The owners of the Carrot Tree, who closed their Yorktown store late in 2013 after they were unable to reach a deal with the National Park Service to keep it open, are pressing ahead with plans to operate a snack stand and catering business at the Watermen’s Museum in historic Yorktown.
The snack stand, which will be called Toby’s Dog House, will operate next to the Yorktown Riverwalk, hopefully by the start of the summer tourist season, said Glenn Helseth, one of the Carrot Tree owners. The York County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 last week to approve the snack stand. They also voted to approve a restaurant called Tavern on the York to be located in the Carriage House, however that may not come to fruition for more than a year, Helseth said.
Instead, Helseth plans to focus on using the Carriage House to help cater events at the Watermen’s Museum. The Carriage House is a waterfront house on the Watermen’s Museum property currently used for receptions and gatherings. Carrot Tree has been providing catering services for the museum for a while, and Helseth hopes the agreement turns his company’s presence into a “more year-round, continuous catering facility.”
“We look forward to working with them,” said Steven Ormsby, the president of the museum’s board of directors. “We know their special events coordinator is already doing a fantastic job in talking with brides, families who want reunions and corporate clients. We’re extremely pleased and look forward to a great partnership.”
Helseth said it would be expensive to renovate the Carriage House to bring it into compliance with county code for restaurants. He said he is spending a “small” amount of money to partially renovate the building to be used as a catering space, where food will be prepared offsite. That arrangement is similar to what he had at the 1736 Cole Digges House, where the Carrot Tree was located in Yorktown before it closed in December when Helseth was unable to work out a new deal with NPS.
He said he is in the process of tallying the total cost of renovation, at which point he will consider the square footage and occupancy and decide if it will produce enough revenue to make the project viable. He referred to the Watermen’s Museum’s “bold plans” for the waterfront as a driving force for making him want to operate out of the museum.
Helseth said he is also on the lookout for possible locations in the Yorktown area for the Carrot Tree to reopen.
“We’re looking at some options very seriously,” Helseth said. “It is our intent to establish the Carrot Tree brand in a location around Yorktown.”
Toby’s Dog House will serve inexpensive food, Helseth said. He referred to the fare as “something for the people who won’t have to leave the beach or take off their beach gear to go in some other restaurants.” He said that once the snack stand is up and running, the standalone menu will feature $1 snacks and top off at $5 to $6 for hot dogs. Toby’s Dog House replaces the Minnows and Mates snack stand.
Helseth said he wants to use the snack bar for weekend festivals, such as an all-you-can-eat seafood event in conjunction with the Watermen’s Museum.
“[The snack stand] hasn’t always been fully operational because we just didn’t have the volunteers,” Ormsby said. “By working with [Helseth], it solves the problem of not having enough volunteers to run it. And I think it gives people a few more options.”
The supervisors approved the changes after a brief conversation at their Feb. 18 meeting. Their vote to approve came after the York County Planning Commission and York County Administrator James McReynolds both voiced support for the changes.
“I think it’s a good idea for the Carrot Tree and the museum,” said Chairman Don Wiggins.
Related Coverage:
- York Planners OK New Restaurant from Carrot Tree Owners at Watermen’s Museum
- Carrot Tree Owners File Paperwork for New Yorktown Restaurant
- Yorktown Carrot Tree to Close Dec. 22
- Yorktown Carrot Tree Barraged with Customers After Reopening Despite Federal Order
- Yorktown Carrot Tree Agrees to One-Year Deal with NPS
