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Nov 14, 2023

Construction on hold for Mathews’ new waterfront ‘Hole in the Wall’ restaurant

Major construction to lift and transform an iconic waterfront dining spot on Gwynn’s Island has not started yet, but the project is moving forward. The new restaurant slated for the county-owned

Major construction to lift and transform an iconic waterfront dining spot on Gwynn’s Island has not started yet, but the project is moving forward.

The new restaurant slated for the county-owned building has been named Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill, according to Mac Casale. The name pays homage to a spot in the Chesapeake Bay just outside of Milford Haven off Gwynn’s Island near Sandy Point called the hole in the wall.

Casale and his wife, J.C., proprietors of the White Dog Bistro, and Dean Tsamouras, owner of Southwind Cafe, both in Mathews, have taken over the lease of the building located on the shores of the Milford Haven. It is the county’s only waterfront restaurant and operated as the Seabreeze since the 1970s.

Since winning the bid for the lease in late June, Casale said it has be “full steam ahead.”

A “fresh, family-style” menu is being fine tuned, Casale said. An interior design, tables and chairs have all be selected. Heather Minter, a Mathews native who previously served as sous chef at the White Dog Bistro, has been named head chef at the new spot.

“We’re excited to be moving her to her own place,” Casale said. “We want to have everything done so once we start construction we can bang it out pretty quickly.”

The Casales and Tsamouras want to raise the 1,200-square-foot building by eight feet and add outdoor deck seating. The building, which stands only feet from water, has been flooded and repaired after past storms, including Isabel in 2003.

They had hoped to start construction in August or September but that has been on hold while the county addresses an issue with the septic system.

Repair work began this week. According to Jamie Wilks, the county’s building official, contractors with Miller’s Septic Service and an engineer are boring holes on the property to evaluate the “complicated system.”

The public boat ramp that fronts the building will remain open during this work but parking will be limited, County Administrator Melinda Conner said.

According to Conner, the Virginia Department of Health has determined that the septic system has not failed, but a repair of some sort is needed before the restaurant can open.

Wilks said the system has multiple tanks that are designed to rotate with use but it appears that was not happening, which caused it to back up.

“We want it fixed right if there is anything that needs to be fixed,” Wilks said. “We know of a few minor things now but this work will tell us more.”

No timeline for the work has been set, Wilks said, and there will be no cost estimate until the exploratory work is complete.

“Of course I’d like to be moving faster but it’s important we do it right. There’s no rush to get it done,” Casale said. “I’d much rather make sure everything is working and running correctly. So far I am encouraged with the way it’s going.”

Casale is also waiting for the Health Department to approve a seating number. He is aiming for 60 seats with 40-45 inside and 15-20 outside.

The building on Gwynn’s Island operated as the Seabreeze since Mary Valdrighi and the late Ralph Valdrighi of Mathews bought the restaurant in 1979. Before that it was named The Haven Grille. The Galuzzi family purchased ownership of the Seabreeze restaurant in 2013.

After the Galuzzis missed a deadline in March to renew their lease, the county was required by law to advertise for bids for new lease proposals. The Galuzzis did not submit a bid to continue leasing the building.

The Casales and Tsamouras agreed to collaborate on a proposal, which was accepted by the Board of Supervisors in June.

Casale hopes to begin construction in November, and estimated it would take 60 to 90 days.

Hubbard can be reached by phone at 757-298-5834.

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