SBA, Community Bank enable longtime employee to buy Sunrise Restaurant

After nearly 30 years as an employee at Sunrise Restaurant, Robbie Holson has worked just about every position in the eatery.

Now, he owns the Dewey Beach staple where he started his career as a 14-year-old bus boy.

“My sister got me the job. The old owner took one look at me and said, no way! He can’t even hold a bus tray,” Holson laughed. “My sister said give him a chance, and when he saw me running around the dining room, he knew it would be OK.”

The diner-style eatery has served patrons since the 1950s, while Sunshine Restaurant was established in 1984, Holson said. 

Maintaining the restaurant’s family atmosphere while providing good food and service is the goal, Holson said, and he will continue to offer its signature breakfast options such as omelets, pancakes, French toast, plus sandwiches, subs and salads.

The restaurant will have expanded hours Friday and Saturday nights so hungry patrons as well as late-night workers can grab a meal after their shifts.

The oceanblock property was purchased on Feb. 12 for $2.185 million with assistance from the Small Business Administration and Community Bank. 

SBA Mid-Atlantic Director John Fleming said Holson was able to use a change-of-ownership loan backed by an SBA guarantee, which helps borrowers qualify for loans that they might not otherwise be eligible for under traditional lending programs.

SBA State Director Michelle Harris said the SBA guarantee can make the impossible possible for potential small business owners because it is designed to help banks by mitigating lending risks.

Community Bank President Jack Riddle said he has worked with Holson for several years as he moved toward buying the property and business.

“I look forward to Robbie serving up that scrapple and bacon for a long time to come,” Riddle said.

Dewey Beach Town Manager Bill Zolper said he met with all business owners in the week before St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and that no issues on Clayton Street, where Sunrise Restaurant is located, were reported to town or police officials. 

Holson noted he had installed security cameras, and Zolper said the two will be working together on outdoor signage for the restaurant.

For more information about the Small Business Administration, go to sba.gov/district/delaware, and for Community Bank, go to communitybankdelaware.com.

Sunrise Restaurant is located at 2300 Coastal Hwy., Dewey Beach. For information, call 302-227-3202 or go to facebook.com/sunrisedb.