Heirloom brings a dream into reality

When Heirloom opens later this year, it will be a dream come true for Meghan Lee.

Lee has been working in the restaurant industry for most of her life, and she has always wanted to open her own restaurant. When she found the historic home at the corner of Third Street and Savannah Road in Lewes, she knew it was finally time to pull the trigger.

“I've had the name of the restaurant for probably five years. All the spaces I've ever looked at, they never really fit the story behind the name,” she said. “When this all came together, it was just meant to be. The name and the history of this house are merging together to create exactly what I want.”

Heirloom will be committed to a seasonally inspired menu that is locally focused, unique to the farms of Delmarva and its surrounding area, Lee said. She will use fresh, local ingredients in a menu that will change when possible.

“I think with that comes a super-creative chef who I can work side by side with,” she said.

Lee's vision for the restaurant is pretty set. Accompanying the menu will be a beverage program that features handcrafted cocktails and wines that partner beautifully with the food. She is also determined to bring in a top-notch cheese program.

The home of the restaurant dates back to 1899, when the original floor plans were created by architect George F. Barber for original owner J.B. Robinson. Lee found the plans and will incorporate them into the décor of the restaurant. Robinson was a dentist, and the plans show a dentist's office and reception area within the home.

Lee hired local architect and designer Brenda Jones, who has renovated and rehabilitated several historic homes in Lewes. This will be her first restaurant, but the structure lends itself to Jones' expertise.

“It was mindfully drawn to flow with the historic district,” Jones said. “The average person would not necessarily think it's a restaurant.”

The home is undergoing considerable construction, as crews from Allserve Enterprises are widening the structure while adding an addition off the back. The widening will bring the structure back to its original look, Lee said, with a new roofline that will appear seamless when complete.

The restaurant will look and feel much like a historic home. Lee is leaving most of the interior walls intact, and it will seat 65 people in three dining rooms, a private room and a bar. Outdoor seating will be part of a later phase, Lee said.

The private room was important to Lee, as she wanted to have an intimate space where folks could hold parties. The room will have a large 10-person farm table, which also could be useful for a tasting menu Lee plans to incorporate down the road.

Beyond the private room will be a looking glass into the kitchen, which will occupy most of the rear addition.

“I knew what I wanted in the kitchen, and I knew how I wanted it to look,” she said.

Lee is documenting the restaurant's transformation through weekly updates on Heirloom's Instagram page @HeirloomDelaware.

“I want people to see it evolve,” she said. “I cannot wait to give this back to this community because they have been so supportive.”