Paul's Blog

Grand Opening and Beyond!

Well, Sam's opened Friday Night (October 20) and we've been incredibly busy ever since.  I really want to thank everyone for helping us get to this point - from our incredible construction crew led by Chad Hooker (who continues to amaze me), to our kitchen team led by our new Executive Chef Ross Brown and Lewis Rossman our Consulting Executive Chef (from Cetrella), as well as Laurie Glynn and Megan Fuentes who pulled together all of the opening events, to our front-of-the-house team.  We had friends and family helping organize, stack boxes, clean, and clear out the parking lot up to the last minute. 

Sam's now has a staff of over 100 people.  We weren't able to conduct the extensive level of training that we wanted to because of the construction schedule, but the team is coming up to speed quickly.  We've gotten great feedback on the food so far and everyone loves the ocean view and Adirondack chairs!  The fire pits will be installed soon, just in time for the cooler weather.

 

Four Days from Grand Opening

We are one day away from our Fireworks Charity Benefit, and four days from our Grand Opening.   Things are still pretty hectic at Sam's, but I'm really pleased with how it's coming together.  The staff is just tremendous.  The kitchen is coming together and we will begin cooking tomorrow.  The inlaid tile mosaic of the Sam's Chowder House logo at the entrance is terrific. Countdown begins!

Also, to Shirley who asked a question about the menu - yes, we will absolutely have some non-seafood items as well, such as Half Chicken-under-a-brick, Surf and Turf, Brine-Roasted Pork Loin, and a Char-Grilled Rib-Eye Steak.  The menu looks really great, and we'll post it on Sam's website shortly.

Two weeks from opening!

Our GRAND OPENING is scheduled for Friday, October 20 - I can hardly believe it's just a little over two weeks away.  Most of the exterior work is done, including the siding and we are selecting paint colors.  On the inside, the tile has been laid around the bar and in the restrooms, the walls are completed, and the wood floor has been laid in most of the main dining room.  In the next few days the kitchen equipment will arrive and be installed.  Very exciting -- the details come together very rapidly at this point. 

The view is really stunning from the back deck - can't wait to sit there myself with a toasty drink in front of the fire pit.  Our first event is a Fireworks Charity Event on Tuesday evening, October 17, co-hosted with the American Legion -- all profits from the event will go to the Fireworks Fund.  We'll have terrific food, and great music from Rolando Morales (he played at Cetrella's one year anniversary event, which rocked the house).  It should be a great event --