MARMORA — Following three spirited “hip-hip-hurrays!” Tim Fox and friends cut the ribbon to mark the grand opening of Yesterday’s Creekside Tavern during a ceremony Saturday, June 25.
Wielding giant scissors, Fox and his wife and partner, Robyn Kjar, were joined by brother Julian Fox and staff, as well as Upper Township Mayor Curtis Corson and other members of Township Committee, on the porch facing Roosevelt Boulevard.
Some motorists in the long line out front heading to Ocean City honked their horns in appreciation as they passed.
Adam Modder, vice president of operations, said a lot of work was put into renovating the restaurant, which Fox and Kjar bought in February from Jeff McIntyre and his family, who operated the popular place for 46 years.
They bought the Deauville Inn in the nearby Strathmere section of Upper Township in 2019 and have completely renovated that facility at 201 Willard Road right off Strathmere Bay.
“We’re excited. We put a lot into this place,” Modder said. “I have worked in the restaurant business a long time and designed a lot of restaurants. I would say this is one of my proudest moments,” he said, with Fox quipping “because he spent a lot of money on it.”
“We really wanted to create a special place for the people of Upper Township to come and I think we did that,” Modder said.
General manager Chuck Thompson said the restaurant is intended to be a gathering place.
“Looking out at this crowd, this is exactly what we envisioned Yesterday’s being — family, community and all good people. It’s been a long, winding road to get to this point,” Thompson said. “I can’t wait to start serving some food and having some fun.”
Corson said the update should be good for the township.
“Yesterday’s has always been a fixture in our community and I think Tim Fox will continue that just like the McIntyre family has,” he said.
Fox said operating a quality restaurant starts from the bottom, not the top.
“It’s about people, it’s about this community the McIntyres built — the staff — it’s about building it around them,” he said. “It needed some love, like the Deauville, and we gave it some love and it’s beautiful. I’m proud of it and it’s a nice place to work with nice people.”
Kjar said the menu will include homemade pub food.
“It has a bar/pub type of feel, a little different than at the Deauville. It’s more like a local community place to watch a game, have a burger knowing it’s going to be consistent and delicious,” she said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff