By Matt Weingarden
Lakeshore News Reporter staff
If you’ve been out in the Lighthouse Cove area of the county, you’ll have noticed the amount of construction going on involving the Cove Marina properties and Scallywags Bar & Grill, the former Dockside on Cove Restaurant.
Lakeshore’s newest waterfront bar and grill, Scallywag’s is open for business and continually working on new and exciting menu items – offering a family fun atmosphere for all.
Tina Sanford, owner/operator of the Restaurant and her partners Ed and Ron at the Marina have recently reopened and are looking forward to an exciting 2022 season.
“We took possession (of the property) last September.” said Sanford, who runs both the restaurant portion of the business along with her daughter Harely who helps manage the marina. “It’s very important to us that the residents of the community are able to utilize our facilities and want them to have a really nice marina in their back yard. As a marina, we wanted a nice place for visitors from near and far to come to dine whether they are boating, paddleboarding, camping, fishing or snowmobiling.”
Looking across the parcel of land teaming with contractors, completing major renovations, landscaping and reconstruction of the marina are being done to the property and surrounding park areas.
“The previous owners ran this business for 30 years and we are very excited to breathe some new life into the Cove, making us a destination spot on Lake St. Clair. Immediately after taking possession we commenced renovating the entire property” said Sanford.
All the docks will be replaced and rewired and a 750 ft. breakwall has been installed to deter erosion given the fluctuating water levels from season to season.
Sanford anticipates that it will take a couple of years to complete the rebuilding of the docking facilities, but she says it’s about 75 percent complete at this point.
“We have another section to complete…we’re having them fabricated over the summer and installation will be in the fall right after people pull their boats for the winter” said Sanford.
What makes the marina and restaurant special?
In a nutshell, “Right now, we are the only place in a very unique community,” said Sanford. “The people of the community have been so supportive, the feedback has been amazing, and although we look forward to a great summer we are happy to announce we are not ‘seasonal”, we will offer a great fall/winter menu as well…our residents don’t have to leave their neck of the woods to enjoy a night out…especially come the treacherous wintertime driving.”
One of the most impressive features of the new restaurant includes a massive 100 ft. licensed dockside deck and patio, complete with plans for an upgraded tiki bar and boat parking. Plans are also in the works to further update the dining facilities and repave the parking lot, grassy park area – complete with Muskoka chairs, firepits and free on-site parking.
“It’s definitely been a work in progress,” chuckled Sanford.
Hows the menu mateys?
“We are a bar and grill. We’re a little under kitchen capacity to offer fine dining but we do offer great food! It’s been a challenge and we have definitely experienced some growing pains…learning how to run a restaurant and finding staff has been an issue, however we feel that is behind us, we have a great team now and we are beyond excited for warm weather” Sanford said.
Among the daily specials available on a weekly basis include: $5 Caesar Sunday, Chicken Wings are $1 each on Monday, Tex Mex Tuesdays, Whiskey Wednesday, Karaoke on Thursday and Fins Up Friday offering fresh local perch. The live weekend entertainment is chocked full of all your favourite local musicians.
Sanford is quick to recognize key staff members who have made the transition much easier, due to their experience with the previous tenants. “Which, speaks volumes to the previous owners and patrons.”
Community events are key!
Sanford says that they have a number of events upcoming including the King of the Lake fishing competition on Saturday June 4th. With the help of the local Lions Club, Sanford is expecting between 3 and 5 hundred people to attend that event.
On June 10, thirty boats from the Windsor Yacht Club will visit the marina – departing on June 12, making it a weekend long event.
“We have been approached to hold a speed boat poker run next year,” said Sanford. “Since opening we’ve hosted birthday parties, retirement parties and baby showers…we hosted a very successful Mother’s Day Brunch.”
They are hoping to attract boaters from Amherstburg all the way up to Sarnia Bay. She says the concept is a one-stop-shop for everything from cold beverages and food to fuel on the canal. Marina amenities also include shower facilities as well as a new place to do laundry for those using the transient slips wishing to spend a few days at the marina.
Sanford says they are grateful for the patience and support of the community and local businesses like the Lighthouse Variety, as well as the support from the Municipality of Lakeshore.
“We want people to make this a destination for both locals and hope to attract visitors from Comber, Tilbury, Belle River, Windsor and surrounding communities across Essex and Kent Counties,” said Sanford. “We’re super excited to see this come to fruition and look forward to many successful years to come.”
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