(Jan. 5, 2017) Capping off a year that included the firing of former General Manager Bob Thompson and the resignation or termination of directors of finance, marketing, and parks and recreation, the Ocean Pines Association announced that it parted ways with yacht club Manager Jerry Lewis last Friday.
According to a statement issued on Monday, “a decision was made to move in a different direction for management of food and beverage operations at the Ocean Pines Association.”
Reportedly, staff at the yacht club was made aware of the change in management on Friday and Event Coordinator Brian Townsend was promoted to replace Lewis on an interim basis.
 “Over the last few months, Acting General Manager Brett Hill has been working to optimize the overall food and beverage operations, and certain job descriptions were expanded and/or revised,” the statement said.
“Jerry Lewis had been working through this process, but it was decided to look at other options as we enter the New Year. Brian Townsend had previously expanded his involvement in the club over the last few months, assuming more responsibility in the overall dining experience. Brian will continue to support the dining and banquet consumers, making sure that everyone visiting our facility has the best possible experience while we search for a new director.”
The move could be seen as part of a larger rebranding movement at the club, spearheaded by new Marketing Director Denise Sawyer, who was hired in December.
That apparently includes renaming the club “Mumford’s Landing” and installing a new 20-foot bar called “Tuffy’s Tavern” near the entrance. The bar features take-out service, including beer and wine, as well as eight draft beers for dine-in customers.
The association released a separate statement on Tuesday, announcing that it renamed the club in order to honor Charles “Tuffy” Mumford, an “early pioneer of the Ocean Pines community.”
“The re-branding campaign is a forward-thinking initiative that will honor the community’s history while creating a promising future for a more marketable amenity,” the statement read.
In that statement, Hill elaborated on some of the new amenities.
“If our residents or guests want to pop in later in the evening, they can grab a six-pack or a bottle of wine to enjoy at their house,” Hill said. “That’s completely new, but it’s utilizing an existing license that was granted and previously paid for but never had a means to exercise.”
Hill said Mumford’s Landing staff was also “working toward a finer dining experience.”
“In the reconfiguration of the layout, we’ve moved the hostess station out to the front of the building. So now, when you come into the door, you are going to be greeted by a hostess. Before when you came in, you were relying on a sign or had to guess which floor or what you were doing,” he said.
A private donation will go towards building a pirate-themed playground on the outside patio between the club and the pool, which will be “installed in the memory of a former resident,” according to Hill. He added that Ocean Pines would be hiring new staff to operate the new bar.
“We are really trying to better identify our food and beverage operations so that nonresidents realize we are open to the public and have a lot to offer,” Hill said.
Along with Sawyer, hired last month, Ocean Pines recently added a new finance supervisor, Mary Bozack, and a network administrator, Paul Fazzalaro. Existing staff is sharing the recreation and parks director position.