By Brian Gilliland

LONG NECK — If the projections remain true, the Long Neck and Millsboro areas won’t have long to wait before they’re year-round economies.

But, right now, one of the locale’s key performance indicators may be the growth of Paradise Grill and its five related businesses, two of which are open all year.

The trend — especially with the bar/restaurant’s flagship location off Bay Walk in Long Neck — has been to close from December until about April. However, events manager Barbara Ann “B.A.” Racine-Kerezsi said new dates have been creeping in lately.

In years past, she said, there wasn’t much reason to stay open, but then New Year’s Day gained some interest. Then, the day before Thanksgiving.

So, this year, for the second time, Paradise Grill will open to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, before shuttering again until sometime in April.

The days the restaurant will be closed seem to be numbered, though, as government projections target this region for development for many years to come.

If those numbers bear out, Ms. Racine-Kerezsi said, that’s great. But, between the currently open Paradise Pub in Long Neck and Seaside Fish House in Millsboro, and the still-slumbering counterparts Paradise Grill, Seaside Grill and Paradise Landing (geared toward boaters), the enterprise is doing well enough to support all its endeavors — and help out with others.

“Wherever we see needs, we try to pitch in. We’ve raised hundreds of thousands each year” for charities like Boys & Girls Clubs, the Home of the Brave shelter and the Beebe Medical Foundation, she said.

Generally, the organization finds its own sponsorships, but, she added, the business has been approached in the past for fundraisers. So, as all five locations come back online seasonally, the event schedule fills up quickly.

“There is a big heart in the organization, (and) I think everyone should know,” she explained.

Ms. Racine-Kerezsi joined Paradise Grill nearly a decade ago as a bartender — her “fun job” for many years prior in New Jersey and Pennsylvania — after discovering the Pot-Nets community.

“I was just obsessed with the area, then I saw the beautiful location and fell in love with the business. It’s my serenity,” she said.

About three years ago, she was named events manager and has had a bird’s-eye view of each piece of Paradise ever since.

“It’s got this fun, entertaining, waterfront vibe,” she said of the locations. “And we like to make sure you can see your donations at the door or (that) contributions are going somewhere.”

Nearby residents can take their pick for that atmosphere, as Paradise Grill, Paradise Pub and Seaside Grill are in Long Neck, while Paradise Landing and Seaside Fish House are in Millsboro.

“We try to open up the Landing during the beginning and end of the season, so people can see what it’s all about,” Ms. Racine-Kerezsi said.

She added that 2024 will see little tweaks and cosmetic updates for the sprawling Paradise empire, not the rapid change asserting itself elsewhere in Sussex County.

Learn more at paradisegrillde.com.