Reprinted from South Coast Today
DARTMOUTH — A new restaurant opening this spring in Padanaram promises to provide fresh sandwiches in a village that seems to be undergoing a renaissance.
The red awnings are up at the corner of Bridge and Elm streets, and the sandwich shop is named Chumley’s after the beloved family golden doodle who died earlier this year, said resident Julie Hitch.
“We hope to be a forever place in memory of her,” she said. “It will be casual, and we are going to serve fresh food fast and source items locally.”
This includes sandwiches, burgers, lobster rolls, salads, beer and wine. It will have a communal table, three booths and a seasonal patio. All permits are approved, and the owners have hired a New Hampshire chef and his wife who have some local ties, according to Hitch.
“It’s quite small and cozy, but we are hoping it brings the community together and draws people from outside,” she said. “It’s a very simple menu, but our goal is to offer the freshest food fast.”
Jordan Hitch bought the corner property at 10A Bridge more than a year ago and fixed it up. Once a gas station and then the popular Bridge Street Cafe, the spot had been vacant for more than a decade and tied up with contamination issues.
A seasonal gift store with a nautical theme, 321 Elm St., opened there last year summer and the office spaces upstairs are already leased.
If all goes well, Chumley’s will be ready to welcome residents and boaters around mid-May. It will serve lunch and dinner year-round in a village where several businesses close during the winter months.
“The town has been pretty supportive, and it’s been pretty seamless,” Hitch said. “We are very excited.”
Town Administrator David Cressman said it’s a good sign.
“We are glad to see greater economic and business activities within Padanaram Village,” he said.
More discussions on improving the village are coming up. An open meeting will solicit comment on the Padanaram Village Sidewalk Project 6:30 p.m. March 24 at Town Hall.