On Oct. 19, Sea Dog, a restaurant located in downtown Exeter, announced its temporary closure due to issues with the structural integrity of the building located at 5 Water St. The restaurant is closed indefinitely and does not yet have a sense of when it will be possible to reopen. Before closing, the Exeter location of Sea Dog — which has been a town staple since May of 2018 (seacoast online) — served an elevated American fare.
Sea Dog first opened in May of 2018. The restaurant is one of eight locations operated by Sea Dog Brewing Company. It is currently owned by Fred Forsley, though the building out of which the Exeter location operates is owned by Steve and Andrea Kaneb of Soaring Hawk LLC. The location was formerly occupied by Loaf & Ladle, a soup restaurant that closed in 2013 after flooding in 2010 caused financial trouble (nh union leader). Loaf & Ladle recently reopened in a different location (seacoast online).
According to Sea Dog Operations Director Jim Bunting, the restaurant is not aware of the exact cause of the issues and is awaiting further professional guidance before reopening. In an email, he wrote, “Our primary concern as a public-facing business is the health and safety of our staff and customers.”
An article published in Seacoastonline on Oct. 21 cited “cracked and uneven flooring” as the reason for the closure. While Andrea Kaneb, one of the owners, said that inspections found no immediate structural danger, the restaurant has closed “out of an abundance of caution.”
Many of Sea Dog’s employees were affected by the closure, which was sudden. By the estimate of the Exeter Location’s general manager, Vanessa Cabrera, about 25 employees were affected by the closure. She said that staff were paid for one week and told to seek other employment while the future of the location remained uncertain. “While that pay provided some immediate support, the sudden closure has left employees facing uncertainty about their income and next steps,” she wrote over email.
Bunting asserted that employees were not explicitly told to seek other employment, but said that many employees would likely find other jobs. “We acknowledged that it wasn’t fair to keep people waiting by the phone for a call-back date when we simply cannot provide one at this time,” he wrote.
Cabrera said that the transition has been difficult for Sea Dog’s staff, who cared deeply about the restaurant and the Exeter community. While, according to Bunting, Sea Dog has made efforts to connect employees with other local businesses, the closure has still created detrimental effects for employees. The uncertainty over possible reopening dates increases the likelihood that many employees will not return to Sea Dog.
In this case, Sea Dog’s actions do not appear to have violated any labor laws. While the New Hampshire WARN Act requires that businesses provide 60 days’ notice before mass layoff events, this does not apply in cases where the closure was “not reasonably foreseeable at the time the notice would have been required.” Likely, the reason for Sea Dog’s temporary closure would meet the latter definition (WARN act).
For members of the Exeter community, Sea Dog’s temporary closure has prompted both disappointment and concern. Upper Reya Satam shared, “I am absolutely devastated that Sea Dog is closed.” While at Exeter, Satam has frequently visited the restaurant, where she has especially enjoyed the peanut butter pie. Moreover, Satam, who is from northern Massachusetts, recalled dining at other Sea Dog locations with her parents throughout her childhood. For her, the restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere made it a memorable part of growing up in New England.
Senior Jacquie Lonian, who visits Sea Dog a few times per term, similarly expressed appreciation for the restaurant, particularly its buffalo wings. However, she also recognized the importance of prioritizing safety. “I honestly don’t know it was [closing], but I’m glad they’re taking initiative and making sure the building is safe,” Lonian said.
As Sea Dog awaits further professional guidance regarding the building’s structural concerns, the future of its Exeter location remains uncertain. With no confirmed reopening date, employees face important decisions about their next steps, while community members are left wondering when the restaurant might resume operations. For now, the closure leaves a gap in downtown Exeter’s restaurant community, with the possibility of Sea Dog’s return still unresolved.