THE HISTORY OF BENNETT’S CREEK MARINA
Decoys Seafood Restaurant, featuring the Blind Duck Tiki Bar, and Bennett’s Creek Marina are located on the property that once housed Bennett’s Creek Marina. Years ago many locals launched from this marina in wooden skiffs to navigate to their duck blinds and hunt ducks on both Bennetts Creek as well as the Nansemond and James Rivers. The outdoor tiki bar, adjacent to the restaurant, is named Blind Duck as a play on duck blinds, to show respect for the area’s history. During construction, much of the timber used to trim the restaurant and tiki bar was harvested from the current land. Trees were cut to rough lumber and then air or kiln-dried for 18 months. Highlights of the wood varieties used in Decoys Seafood Restaurant and the Blind Duck Tiki Bar include pine for the detailed trim, pecan for the hardwood floors and staircase, black walnut for the bar tops, red cedar for the tiki bar ceiling, and osage orange for the tiki bar seats and bar top.
The area in which the restaurant and marina now sit was first a ferry site and lead to the naming of the main road. The creek is named after the Bennett family, the original owners of the land. The current site is where the old swing bridge/country store sat from the early 1900s through the 1940s when the Route 17 bridge was built. The store remained and became a restaurant known as “Creekside Restaurant” until the property was acquired by Brian and Teresa Mullins in 2015 and redeveloped into what you see today.
When beginning construction on the old Ferry Bulkhead, the team noticed a part of the concrete retaining wall that had a dog’s unique set of paw prints from the 1800s. This imprint has been carefully preserved and is displayed in the restaurant to show three paw prints and a fourth imprint that looks like a peg leg. Decoys created this 3-legged black lab persona named “Mate” to represent the marina and serve as the Blind Duck’s best friend.
The entire portion of Bennetts Creek where the marina now sits was dredged to accommodate larger boats up to 80 feet in length and 60 new slips with 1,800 square feet of floating deck were installed. The property was next purchased by Randy and Brian Pack, of Pack Brothers Hospitality, in May 2024. They continue to operate today and brought Ken Dodd, the long-time operator, on board as a partner.
ABOUT PACK BROTHERS HOSPITALITY
Excellence in Every Experience
Pack Brothers Hospitality is a relatively new name to the hospitality scene, but not if you know Randy and Brian Pack. These two brothers grew up watching their parents build, manage, and create Smithfield Station, which has become an icon in Smithfield Virginia, and to anyone who lives in the Coastal Virginia area. From the ages of 10 and 8 respectively, the two brothers actively worked at Smithfield Station, and upon returning from college in 2001 and 2003, they both immediately began working and then managing the family business.
Pack Brothers Hospitality was officially formed in 2018, with the addition of The Surry Seafood Company – a restaurant, hotel, and marina on Gray’s Creek in Surry, Virginia. Randy and Brian quickly began transforming this truly special property overlooking the river. Today it is a thriving restaurant and marina and has earned the respect of both locals and visitors alike.
In 2019, Pack Brothers Hospitality embarked on a journey with the State of Virginia at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. The redevelopment project of an existing marina into a world-class Restaurant, Marina, and Hotel on the lower Chesapeake Bay, affectionately called 37 North at Fort Monroe, is still (slowly) in the works as there are many obstacles to overcome. The Packs are currently operating the existing marina, Old Point Comfort Marina, on the site and lease the existing restaurant to The Dedrise as they wait to progress this project.
Pack Brothers Hospitality continued to grow in May 2024 when it purchased three existing restaurants from Brian and Teresa Mullins. The Packs acquired Vintage Tavern, Decoys Seafood and Bennetts Creek Marina and the River Stone Chophouse. All three of these properties are located in Nothern Suffolk along Rt. 17. Randy and Brian felt these properties were a wonderful addition to their portfolio and would complement what they already owned and operated. Additionally, the Packs added Ken Dodd to the team as an operational partner. Ken brings years of operational experience to the team and is considered a master of his craft by both Randy and Brian.
Pack Brothers Hospitality was founded on the principles of passion, commitment, and a genuine desire to create exceptional hospitality experiences. As a family-owned business, we understand the importance of personalized service and the impact it has on our guests.
Our journey began with a vision to redefine hospitality by seamlessly blending luxury, comfort, and authenticity. Over the years, we have grown into a trusted name in the industry, renowned for our unwavering dedication to excellence and attention to detail.
Our Mission
At Pack Brothers Hospitality, our mission is simple: to exceed expectations and set new standards of excellence in the hospitality industry. We are committed to creating memorable moments for our guests through unparalleled service, innovative offerings, and a passion for perfection. Please join us at any of our establishments soon and let us make a believer out of you.