Update: “Rappahannock Oyster Bar at Union Market last day is Saturday, (Landlord) told us to vacate the premises and gave us two months notice”

1309 5th Street, NE via Rappahannock Oyster Bar

Update from Rappahannock Oyster Bar owner Travis Croxton via email:

“I just saw a story on PoPville from Sarah and wanted to clarify a couple things for Rappahannock Oyster Bar. Our last day is Saturday. The post states that “it doesn’t fit their business model anymore” – that’s out of context a little bit – it’s not our business model but rather is the only explanation the landlord gave to us (meaning “their business model”, not ours). They told us to vacate the premises and gave us two months notice, which puts us at the end of August. But we really want to get our great staff incorporated over to the Wharf and that’s why we may leave a little sooner.

The restaurant was doing great – this is by no means a financial decision whatsoever (and again, it was not our decision) – we had rebounded in an amazing way after the initial COVID onslaught and had better success than ever, so honestly the news hit us like a punch to the gut. We feel proud of the ten years we put in at Union Market, the relationships we forged and the customers who embraced us. We bought into the vision of what this project could be and are disappointed to not be able to continue. We really hope our patrons follow us over to the Wharf and we have already heard from so many of them that are incredibly disappointed. Several have had tears in their eyes when hearing the news about our imminent departure. It’s been a great ride.”

Sarah reports on Sunday:

“I was having oysters last night at rappahannock oyster union market — tried to order certain things and the waiter said he didn’t have it because THEY ARE CLOSING TOMORROW!!!! Multiple patrons at the bar were stunned — this is a place we all FREQUENT and the response from the waiter was “this just doesn’t make sense for their business model anymore”.

WHAT!? The place is always packed, I struggle to spend less than $60/cover and they are completely building up the Union Market area to look just like the wharf…. where they just opened a location … how does this not make sense? Help!!!!!!!!! We don’t want them to leave!!”