On the waterfront: Rock Lobster to give way to Octo

Throughout most of the summers of the 1990s, there was Rock Lobster on Delaware Avenue, pretty much a social magnet for big-haired women from Jersey and the guys who wanted them.

The big fade began after the September 2003 death of co-founder Marty Keenan, and the place went dark after the 2007 season.

Now comes word that Clark Maloney, who managed the club from 1996 to 2002 and most recently was operations manager at Center City's G Lounge, is front man for Octo Waterfront Grille, which will open Memorial Day weekend. He has a long road ahead; previous management left the place a shambles.

Octo will do lunch and dinner every day, and feature live music and/or DJs Wednesdays through Sundays. The space features three bars, 240 seats for casual fine dining, two lounges, a freshwater fish tank and octopus tank (for show) and a lobster tank (not for show). The menu will include octopus, as well as signature salads, steaks, lobsters and seafood, plus a dozen signature cocktails, 15 frozen drinks, and locally brewed beers. A job fair to fill about 100 jobs will be announced shortly; click on http://www.octophilly.com.

See renderings here.