Conrad's Seafood Restaurant To Replace Vacant Surf City
The sit-down seafood restaurant is expected to open spring 2013 at 9654 Belair Rd. in Perry Hall.
Local oysters, freshly caught rockfish, yellow perch and the main attraction, blue crabs—this planned Perry Hall restaurant is serious about its Chesapeake Bay seafood.
Conrad's Seafood Restaurant is expected to open in spring 2013, but only after extensive renovations to the former bar and nightlife venue Surf City at 9654 Belair Rd., according to part-owner and Perry Hall resident Andrea Conrad.
The restaurant will be an extension of Conrad's Crabs on Joppa Road in Parkville—a carryout restaurant and seafood market opened by Andrea Conrad and her husband Anthony Conrad in 2007.
"My husband is a waterman and we work with other local waterman, as well. For nearly six years, we've been successful because our seafood is fresh and local," Andrea Conrad said.
Around 2010, the couple began searching for a higher profile sit-down location, where they could showcase their chef-made menu items in a nicer atmosphere, "more Liberatore's than Bill Bateman's," according to Andrea Conrad.
Unexpectedly, she said, they recently decided on a location five minutes away from home—the former Surf City location that closed this past summer.
"It's a great location. Of course, it needs renovations, but the structure is there. Otherwise, we're changing it completely," Andrea Conrad said. "It's going to be great for the community."
Chef Joe Lancelotta and his brother and business partner Mike Lancelotta are joining the Conrads in the venture, which represents an investment of more than $500,000.
Nearly all of the most popular menu items from their Parkville location, including the crab soup, crab cakes and popular fried hard crab, will carry over in some form to the Perry Hall restaurant, Andrea Conrad said.
The new venue will also offer an oyster bar and space enough for a crab feast. "When you're eating crabs with friends, you could be there two hours. You need room to spread out," she added.
Andrea Conrad said they're looking forward to revamping the historic space, which has been owned by Bill Ruppert since about 1985.
Prior to becoming Surf City, one of few nightlife venues in the Perry Hall area, it was known as the Perry Hall Inn & Pub. Before that, it belonged to former State Sen. Thomas Bromwell, and was called Bromwell Inn, according to Ruppert.
Previously, the business was owned by the locally prominent Kahl family, he said.
According to a 2002 Baltimore Sun obituary, Kahl's Inn was first established in 1900, and remained in the family until it was sold by Marie J. Kahl and her husband Lawrence Kahl in the 1970s.
"The restaurant, said family members, was known for Mrs. Kahl's homemade backfin crab cakes and fried chicken, and once had been home to the 11th District Democratic Club," the article stated.
How Conrad's crab cakes compare to the Kahl family's of decades ago will be up to the community to decide.
Do you expect the new restaurant to be successful? Tell us why or why not in the comments.
PerryHallCrafter
2:04 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Talk about Surf City...Here comes the sharks (old Crack the Sky joke for some of us), but I guess crab cakes will be more commonplace. I'm sure the neighborhood will welcome this type of crowd, replacing what used to be there late in the evening.
KH
2:10 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
I hope they have better parking
Christie Pulvino
2:22 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Fantastic!! Although Bill's Seafood is my go to for to-go orders of fish and crabs, a dine-in establishment such as this will be a welcome addition in my opinion. Can't wait.
RK
9:03 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Hope their crab prices will be lower than Bill's Seafood!
joe
2:06 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Bill's seafood sucks. I'm glad Conrads will be close now.
William Lukowski
2:25 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
SOUNDS GREAT, WE NEED A GOOD SEAFOOD RESTURANT IN PERRY HALL
JOE AND MIKE WILL GO A GREAT JOB.
BILL LUKOWSKI
Felicia
2:38 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
I love Conrad's for crabs - the way they season the crabs is outstanding- if you like spicy seasoning and lots of it (which I love), they are the best ..
Born to be Free
3:30 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Finally! A restaurant and not a greasy fast food joint. I can't wait until it opens
FIFA_archived
2:16 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
OT, you forgot the alcohol and dessert. And it has to be cheese fries.
C'mon, man.
Born to be Free
9:43 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Other Tim you crack me up. I do agree sometimes the people need to understand what they consume. I just mean it's a sit-down restaurant. We have VERY few of them in Perry Hall. I want more restaurants in this area like Al's Seafood, the Corner Stable, Olive Garden, and Applebee's
FIFA_archived
6:57 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
As KH said, don't fix the parking and I won't go near the place.
Evets
7:57 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
I think the bus goes right past there...
FIFA_archived
8:27 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Hmm, interesting. No need to drive. Love catfish.
RK
9:06 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Hope they will have carryout.
Sherri
10:32 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Great news, can't wait for the opening! My husband and I are loyal customers of the Joppa Rd. location, so having the new place only a few short blocks away is fantastic. We wish them continued success!
Doug
7:10 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
A welcome addition in Perry Hall !! I usually go to Mo's for sit down seafood, and down the road to SkipJack's for some of the best crabs. I hope Conrad's can rival both, right here in Perry Hall.
Donna McDonough
9:24 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
This is great news. We love Conrad's. and having everything local is a bonus. Joe and Mike, welcome to the neighborhood. Looking forward to a decent seafood spot close to home!
Donna McD
Gary Staab
9:30 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
We've been wanting a restaurant that served good quality seafood. Some place that has more than just a daily fish special.This sounds like just the place we've been waiting for. Looking forward to them opening. Best of luck!
Tim
9:55 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I don't eat seafood, but it's not a drugstore or yet another italian joint so two thumbs up and best wishes to the new business.
FIFA_archived
6:49 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
How can you not eat seafood in Maryland Tim? C'mon man!
Allergies?
Doug
7:27 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
OMG, you are missing so much of life. So many variaties, different tastes and textures, and so many ways to prepare them.
Honeygo Hal
10:48 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
We like Bill's, but it is carry-out only and some things are better than others.
We like the new Mo's, but the more the merrier when it comes to good seafood!
I'll be watching for it.
PerryHallCrafter
2:04 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Wow, thanks for the info Other Tim, I didn't know that. I don't like to be forced to give 17%. I almost always give 20% or more, but I like the option of deciding for myself what to tip.
DS
12:43 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Gotta tell ya - not loving the idea. While Surf City was not the prettiest inside at least I could go and watch the Orioles and Ravens games, drink some Jack, and get out of there cheap. When I hear this place is going to be more like Libatores I think $5 beers and $8.99 Jacks watered down. We don't need upscale in this economy we need comfortable places.
Doug
2:45 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I have to disagree. we have plenty (TOO MANY imo) fast food and low end food joints in Perry Hall. The more upscale we keep the businesses, the more upscale stays the community. I would rather stay at home, watch the game and have a Jack, than see more dives hit the neighborhood
DS
4:46 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Doug - we want you to stay home too
Doug
6:38 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
A liitle class may do you some good DS
Evets
7:31 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I wouldn't mind if any person who has been drinking stays at home. Just sayin'
Theresa Filipowicz
6:28 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I only hope they serve more then just seafood.
H Long
9:37 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Make it a classic md crab house. I like the sound of fried hard crabs . Nostalgia is in. We need to return an old time crab house to this and other popular neighborhoods in Balto. County. Good luck Conrads just do it right and you will succeed.
DEBBIE
10:21 am on Friday, October 26, 2012
JOE
BILLS IS A GREAT SEAFOOD PLACE DON'T PUT BILLS DOWN. EVERBODY GOES TO BILLS FOR CRABS.
Alex Butthead
4:23 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Totally could have turned this into a sweet punk house that doubled as a venue but the selfish community of Perry Hall that is 2-faced and full of close minded people won't let it.
Beth vucci
12:50 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013
Where can I get an application