans for another expansion project in the future.
The final site plan was approved with the removal of two of the four parking spaces in the front-yard setback.
Fins Hospitality Group includes Big Oyster Brewery, Fins Fish House and Raw Bar restaurants in Rehoboth, Bethany Beach and Berlin, Md., and Claws Seafood House in Rehoboth.
