Sunset Cove closed its Middle River dock bar after 13 years in Baltimore County. The marina where it was located is undergoing a revamp.
Patch Staff
|Updated Mon, Apr 7, 2025 at 7:49 pm ET
BOWLEYS QUARTERS, MD — Waterfront restaurant and bar Sunset Cove announced its permanent closure this weekend in Middle River as the marina where it was located undergoes an overhaul.
The eatery, open for 13 years, was known for its sandy outdoor dining area surrounded by palm trees. A bandstand hosted live musicians in the summer, while a true dock bar sat mere feet from the shoreline. A lengthy floating pier lined with string lights welcomed transient boaters popping in for dinner.
Children often played in the water, while adults took polar plunges into the frigid creek in the winter. Customers could watch planes land at Martin State Airport across the waterway.
Another bar was found inside, where garage doors created an indoor-outdoor space. A canoe hung from the ceiling lent to the nautical theme.
The menu featured the classic Maryland crab and cream of crab soups. The rockfish tenders were another popular appetizer. The fish and shrimp tacos and burger topped with crab dip were other staples. Some items were named after local landmarks like the Carroll Island crab dip, the Bowleys best wings and the Galloway Fries.
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The restaurant, which once offered seating by an outdoor firepit, is now blocked off with a no-trespassing sign. The eatery closed for the season in November 2024 and never reopened.
"We would like to take this time to thank all of our loyal customers and employees. It has been an amazing run with many fantastic memories. We look forward to seeing many of you at Steelefish Grille and Hickory Lodge," Sunset Cove said Sunday on Facebook, directing patrons to its sister restaurants.
Sunset Cove had overlooked Frog Mortar Creek since April 2012 when it opened in the neighborhood of Bowleys Quarters, replacing the Wild Duck Cafe.
Located at 3408 Red Rose Farm Road, the 4,000-square-foot eatery was part of Maryland Marina.
The 18.5-acre marina started as a family endeavor, but it was sold in August 2022 to an Atlanta-based real estate company. Mongo Holdings bought the marina through its wholly owned subsidiary, Taylor Mercantile, for an undisclosed price in partnership with Keel Funds.
At the time, the buyers announced plans "to begin work on various growth initiatives ... over the next several seasons."
"Planned improvements for the facility include a boat rental offering, future expansion of our boat storage capacity/options, along with possibly adding a new fuel dock and retail ship store. We are excited about this new venture and investment and look forward to adding more in the future with our newest business partners," the buyers said in a 2022 press release announcing their purchase.
Mongo Holdings and Keel Funds declined to comment on Sunset Cove's closure.
The partners also said Maryland Marina is not for sale, though the Mongo Holdings website lists the marina under its "real estate for sale" tab.
Patch is awaiting a callback from the Maryland Marina general manager.
Maryland Marina was opened in May 1946 by Edward J. Miskiewicz; his brother, Leonard J. Myskiewicz, and their father, Felix F. Myskiewicz.
The business started as a small boat manufacturing plant under the name of Maryland Marine Manufacturing Company. It built rowboats for Montgomery Wards, Sears and the general public. The plant also produced Lightning class sailboats.
Manufacturing scaled back throughout the 1950s and 60s with focus turning toward the marina. The final rowboat rolled off the assembly line in 1967.
The marina now has 360 in-water boat slips, and it can store over 600 vessels on land. The marina can accommodate yachts 60 feet long.