OCEAN CITY – Beach Barrels is now a one-stop-shop being under one roof with Primo Hoagies on 133rd Street and Coastal Highway, offering take out beer and wine, a new custom bar and tasty dining.
Ray and Deborah McGrath opened Primo Hoagies in June 2010. At that time, Brewski Brothers was located next door as it had been for over 15 years. In December 2013, the McGraths were offered the opportunity to take over the neighboring space.
“We went for it,” Ray McGrath said. “We mulled over some concepts that would go well with Primo Hoagies. We thought a beach vibe would allow our customers to come in, get a cold beer or drink while they wait or eat in and order right from the bar.”
Beach Barrels opened its doors last July. However, during the off-season while the locations were closed a demising wall was taken down to join Beach Barrels and Primo Hoagies into a one-stop-shop. The McGraths re-opened on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
“Our customers are flipping. Our full concept will be in full swing this year,” Ray McGrath said. “In the two short weeks we have been open, we have had a dramatic increase in dinner, and our entire customer base is not even here yet. We have had a full bar every weekend.”
Primo’s entire menu is available at the Beach Barrels bar and dining room where flat screen TVs and Keno are set up. The fully-equipped custom made bar seats 16 with a widened ledge to support hoagie eating. There are currently six beers on tap, including Miller Lite, Modelo Especial, National Bohemian, Summer Shandy, Dogfish and Sweet Water Brewing Company.
Beach Barrels offers specials throughout the week starting with happy hour all day on Monday, $2 pints on Tuesdays, can or bottle of beer with a straight shot for $5 on Wednesdays and $5 crushes on Thursdays.
Beach Barrels will have the largest take-out craft beer selection in North Ocean City, Ray McGrath said, with over 100 breweries and 200 varieties of craft beer. There will also be take-out wine available with over 60 wineries with 140 varieties of wine available.
Customer service has been stepped up with all new management at Primo Hoagies while Kathryn Trail better known as “KT” and Uriah Borrows are working the bar.
Primo Hoagies, a franchise established in South Philadelphia, has 94 locations nationwide with only one in Ocean City. The other closest location to Ocean City is in Salisbury.
Primo Hoagies uses Thumanns gourmet meats and cheeses on an Italian hoagie roll made at Liscio’s Italian Bakery, which is sold only to Primo Hoagie locations.
Primo Hoagies offers over 60 sandwiches cut to order. The most popular hoagie is naturally the Italian made of prosciutto, hot capicola, and genoa salami and provolone cheese.
Primo Hoagies is offering four new sandwiches this year that have become a hit for those visiting Beach Barrels. They include an Old Fashioned Style Italian Sausage with peppers, onions, grated Romano cheese and homestyle marina sauce as well as hot roast beef, hot pork and hot turkey sandwiches.
Beach Barrels and Primo Hoagies will now be open year-round. The McGraths have plans to install a pellet stove following the summer season to create a warm environment for the next off-season in Ocean City and are applying for a two-piece acoustic entertainment permit to offer live entertainment in the afternoons and evenings.
“Returning customers will be shocked. We were nervous at first over the renovation but after the past few weeks, I am not nervous at all now,” Ray McGrath said. “The future is looking pretty good.”