New Waterfront Brewery In Milford More Than Ready For Its Opening

MILFORD, CT — It's no longer news: The new coronavirus is shuttering restaurants throughout the state. Many of them were just opening or starting to gain traction in the first quarter of the year, and were skewered by the virus-induced lockdown before they could build a clientele of "regulars." Others are just now throwing in the towel because the math and geometry of the state's rigorous regulations governing their reopening don't add up to profitability.

Then, there's Dockside Brewery in Milford. They only just received their Certificate of Occupancy on Apr. 2, but that seemed more like a cruel joke with the pandemic forcing eateries to temporarily shutter with no timeframe given to reopen. Still, they opened up one day later, offering takeout.

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"We had the beer ready to go," explained Bob Chicoine, co-owner of the brew pub, and perhaps the last of the cockeyed optimists. He viewed the eatery's entry into the curbside takeout-only business as "a nice way to just kind of get our food and beer out there and see what people think."

They think pretty highly of it, based upon the sound the cash register has made over the past six weeks. The brew pub has been selling out of beer regularly, with no patron having ever crossed its threshold.

Global pandemic aside, it's not too big a surprise. Residents and local government committees have been looking to the revitalization of the riverfront area for about a decade, and for many, Dockside Brewery is a savior

"People want us to succeed," Chicoine said.

Connecticut has been the site of a craft brewery boom, according to trade site Craft Brewing Business. There was more than a 500 percent increase in the number of craft breweries in the state between 2007-17.

All the preliminary success has only raised expectations, and the bar, for Dockside's official debut on May 20. Chicoine said he had anticipated the governor would begin phase one of the reopening in June. The accelerated entry came as a happy surprise, but a busy one, as the restaurant raced to ensure it was compliant with the new state regulations. Chicoine said the state's phased scheme allows his restaurant to have "almost a soft opening, so we can get the lay of the land."

Related: New Waterfront Milford Brewery Announces Big Staff Addition

While many restaurants in town are pondering how to squeeze al fresco space onto their sidewalks, Dockside Brewery sits smugly atop three acres along the banks of the Housatonic River. The property includes expansive parking, and a neighboring bait and tackle shop, a convenient ambience enhancer.

"We were set up pretty nicely outside already," Chicoine told Patch.

Of course, on opening day on May 20, it's only what's outside that matters. Dockside boasts a split deck, along with a biergarten on a separate level. Social distancing has winnowed the number of tables in the biergarten down to eleven, said Chicoine, who has resigned himself to serving "deuces" at picnic tables meant to accommodate ten.

"The way I see it, coming up from Stratford, we are going to be the gateway to Milford," Chicoine said. "We have put a lot of time, sweat and money into this, to get it to where it should be."

Dockside Brewery is located on the river at 40 Bridgeport Avenue.