DOVER, De. - 33 West was a staple of Downtown Dover for 16 years. But after months of COVID-19 restrictions, it became a casualty of the pandemic.
Owner Brandon Pelton told WBOC by phone today that COVID restrictions just became too much, extremely limiting the restaurant and tap house's seating capacity, and they just weren't able to bring in a big enough profit.
Now other merchants worry about the future of Downtown Dover.
"Oh it's awful. I feel like he was the restaurant that held us all together. Because everyone would go down and eat or drink and then shop afterward. So we're really going to miss him, and I hope all of us can still survive," said Jessica Thomas, co-owner and stylist at My Roots, a boutique and salon just up the street. The coronavirus has already forced many businesses downtown to limit their hours, and change how they are doing business. Foot traffic has also been disappointing. "It's been slow out here. No body has been out walking and shopping. I don't know, maybe on Saturdays if it's a beautiful day people will walk but normally people aren't out and about which is sad," admitted Thomas. A group of airmen stopped for lunch at the shuttered restaurant, and were disappointed to see it closed. They told us they may go looking for the Gastro Graffiti food truck that Pelton is returning to instead of his brick and mortar restaurant. The truck, serving everything from the restaurant's highly praised brussel sprouts, sandwiches and burgers, as well as other unique cuisine that made 33 West popular. The loss of the downtown staple has raised concerns not just from neighboring businesses, but also from the Downtown Dover Partnership. "Well we don't have a lot of food opportunities in Downtown Dover right now, especially on Friday nights. We have a few good restaurants, and this was one of our prime restaurants. We're hoping to locate another, and there is some concern because people shop and then they eat, or they eat and then they shop," said Diane Laird. When asked about the possibility of bringing Pelton's food truck downtown, she said the Downtown Dover Partnership and the city to consider food trucks in future downtown plans. Pelton says the Gastro Graffiti food truck is up and running, and that patrons can find the truck's menu and location on it's Facebook page. He also told us his lease will not be up until January, and he will be booking private parties through that time.