NORTH EAST, Md. — Following a devastating overnight fire in early November, little remains Unwined on the Water in Elkton, leaving Owner John Bragg with the difficult task of rebuilding.
“It felt like my heart dropped. I can hardly put it into words,” Bragg reflected. “To turn the corner and witness years of hard work and investment—five, six, seven years—turning to ash was simply heartbreaking. The loss was profound.”
This tragedy also took a toll on Bragg’s more than twenty staff members, many of whom have families relying on their income.
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“Many of our staff have children and need to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table. That was a big concern for me,” shared Megan Gollehon, the restaurant’s operations manager. However, she emphasized that working at the restaurant for the past five years has taught her that Bragg is committed to standing by his team.
“We knew that if any of us faced tough times, he would be there to support us,” she added.
Just one week after the fire, as community support poured in, Bragg received an unexpected email from the owners of the former Chesapeake Bay Golf Club property located just south of North East.
“We were as shocked as anyone,” Bragg recounted. “I returned home to find an email from a gentleman who owned this site, offering us a lease and a potential future purchase—given that we wanted to stay here. It truly warmed my heart.”
On Friday, they held a soft opening, unveiling a new menu filled with a selection of distinguished items that venture more into fine dining compared to the upscale pub fare they offered previously.
Although the new restaurant will operate under the name White Oak Manor, there are intentions to rebuild the original establishment as well.
“That could become a location we potentially manage alongside this new one,” Bragg noted. “We have already met with the town and are seeking expedited permits so we can begin construction there. Our goal is to have it operational by this summer.”
