POCOMOKE CITY, Md. -- A few new shops and apartments could be on the way to Pocomoke by early 2024. It has neighbors hoping this is just the beginning of a possible trend towards more business, people and jobs.
One person who hopes he is helping to make that happen is Jessmin Duryea, who will be opening up a brewery on Market Street.
"Basically where these boards are sitting out right here is where the bar is going to be," said Duryea walking through the still-under-construction building. "It's going to be a 25 foot bar so as soon as you walk in, you see nothing but the bar."
The brewery will also feature a taproom that customers can see into and a beer garden out back. Duryea bought the building back in 2021 and is looking forward to what fills in around him.
"We were excited to see what kind of growth and where Pocomoke is going and headed and I'd like to see it do well because I think it's such a great area, so much opportunity here," said Duryea.
Crews were on hand at Duryea's brewery, Cypress Roots Brewing Company, working on the plumbing. The hope is to have the place up and running by January of 2024.
Just a few streets over, the old fire house is well on its way to becoming brand new apartments. Kirk Davis with Davis Strategic, the company developing the new living units, said the buildings history has put this project in a class of its own.
"It just has a lot of incredibly unique features that you're not going to find anywhere else, from like 20 foot vaulted ceilings that used to be the original dining hall for firemen that worked here to a 55 foot fire tower," said Davis.
The new complex will feature 9 apartments that can house 14 people, as well as commercial space down below which could open the door for even more shops. Davis said their goal is to have apartments online by early 2024.
It's buildings just like the old fire house that Malcolm Cropper, who lives in Pocomoke, loves to see put back into use.
"It was just sitting there for a little bit, not long but a little bit, nothing going on," said Cropper. "Now here you go, great apartments man and people can have somewhere to live and that's what we need."
While he isn't 100% sold on this being the jumpstart Pocomoke may need, Cropper said the apartments and brewery are exciting glimpses for what the future could hold.
"I mean I'm hoping it works out that way because you know things can also go the other way for you at times," said Cropper. "Let's give it a try, let's see what's going on."
