WEST OCEAN CITY – The owners of a popular dockside bar and grill credit their three decades of success to their loyal customers and employees.
This year, Harborside Bar & Grill celebrates 30 years of operation at the West Ocean City Commercial Harbor. Co-owners Chris Wall and Lloyd Whitehead said what started as a fledgling restaurant and bar is now a go-to destination for residents and visitors alike.
“It has grown a lot,” Whitehead said. “We have the same people that now have kids and now their kids come in. Some even work here.”
In 1993, Wall and Whitehead opened Harborside Bar & Grill. At the time, both were working at Phillips Seafood Restaurant. But when a space became available along the harbor, the pair jumped at the opportunity.
“Lloyd had already finished college, and I stopped off and bought a bar before I went back to college,” Wall said.
Harbor Side has come a long way in 30 years and it seems like about 10 to me. I remember very well going in there when it was the Stumbling Inn, a hole in the wall bar then, but still a cool place to hang out for locals.