JP's Waterfront restaurant and Humbug marina under new ownership

A popular downriver restaurant, a hot spot for waterfront dining, recently changed hands and is under new ownership.

Jason and Krissy McGuire, the owners of JP's Waterfront restaurant and Humbug Marina in the downriver community of Gibraltar, have sold the businesses to a group of local business owners.

Rise Gibraltar, a newly formed company by Downriver natives and entrepreneurs Justin Bise, Robert Molnar, Ron Thomas and Joshua Cade, took over management March 1 and was in the regulatory process of acquiring the facilities, according to a news release. Details of the purchase were not revealed.

“As a team of Downriver natives, we understand the location and culture that makes Humbug and JP’s a special, unique place,” Ron Thomas said in a news release.

JP's Waterfront and Humbug Marina are on the shores of the Detroit River near the mouth of Lake Erie. The marina has been in business since 1959, according to its website.

The McGuires have owned the marina for over seven years and want to slow down.

"We still own three restaurants," Krissy McGuire said Thursday afternoon. "But we are looking to slow it down a little and enjoy our kids."

Krissy McGuire said the couple were in the restaurant business for 17 years before buying Humbug Marina.

"We had no desire to run a marina, but we had a huge desire to build a waterfront restaurant," she said.

When the couple bought the marina, McGuire said it needed much work.

Now, the marina has 500 boat slips, and there's a waitlist.

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JP's Waterfront restaurant opened in 2020 amid the pandemic and at first for carryout only.

Over the years, the facilities operated with the help of Jamie and Holly Jensen at the marina and Dean McGuire at the restaurant.

Thomas credited the McGuires for reviving Gibraltar as a waterfront community by building the full-service waterfront restaurant and making other improvements on the marina grounds.

The McGuires also own nearby Captain Jim's Marina Bar and Grill in Gibraltar, which they acquired last October. In the community of Taylor, the McGuires own JP McGuire's Bar and Grill on Goddard and JP's Trolley Stop on Pelham.

The new team of owners, Thomas said, "share the long-term vision of continuing what Jason (McGuire) has created."

While the businesses (marina and waterfront restaurant) are cyclical, Rob Molnar, owner of Gibraltar Boat Yard, said in a news release that they expect to keep people employed year-round and reduce seasonal turnover.

Molnar said plans include investment and growth in the marina with dock and seawall rehabilitation, more heated boat storage space, new and used boat brokerage and customer-centric technology.

"The relaxed marina culture will continue to be the mission," Molnar said.”

The restaurant has inside and patio dining, along with a two-story pavilion as a private event space for larger parties. Currently, the restaurant offers brunch on Sundays, as well as live entertainment. Its menu features classic bar food like pizza, wings and burgers. Entrees include steaks, chicken and pasta, according to its online menu. JP's Waterfront menu also is known for several seafood options, including walleye, perch, shrimp and salmon.

Josh Cade of the newly formed Rise Gibraltar said the efforts will continue to focus on the "exciting atmosphere that exists in the waterfront setting."

"It's ... a huge and unique place," Cade said. "To be working with the other partners of this caliber is exciting as well where we all take care of different aspects of the business."

Cade owns several Wyandotte establishments, including District 142, Whiskey's on the Water and The Iron Gate.

"Taking over an already successful operation is more challenging in many ways than starting fresh or trying to turn something around,” Cade said. "Dean McGuire set a high bar for service and attention."

Cade said plans are to establish a beer garden outside to accommodate guests waiting for seating.

"We’re committed to cutting down wait times in the summer months and serving the demand.”

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: JP's Waterfront restaurant in Gibraltar sold