By Greg Ellison, Staff Writer

(Oct. 19, 2017) Mallards Restaurants, Catering & Equipment of Onancock, Virginia was selected to revive operations at the recently shuttered Riverside Grill in Pocomoke. City Manager Bobby Cowger said the city council, during a closed session last Tuesday evening, was presented with concepts from a handful of restaurant operators vying to expand into Pocomoke. “We interviewed all five candidates in one night,” he said. “We listened to them all and everyone had good messages.” The council was unable to reach a consensus after roughly half-hour presentations from each restaurant, last Tuesday. Cowger said the council reconvened for several hours on the following day and selected Mallards to fill the business vacancy. “Some council members had favorites,” he said. “It took a while for everybody to hash it out.” In addition to Mallards at the Wharf in Onancock, Virginia, the restaurant group also runs Mallards Sidewalk Café in Accomack, Virginia. Cowger said of primary importance to the council were the proposed food prices. “We wanted to make sure they kept it within a reasonable price,” he said. “We didn’t want to run people away.” In addition to menu costs, Cowger said the mayor and council also appreciated the promotional concepts suggested by Mallards ownership. “They want to promote and bring business in from the river,” he said. Cowger said Mallards also hopes to work with the Delmarva Discovery Center and the Mar-Va Theater to develop entertainment and dinner packages. The changeover time should be relatively short, because Pocomoke was able to negotiate the purchase of kitchen equipment from the previous tenant, Cowger said. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Cowger said the new operators would be serving food and drinks in the picturesque location before the end of the year. “Mallards feels they can be in there and set up by Dec. 1,” he said.