Skip to content

Seafood Shanty is back

Eddie Riegel of Exeter plans to reopen the chain founded by Bucks County's Joe Gentile

    by Joseph N. DiStefano
    Published 
Writes Rose Urban of Equity Retail Brokers: "Seafood Shanty, LLC leased a 6,800 SF building on a pad site at Broadcasting Square, located at 2713 North Meridian Boulevard in Wyomissing, Berks County," the former Mason's Restaurant. Equity represented landlord Spring Ridge LP.

"The restaurant plans to open on February 7, 2012," according to Urban's note. "Originally based in Bucks County, Seafood Shanty had outposts all along the East Coast and was famous for their New England clam chowder, bouillabaisse, and a seriously delicious Key Lime pie.  Chef James Lesniak will be heading up the kitchen and adding some modern dishes to the menu, including steamer pots, crab leg buckets, and drunken mussels.  There will be an extensive raw bar as a centerpiece to the restaurant."

This follows the return of the Gino's restaurants, through a new casual-dining chain that recalls the local fast-food pioneer. What defunct chain will be next to try and exploit residual goodwill and today's cheap lease, labor and finance rates?

Writes the Reading Eagle: "Eddie Riegel, 50, of Exeter got the chance to buy the name and logo of the long-since bankrupt Bucks County seafood restaurant chain" in early 2010. A former Red Lobster manager, his Seafood Shanty Inc. bought the old Mason's liquor license for $85,000. "Riegel plans to spend about $900,000 in renovations into the 6,800-square-foot Spring Township site, including a $100,000 raw bar addition" and a fresh fish counter. "The restaurant will seat 221... 

"He said he has letters of intent for five other locations... Riegel has received from former employees original recipes and nautical decor purchased from the chain's bankruptcy auction in the 1990s. He also bought some of the recipes from Joseph Gentile, founder of the chain, who lost it in 1993." Riegel and wife Bonnie, baesd in Exeter, also own Rhino Building Services, Rhino Real Estate, and a couple of Montgomery County pretzel franchises.


    JN
    Joseph N. DiStefano