In Old Saybrook, it’s demolition day for an iconic restaurant.
More than a year ago, Hurricane Sandy flooded the shoreline, heavily damaging Dock & Dine. But the restaurant will be rebuilt at a higher elevation.
Both Hurricane Irene and Sandy give Dock & Dine a good beating. A year after Irene the restaurant bounced back, only to get destroyed again by Sandy. The final demolition is expected to start this morning and soon a new restaurant will be in its place. One that can withstand floods.
This past fall patrons said their goodbyes to a place that’s been around since the 1940s. The memories of Dock & Dine will stay with its loyal customers, but the water-level walls and the view will not. After today’s demolition, work on a new restaurant begins.
The new, 10,000-square-foot Dock & Dine will sit 15 feet above sea level compared to its 4 to 5 feet above sea level now, protecting it from flooding and storm surges.
Today’s demolition will be bittersweet for the community as well as the restaurant’s current owners who have had it since 1987. The goal is to reopen the new restaurant in time for summer.