Dew Drop Inn owner Jason Carlucci.
DERBY – On Aug. 20, the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved an addition to the Dew Drop Inn, a popular restaurant and bar at the corner of North Avenue and Roosevelt Drive.
The expansion, Dew Drop Inn owner Jason Carlucci said, is necessary to meet the growing demand at the business.
The two-story addition will double the size of the Dew’s small kitchen, allowing Carlucci to install five more fryers, bringing the total to nine.
Carlucci said the addition will actually create two kitchens, one for in-house orders and the other for to-go orders. Orders to go have grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, Carlucci said.
The addition will also allow Carlucci to move the two existing bathrooms further back, with a small hallway. The space where the existing bathrooms are will enable Carlucci to add two or three more tables for customers. The addition will also provide more storage space for kitchen equipment. Carlucci also plans to create a small office and storage space on the second floor.
Carlucci said the exterior of the Dew Drop will also be updated with new siding and signage.
“We’re going to give it a whole new look outside,” Carlucci said. “It needs a more modern look. The (exterior) has looked the same forever, and it’s time to give it a more fun, more fresh look.”
The larger space will also enable Carlucci to add two or three more employees to its existing roster of 38 employees.
“We’re going to expand the menu, add new wing flavors, add some new apps and new sandwiches, too,” he said.
Carlucci said a new and improved website will also make its debut in October.
He anticipates the renovation to start in late October or early November, with the goal to be complete before Super Bowl Sunday,
Carlucci and his wife Kenna took over the Dew Drop in 2006, transforming it from a neighborhood bar to a foodie destination for YouTubers and food writers.
Gino DiGiovanni, who has replaced longtime chairman Ted Estwan on the commission, said approving the Dew Drop addition was a no-brainer. The city has a chance to be business friendly and attract new investment with the Route 34/Main Street project winding down, he said.
“Dew Drop is a Derby and a Valley landmark,” DiGiovanni told the Valley Indy via a text message. “It’s great to see them expanding, especially with so many businesses closing in recent months.”
A rendering of the front of what the Dew could look like once the work is done.
