The Taphouse recently purchased Taylor’s Neighborhood Restaurant in Ocean Pines. The team, from left includes the owner, Zev Sibony, General Manager Tammy Fultz and Executive Chef Robert Stargel.

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(May 18, 2023) Yes, the rumors are true. Taylor’s Neighborhood Restaurant in Ocean Pines has been sold.

The new owner is Zev Sibony of the Ocean City Taphouse restaurants.

The sale was set to be finalized with the approval of the transfer of the liquor license on May 17.

Sibony has been at the helm of the Taphouse establishments since 2015.

“I have had my eyes on the Pines for a couple of years now. Once a good location came up, I made the move,” Sibony said.

He is excited to have a year-round clientele.

While the 45th Street Taphouse is mainly popular with tourists, the Taphouse Tavern on 137th has a more local focus. He said he loves all the clientele there and wanted another place like that.

“I want to go in and meet John and James and Harry and whoever else comes into the bar frequently,” he said.

He has heard rumors that he plans to turn it into a tourist bar and restaurant.

“That will be silly of me to try to turn it into something it is not,” he said. “I read my clientele and cater to them. At the end of the day, I have to do my job and fill the needs of my customers. If my customer base wants something within reason, I am going to give it to them.”

He added that he will do what we can to make his mark in Ocean Pines.

Once Sibony decided to buy the restaurant, he tried everything on the menu.

“I was full for two days,” he said. “Everything that I had is good down-home food. I’ll make sure to continue that and add some fresh new items.”

 Sibony is keeping almost everyone who is on staff at Taylors.

“You have an amazing staff that cares about the place, it’s running really well, why would I want to change that?”

Sibony will be bringing in some Taphouse elements and will eventually redecorate. He expects to work the summer of 2023 and ’24 as is, except for a little surprise here and there.

He will be adding some classic Taphouse food and refreshing the logo to make it a little more modern. He also hopes to make some improvements to the outdoor patio.

“We will be open throughout the transition. You will still be able to get the Taylor’s menu through Sunday,” he said.

In the near future, he hopes to open for lunch and be running two happy hour and food specials, one 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and another from 4-6 p.m.

The restaurant will be open through the weekend and then close on Monday and Tuesday, May 22-23, and reopen May 24th with a new menu.