- Rail Haus is modeled after a German beer backyard with about 2,500 sq. ft inside and practically 20,000 sq. ft exterior.
- Craft beers might be featured from Delaware and surrounding states together with German-inspired brews.
Donny Legans has a imaginative and prescient for an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar in downtown Dover that’s a neighborhood gathering place just like the one which helped spark the revitalization of his former neighborhood in Philadelphia.
The Air Drive veteran is planning to open a German-style beer backyard at 92 N. West St., referred to as Rail Haus as a result of it’s close to the railroad tracks and “haus” is German for “home.”
“We used to stay in Fishtown, in Philadelphia, and we had an superior beer backyard proper throughout the road from our dwelling, and it actually modified the realm,” Legans mentioned.
As its recognition grew, extra entrepreneurs and traders had been interested in the neighborhood.
“It grew to become a spot the place younger individuals and households would hang around. Different eating places opened, attracting some high cooks. Then there have been extra espresso outlets and live performance venues,” he mentioned.
Tales in regards to the revitalization of Fishtown and rising actual property costs had been featured in newspapers and magazines together with a Forbes article, “How Fishtown, Philadelphia Turned America’s Hottest New Neighborhood.”
Although they loved dwelling in Fishtown, Legans’ spouse is within the Air Drive Reserves and needed to drive to Dover Air Drive Base periodically. After testing the Dover space, they determined to relocate.
“We fell in love with the place,” Legans mentioned. “However as soon as we moved right here, we thought one thing was lacking – a restaurant just like the beer backyard in our previous neighborhood.”
Earlier than the revitalization in Fishtown, Legans mentioned there have been industrial areas with some vacant buildings, much like the North West Avenue space in Dover.
“I’ve had this sense we might carry the identical environment to downtown Dover that the beer backyard helped create in Fishtown,” he mentioned.
Whereas they’ve by no means owned a restaurant earlier than, he and his spouse have expertise investing in actual property and have requested for recommendation from their buddies about operating a restaurant.
“Now we have a companion and a few seasoned vets on our crew,” he mentioned.
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Attracted by enterprise grants
Legans mentioned the opportunity of grants from state, county and metropolis applications influenced his choice to put money into downtown Dover, a block north of West Division Avenue.
One of many organizations serving to him with info on grants is the Downtown Dover Partnership, which promotes downtown occasions and financial improvement in an effort to protect historic properties.
The group’s government director, Diane Laird, mentioned the beer backyard might be “an asset to our downtown and the complete neighborhood.”
“We’re thrilled,” mentioned Laird. “That is one thing that’s household oriented with leisure actions in addition to eating. Will probably be an exquisite draw for downtown Dover.”
Along with making use of for a grant by way of the Downtown Dover Partnership, Legans has utilized for funding from Delaware’s Downtown Growth District program and the Delaware Division of Small Enterprise EDGE program.
Multi-year course of earlier than renovations might start
To lift the cash to renovate and open Rail Haus, Legans and his spouse bought a few of their properties in Philadelphia.
The plan has taken greater than two years, from the time they began searching for buildings, to the acquisition after which town approval course of.
They paid $110,000 for the previous Southern States constructing and property which had a number of makes use of together with storage of petroleum merchandise. The constructing had been vacant for a number of years.
State environmental testing on the soil was performed earlier than the sale after underground gas tanks had been eliminated. Then after the sale and rezoning, environmental testing was required once more.
“The whole lot is OK,” Legans mentioned.
The challenge acquired approval from town in December, permitting Legans to begin renovations. Demolition work started two weeks in the past.
“Now we have to intestine the within, elevate and degree the inspiration and flooring, set up a brand new roof, siding and insulation,” Legans mentioned. “Then we get to the enjoyable stuff, all the brand new gear and furnishings and overhead storage doorways to make this a real indoor-outdoor venue.”
He estimates the renovations will take about six to seven months. A gap date, if all the things goes as scheduled, might be in July or August.
He’s hiring 25 staff to begin.
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Plans for an indoor-outdoor restaurant and gathering place
The indoor house at Rail Haus measures about 2,500 sq. ft with seating for 85.
However the out of doors house is what makes the restaurant a beer backyard, with practically 20,000 sq. ft for eating, video games and hanging out. Together with 40 seats and a bar, the yard may have areas for cornhole and bocce and a play space for teenagers. Canines might be allowed exterior.
Will probably be much like Structure Yards on the Wilmington Riverfront, besides Rail Haus might be open all 12 months. Throughout cooler months, Legans plans to maintain the surface open when attainable, with heaters and fireplace pits.
He doesn’t have plans to brew beer. The main focus might be on serving craft beers from Delaware and surrounding states together with German-inspired brews.
The restaurant will function bratwurst – German-style sausages – together with burgers, salads, soups and döners – a German dish much like Greek gyros. A brunch menu might be accessible weekends.
Legans is planning to purchase meats from Haass’ Household Butcher Store close by.
Meals vans might be welcome.
“Our kitchen space is small, however we didn’t need to hand over indoor seating house for a bigger kitchen,” he mentioned. “So meals vans will assist and it’ll be a part of the entire neighborhood gathering spot concept.”
The placement attracted Legans as a result of it had the house wanted for a beer backyard and it’s close to Delaware State College’s downtown campus, state and county authorities buildings, Bayhealth Hospital, and a brief drive from the Air Drive base.
“Dover’s inhabitants doubles through the day. So many staff come right here,” Legans mentioned.
He’s additionally hoping to enchantment to individuals eager about health.
“There’s a motorbike lane close by. We’re going to welcome cyclists. There are a number of health facilities within the space and we’re hoping individuals will meet right here after their exercises. We’d like to supply yoga courses, too,” he mentioned.
He believes his timing is true.
“I believe persons are itching to get out and see individuals and meet individuals,” Legans mentioned. “The previous few years have been tough on everybody, throughout COVID. I believe that is going to be big hit, and we’ve acquired quite a lot of assist already. I hope this helps the west facet of downtown and generates alternative right here for different entrepreneurs.”
Reporter Ben Mace covers actual property and improvement tales. Attain him at [email protected].
