Smokin D’z BBQ, Shed Crazy are on the move
After more than a decade sharing a property on the corner of Cave Neck Road and Route 1, Smokin D’z BBQ and Shed Crazy are on the move.
On the morning of the businesses’ last Saturday of the season, Smokin D’z BBQ co-owner Katherine Birl said this opportunity has far exceeded any expectations.
“We’ve been very blessed,” said Birl, who co-owns the business with her husband Damian. “It’s going to be tough to say goodbye.”
Located on that corner property for 14 years, Smokin D’z is a family-run business, through and through. In addition to Katherine and Damian, their children Collin, Sophia and Gavin have all worked at the business doing things like running the produce stand, manning the trailer, selling photos, making pickles and selling firewood.
“It’s been a great opportunity to work with our children,” said Katherine.
Shed Crazy owners Steve Fender and Jennifer Sharp started selling their outdoor furniture and sheds on the property 10 years ago. Over that time, the footprint of their selection has grown as two farmers markets have come and gone.
“We’ve grown beyond our wildest dreams,” said Fender. “Change is inevitable. We’re going to keep on moving and keep on rolling.”
The businesses are moving because the property is being cleared for future development of a project called Chappell Farm. First approved in June 2021, a conditional use for the multifamily component of the project with 128 apartments was set to expire this past June because county code says work must be started within three years or the conditional use is no longer valid. County code also allows for one six-month extension, which was granted. That extension expires later this year.
Looking forward, the Birls said they are still trying to figure out where their next location will be. They said they would like to stay in the Cape Region.
“The customers are like a part of the family,” said Katherine.
In the meantime, the Birls partnered with Diamond State Meats to begin offering home delivery. Options include baby back ribs, pulled pork, smoked party wings, baked beans, brisket, GC pickles and homemade barbecue sauces.
As for Fender and Sharp, they’ve secured a location that’s across a farm field and visible from the current location – Heritage Antiques. They’re trying to have that open by Thanksgiving, they said.
Fender and Sharp have also purchased a piece of property on the southbound side of Route 1, but a little farther away. It’s close to Grizzly’s Landscape and Supply near Hudson Road.
Fender and Sharp said they still need to get approvals for an entrance, but they’re looking to open that location by mid- to late 2025.
For more information on how to order Smokin D’z home delivery, go to diamondstatemeats.com, email sales@diamondstatemeats.com or call 302-270-0009.
For more information about Shed Crazy, go to shedcrazy.com.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. Additionally, Flood moonlights as the company’s circulation manager, which primarily means fixing boxes that are jammed with coins during daylight hours, but sometimes means delivering papers in the middle of the night. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
