Grain selected to renovate, operate Lewes Ferry Terminal food operation

Delaware River and Bay Authority officials have announced the selection of Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen to redevelop, reposition and operate the restaurant and associated facilities located at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal in Lewes. Negotiations regarding the partnership/lease agreement are expected to take four to six weeks. The restaurant, tentatively known as Grain On The Rocks, will renovate the current facility during the winter of 2019-20 and be ready for the summer of 2020.

“When we began this process in May, we were looking to find a partner who could take our food and retail business at the Lewes Terminal to the next level,” said Heath Gehrke, director of ferry operations at the DRBA. “Grain’s brand, menu, and focus on creating a dining destination for families align perfectly with our goals for the location. We’re looking forward to the start of what we believe will be a very successful partnership.”

Already popular with ferry travelers and locals, the location offers a great platform for growth. Grain intends to work with the existing restaurant team to create a year-round dining destination in the Lewes-Rehoboth resort area. “We are very excited about the location and the team. Our goal is to open up the layout and strengthen the relationship between the internal structure and the beautiful outdoor surroundings so that the design feels both authentic and natural, which is a big part of the Grain brand,” explains Grain co-owner Jim O’Donoghue.

The location offers a mix of indoor and outdoor seating options with unparalleled views of the water and the ferry operations. In addition to dining, the DRBA recently renovated an adjacent activity area to include a fire pit, pier, pergola, picnic tables, benches, open green space, and children’s play structure. Accessible by boat, bike or car, the location offers plenty of free parking for all. The ferry operates year-round, transporting nearly 1,000,000 passengers annually between the Delaware and South Jersey resort areas.

Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen already has three locations in the Delaware Valley, all with a mix of indoor and outdoor dining. Grain intends to create a version of its polished casual menu for destination diners and ferry travelers alike. Grain will also offer an extensive craft beer and cocktail menu, similar to its other locations.