More than a year after a fire, Dockside Willies restaurant customers are enjoying their Mango Bangos and River Rocks in rustic, lodge-like atmosphere.
Over the weekend, owner Don Carter, Jr. and his staff welcomed the first guests to the waterfront establishment at 449 S. Front St. An official grand opening will be held Nov. 14.
“They are just thrilled we are back. It makes you feel good,” Carter said.
In July 2018, a two-alarm fire destroyed Dockside Willies. Fire officials have said they suspect the fire started in the restaurant’s kitchen and centered around a brick oven.
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Carter said he had no choice but to rebuild. It was a daunting task that started with demolition.
“The biggest thing for me is Willies had a feel and a personality that went along with the river and what we were doing. I was so afraid of having to build a new building and losing the personality of what we had – a fun place to go on the river,” Carter said.
The new Dockside Willies in Wormleysburg was built to resemble a fishing lodge.
Carter and his son, Erik Carter, partnered on the design. They wanted to maintain Dockside’s casual atmosphere while adhering to Federal Emergency Management Agency flood guidelines.
The restaurant sits on the edge of the Susquehanna River and is prone to flooding. Three feet of water temporarily closed it in 2011.
To avoid future flood damage, the second floor is dedicated to offices and special equipment such as computers, electronics and hot water heaters, Carter said. Meanwhile, the dining room, bar and kitchen occupy the first floor.
The layout is similar to the old restaurant with a few tweaks.
“It’s funny when you go in the restaurant it’s eerily the same because facing the river is facing the river, but we changed where the bar is. We moved it into a different room. Every room has a very unique area,” Carter said.
One table is fashioned out of a 12-foot piece of ash wood from Clarion County. Liquor is visibly stored in a room located in the back of the restaurant.
For design inspiration, Carter said he borrowed ideas from outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops at the Harrisburg Mall in Swatara Township. The restaurant is constructed from timber, much of it from Pennsylvania. Mounted deer heads, duck decoys, boat motors, boats and paddles decorate the walls.
“If they are a fishing lodge in mall, I can build a fishing lodge on the river. I started exploring the designs and what can make us unique,” Carter said.
The menu remains the same with favorites such as crab pretzels, pizza, burgers and sandwiches, along with a few new items. Carter likened the kitchen to a Ferrari and said it’s equipped to produce food more efficiently.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-2 a.m., daily.
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https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/11/dockside-willies-restaurant-in-wormleysburg-reopens-with-fishing-lodge-on-the-river-vibe.html 2019-11-14 10:15:00Z
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