Our seasonal “clam shack”, family owned and operated by Coburn Emery and his wife Celia, first opened its doors on June 23, 1948. Cobie was a textile manufacturer from Lowell who summered on the Cape where he was an avid golfer at Cummiquid. Celia ran the hot dog stand much of the time. Cobern and Celia established the operating principles that are still upheld today:
- Provide consistently high quality food and exceptional service to our loyal customers
- Strive for professionalism, quality and integrity in all that we do
- Keep the customers happy
- Keep the lines moving
- Treat customers with respect and politeness
- Answer questions and provide suggestions
There have been five owners of Cobies over the years. Cobie and Celia ran the clam shack for almost 20 years, selling it in 1967. Back then, Rt. 6A was still a dirt road and there was a strong relationship between the restaurant and Cape Cod Sea Camps, now owned by the town of Brewster. Cape Cod Sea Camps owned Cobies for a time and the restaurant was held by another owner as well, before passing into the hands of Jimmy Demetras. Jimmy and Cheryl Kimberley ran Cobies for a few years in addition to a food truck, “Jimmy’s Curbside.”
In 1986, Bob Slavin became the fifth owner of Cobies, purchasing it following a career working for Weyerhauser Corporation and Harbor Millwork. Bob was a member of the Brewster Chamber of Commerce as well as the National Restaurant Association and became known to locals, customers, and crew as “Cobie.” Bob and his wife Mary started without any restaurant experience, having inheriting just 2 cooks from the previous owner. Nevertheless, they and their eldest son Rob managed to run a restaurant shockingly similar to today’s Cobies. The Slavins and their crew served footlong hot dogs, burgers, fish and chips and soft serve ice cream.
The covered deck was added to Cobies in the 1970s, the only major change to the layout of the restaurant. In 2002, parking still consisted of just the 12 spaces in front of the building. In 2003, the need to put in a new septic system paved the way for the creation of the back parking lot.
In 1992, Celia Emery passed and Rob Slavin and his wife Elin purchased Celia’s house adjacent to the restaurant. Rob took over day-to-day management of Cobies from his dad in 1998. Elin and Rob’s daughter Noelle joined the crew when she was old enough, and she is now responsible for Cobies’ social media. Bob Slavin passed in 2017, a legend in the Brewster area. In 2013 Pam Thomas, along with her two sons Ethan and Rhys joined the Cobies team as an integral part of its success.
When not running Cobies, Rob was a teacher and volleyball coach, starting the varsity volleyball program at Sacred Heart School, leading the Massachusetts Volleyball Coaches Association (MAVCA), and he was active in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). He’s a member of the MAVCA Hall of Fame. Elin taught at Sacred Heart for 20 years as well.
In 2020, after 72 years, Cobies started serving alcoholic drinks including beer and wine. That addition combined with the readily available deck space helped the business weather the pandemic. In recent years, the specials have expanded and often include lighter and fancier fare, but the favorites remain fried seafood, hot dogs, burgers, and soft serve ice cream. And about 30% of Cobies’ business walks, runs, and rides in from the Cape Cod Rail Trail behind the restaurant.
“This picture perfect clam shack has been dishing out exemplary fried clams, lobster rolls, footlong hot dogs, frappes and all the other beloved staples of summer since 1948.”
“In the tony Cape Cod town of Brewster, there are several fine clam shacks, and Cobies is at the top of that list. Housed in a tastefully whitewashed shack at a bend in Route 6A, this place has heavenly fried clams, juicy burgers, thick milk shakes, and a great cold lobster roll made with knuckle meat only. The ice cream stand, with more than 30 flavors of hard and soft ice cream, makes for a great dessert or mid-afternoon snack spot. Brewster, MA.”
“Pick your passion: salty or sweet. There’s a steady stream of people in the two lines at this small, window-only restaurant. The left lane is for hot, grilled, and fried seafood specialties; the right lane, for hand-scooped, big-as-your-face gourmet ice cream cones. Under the covered eating area, plastic benches are filled with families sharing baskets of fried clams coated in just enough batter to be addictive. And then there’s the New England–style lobster roll: monstrous hunks of tender meat served cold with crisp celery—the way it’s been done at Cobies for almost 30 years.”
“Our first night on the Cape, we always hit Cobies, a classic, beloved clam shack at the end of Linnell Landing. In business since 1948, it’s a local landmark. Though just a kitchen and a deck full of picnic tables, the families packed in around those tables — even after Labor Day — are all the advertisement it needs.”
“This is the quintessential Cape Cod clam-shack experience: nothing but takeout, paper plates, picnic tables and lots of golden fried clams. Cobies famous clam plate comes heaped with batter-encrusted shellfish so fresh you can almost taste the sea. Sides of tender French fries and coleslaw complement the overflowing plate of clams. Fish and chips, clam strip, scallop and shrimp rolls are other highlights, each fresh and cooked to perfection. Footlong hot dogs, charbroiled Black Angus burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches provide a turf alternative to the surf specialties. There are also whole wheat wraps, hot panini sandwiches and fresh salads. Top it off with friendly service by a crew of eager youngsters and a clean outdoor dining area, and you have the type of Cape Cod dining experience that many crave.”
“…Cobies keeps things commendably simple. On the flower-decked patio, I indulged in the fish & chips. The breading is just enough to complement but not overpower the flaky and flavorful fish. The lobster rolls are generously stuffed.”
“Along a leafy stretch of Route 6A is Cobies, an old-fashioned, neighborly roadside stand that serves up sandwiches, lobster rolls, frappes and seafood platters at picnic tables in the open air. Very clean and polite, Cobies is as wholesomely American as the smiles behind the counter and the Stars and Stripes waving out front. The clams are tasty, too.”
“Best Clam Shack on the Lower Cape…”
“Cobies is a great spot for food on the run and sustenance for ravenous bikers from the Rail Trail. Across the pick-up counter of this Cape clam shack pass baskets of succulent fried clams and sweet onion rings, together with charcoal grilled burgers and footlong hot dogs. Picnic benches are provided, and of course, there are ice cream cones for dessert.”