CAMDEN — In a soft opening event Wednesday night, several dozen people got a chance to check out the renovations the Sea Dog Brewing Co. has made over the spring and summer in anticipation for their grand opening Friday, Aug. 5. The three separate buildings have been built out to resemble a cohesive classic Sea Dog color scheme of exposed beams, wooden booths and tables and splashy wall art. The space now includes two bars, (one downstairs, and one split bar upstairs where the Crow’s Nest of Cappy’s Chowder House used to be), a new deck that can seat 100 patrons, and multiple dining spaces that can accommodate 300 people. They’ve also brought back the mug club, which was a highly successful marketing feature of the original Sea Dog bar.

Longtime patrons of Cappy’s Chowder House and the original Sea Dog Brewing Co. found some familiar faces behind the bar as well. ‘Big John’ Collins, who, at 6’6”  always had trouble smacking the top of his head against the ceiling bar rack at Cappy’s remarked, “There’s tons of room under this bar.”

Bartender Matt Speno said: “I think it’s a new chapter for Camden having the Sea Dog back after many years after it left. I can remember going to the original Sea Dog and now to have this kind of quality decor, quality food and being family friendly, is exciting. The place was designed to celebrate fun. And the way we’re looking at it as the founding staff, we’re seeing a lot of locals who were founding guests of the original bar.”

“People in the community have a certain expectation about this place, not only because Sea Dog was once here but also because they’ve changed everything that used to be in the Cappy’s space,” said Michelle Hoak. “People are looking for us to step up our game and we’re up to the task.”

The Sea Dog Brewing Co. was founded in Camden in 1993 in the Knox Mill, where Smokestack Grill is now, but closed its doors in 2002. Cappy’s Chowder House was a fixture in Camden for 37 years until it closed its doors for good in 2016.

General Manager Jesse Hardie said they will be open at Friday at 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Depending on what the new staff can accommodate, they may only partially open some rooms and the bar.

For more information visit their new Facebook page.

Related story: http://www.penbaypilot.com/article/rumors-are-true-sea-dog-brewing-co-returns-camden/66429

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com