SoDel Concepts to open Thompson Island Brewing Co. in Rehoboth
SoDel Concepts’ Thompson Island Brewing Company brewpub will open next to Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar in Rehoboth Gateway.
March 30, 2019
Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar is about to get a new neighbor. Owner SoDel Concepts plans to build Thompson Island Brewing Company, a 250-seat brewpub, on the pad site to the south of Bluecoast, which opened in 2017 in the Rehoboth Gateway shopping center.
“We’ve experienced phenomenal success in this location,” said Scott Kammerer, SoDel Concepts president. “Our guests appreciate the easy access, the parking, and our dedication to service and beautiful, simple food. It made sense to bring another concept to the same site.”
The number of acclaimed breweries in the area has made the Delaware beaches a destination for those who love microbrews, said Kammerer. But people also visit to spend time on the beach. Thompson Island Brewing Company is named for a nearby island known for its coastal beauty.
The brewpub’s ambiance will pay homage to longtime area attractions and activities, such as bonfires, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing or just relaxing on the sand. In addition to the bays and beaches, local farms will play a prominent part of the theme.
“We will craft a menu using local ingredients when possible that will pair perfectly with beer and the beer culture,” said Doug Ruley, who oversees culinary operations for the hospitality group. Items will include wood-grilled steaks, chops and rotisserie chicken.
As befits the laid-back, social vibe that surrounds craft beer lovers’ lifestyles, Thompson Island will have a beer garden seating about 100. Guests can play ping-pong and bocce ball in the garden. Classic car buffs will appreciate the 1956 Apache truck that’s outfitted with beer taps.
John Trogner of Tröegs Independent Brewing will be the consultant on the brewing side of the new restaurant. Trogner and brother Chris founded Tröegs in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1996. The brewery is now in Hershey, Pa. John Trogner spent time in Colorado working in a brewery before he and his brother started their own company. They will be assisting with the build out of the brewery itself, consulting on recipe development and brewery staff training.
John Trogner said, “SoDel was a huge help to us when we were developing our Snack Bar. They helped us build the foundation and we ran with it. Now, we’re helping them design their brewery, and helped them find an exceptional brewer.”
Fisher Architecture in Salisbury, Md., and Rehoboth Beach-based Broadpoint Construction are working on the project. Construction started March 25. “Coastal Delaware is a destination for beer lovers,” Kammerer said. “We’re giving them another good reason to visit the Culinary Coast.”
For more information, go to www.sodelconcepts.com.