When Caleb Rebelo started working at the Gulf Hill Bucket at Apponagansett Park this summer, it was so slow that it was difficult to teach him to cook.

“It was hard to find ways to train me. I only cooked a hamburger once,” said Rebelo.

Beach season came late this year due to a long winter and a spat of dreary weather in early summer. But "The Bucket," now at its halfway point in the season, has already exceeded expectations by covering the cost of operations.

In previous years, the beachside restaurant had been operated by private proprietors. When no one made a bid on the location this year, the Parks and Recreation Department took over.

Despite the rocky start, The Bucket has taken off in the past three weeks.

“We’re generating enough revenue to cover costs and it looks like we’re going to make enough revenue to put back into the building,” said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Lancaster.

The original plan was to break even. By offering food at competitive prices, the department would offer a service to patrons and, hopefully, make enough extra money to help maintain the building.

Lancaster said that the success of the shop wouldn’t be possible without Arthur Domingos, the manager of the restaurant.

“I’m retired, so I had the time. Instead of me sitting home, watching re-runs, I said I’d do it,” said Domingos.

“I sat down all winter, and I figured out the cost of food. I figure, if you have a mother with kids coming here, she shouldn’t have to pay $30 to get a couple of hot dogs and hamburgers. You gotta be reasonable,” he said.

“There’s not too many places where you can get a double-cheeseburger with bacon and french fries for $8.”

After making it past the lull in June that led to some “80-dollar days,” Domingos is hoping the revenue generated in the coming weeks can go toward capital investments like a walk-in freezer to help increase capacity and help him better assess inventory.

Some improvements to the facility are currently underway, though not through the restaurant's revenue.

“We’re working with (Town Administrator) David Cressman and the Disability and Accessibility Commission,” said Lancaster. “They are funding a pad and walkway system attaching to The Bucket and the walkway system that we have. We also have enough money to add additional handicapped accessible picnic tables on the pad.”

There is already talk of plans for next season, too. Lancaster said members of the Board of Parks and Recreation are very much interested in keeping the location going.

“What’s even better is that, in years to come as this grows, that money will be able to go into other recreation programs and be able to fund those because recreation in Dartmouth is completely self-funded,” he said, adding that programs hosted by Parks and Recreation are funded through user fees.

“This will allow us to expand and offset some of those fees for the youth and residents of the community,” said Lancaster. “It’s a win-win for the town.”

The Bucket will continue operations through Labor Day weekend. Domingos said that he’d like to stay open for one or two weeks after Labor Day, possibly with limited hours.