The owners of Victoria Gastro Pub are moving forward with their plan to open a beer tavern in downtown Ellicott City in spite of the town’s being declared a disaster area by the feds after extensive flood damage.

Manor Hill Tavern’s opening will likely get pushed back until at least October or November, assuming the town reopens and has available parking, says co-owner Randy Marriner. It was originally slated to open late September.

The 6,600 SF building received significant water damage, but since it sits on top of a hill at Old Columbia Pike, the damage pales in comparison to that of many other businesses in the area, Randy says. “We’re so blessed that we’re far up the hill.”

The deadly flash flood gutted many buildings in the lower part of the historic mill town, which remains closed to visitors and has no timeline for reopening from county officials.

Manor Hill Tavern will replace The Diamondback Tavern, which closed in June, and serve beer from the family’s Ellicott City farm brewery, Manor Hill Brewing.

The Marriners’ other new restaurant, Food Plenty, will open Q1 2017 in Clarksville Commons.The new mixed-use building from Greenstone Ventures has broken ground near routes 108 and 32.

The restaurant group has hired Chad Wells, formerly of Alewife, as its executive chef and Paul Giannaris as its chief culinary and operations officer.