Pocomoke City is seeking contractors to complete a substantial floor replacement project at the municipally owned building that houses Dockside Restaurant, a waterfront facility constructed approximately 15 years ago as part of the city’s downtown revitalization efforts.
According to a bid solicitation issued by the city, the project extends far beyond replacing the restaurant’s finished flooring. Contractors will be required to remove the existing flooring system down to the subfloor, including the current carpet and laminate flooring, subfloor, and insulation. The scope of work also calls for the temporary removal of the restaurant’s bar, tables, chairs, and booths to allow the work to be completed before they are reinstalled. Once the structural repairs are complete, a new lifetime waterproof luxury vinyl tile (LVT) floor will be installed throughout the restaurant.
The extensive scope of the project indicates the work is intended to address underlying structural components beneath the finished floor, requiring replacement of the subfloor and insulation rather than simply installing new flooring.
According to a 2011 USA TODAY/ABC News report by Brian Shane, the building was conceived as a key piece of Pocomoke City’s downtown revitalization strategy. Rather than waiting for a private developer to construct a waterfront restaurant, the city elected to build the approximately $750,000, 145-seat restaurant and bar itself in hopes of attracting an experienced restaurant operator. Then-City Manager Russell Blake described the project as “the missing piece” of the city’s redevelopment efforts. Construction was funded through approximately $100,000 in municipal funds, about $500,000 in state-administered federal Community Development Block Grant funding, and a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Since opening, the city-owned building has been home to three different restaurants. It first operated as Riverside Grill, later became Mallards on the River, and today houses Dockside Restaurant. While the restaurant operating inside the building has changed over the years, ownership of the facility has remained with the City of Pocomoke.
The city anticipates the repair project will begin in approximately October 2026. Before bids are submitted, interested contractors must attend a mandatory pre-bid meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, at Dockside Restaurant, 2 Riverside Drive. The meeting will allow contractors to inspect the building and gather the information necessary to prepare their proposals.
Sealed bids must be received by 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, at the City Clerk’s Office inside Pocomoke City Hall, 101 Clarke Avenue. Contractors must be licensed and insured and include a W-9, Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license, business license, and proof of insurance with their bids. Following the city’s review of the submissions, the successful contractor will be notified and a project start date will be established.
For additional information about the project, interested contractors may contact Mike Wyatt with the City of Pocomoke. Review a full list of available City of Pocomoke Bids & Proposals at https://www.cityofpocomoke.com/news/public
