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Friday, May 08, 2009

So Why Did Watermen's Seafood Restaurant Close?

It has been reported that Watermen's could not pay their taxes and may be in foreclosure.

Considering the timing, in order to obtain your alcohol license in Maryland, specifically in Wicomico County, all taxes have to be current. You cannot get a traders license without having all taxes paid. This would have been necessary by May 1, 2009.

I have to be honest with you Folks, Watermen's has actually been a huge topic over the past week. I have had many people confront me about this business closing, all of which each person said it used to be a great restaurant but it hasn't been so great over the past couple of years.

Then I'd get to hear the stories about "the past." You know, stories like, Joe, did you know so and so the bartender? Or, do you remember the waitress so and so, man she was great.

I hope ALL of the employees are able to find work elsewhere. Even more so, I hope a couple of them get together and open up their own place. My guess is, if Watermen's would have closed 2 years ago, everyone would have really been bummed out. Today, because things had fallen apart quality wise, we'll talk about them closing for a little while but it won't be missed.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Poor Louise--where will she go now?

Anonymous said...

This is an economy which certainly will promote "survival of the fittest", and Watermans Cover wasn't, apparently, fit.
We all feel bad when something we've known ceases to exist, and when that's a biz it means more people out of work.
Running a successful restaurant, more than some other types of biz's, is both hard work and very difficult. Just because it has been there for a long time doesn't mean it SHOULD be.
I hope another entrepreneur takes the location and opens a new venture. I hope it's good. I hope the people support it.

Anonymous said...

The Wicomico County Council held another closed meeting this week to discuss the overdue and unpaid room taxes that are owed by a number of places. What's happening -- and why is Rick Pollitt remaining silent, again -- on that matter?

Anonymous said...

Former Waterman's clietele should try Goin' Nuts.

Tim Chaney said...

This would make a great place for the Knorr Brothers to make an all you can eat crab restaurant in Salisbury, like it used to be, with a great menu and drinks. There would be one more restaurant to sell their own crafted beers.

The place does need an all new kitchen and a facelift. However the restaurant would come with an already great staff.

doug wilkerson said...

Older people want to smoke when they eat and drink, thats why a lot of the older crowd goes to private clubs and lodges.

Anonymous said...

Does it really matter why it is closed? Why does everything have to be public?

Anonymous said...

Great restaurant, it will be missed.

Anonymous said...

I think the smoking ban really took a toll on thier bar business which was substantial. Then the opening of Back Street took more away from them.

The restaurant business is a tough one especially in these times. And it is going to get tougher with new nationals planning stores here.

It's very very hard for the independents to compete against thier marketing and thier buying power.

Anonymous said...

Doug,
The private clubs & lodges fall under the same rules as the public bars when it comes to the smoking ban. Even with over 50K dollars woth of smoke eaters and filtration we still could not get an exemption. We have a smokers "hut" outside just like most other places.

RH

doug wilkerson said...

I didnt know that, I thought you could smoke in private lodges/clubs. Those smoke eaters were purchased and now they are wasted money? That shows you how long Ive been in my shell.

Anonymous said...

Tell us all again...How is why it closed any of our business? It's not. I didn't go there to eat, so I've got no dog in this fight, but I'm so sick of you making things that do not serve any public need your business.

doug wilkerson said...

Who you talking to?

Anonymous said...

my son worked there while in H/S before the Marines... I loved the place does anyone reme,ber 5.00 for a pitcher of beer and a lb of shrimp?? they used to pack them in!!!!

Anonymous said...

No liquor license, No sales.

Anonymous said...

It was THE PLACE for smoking at the bar. I hated it.
Is it possible the cigarette ban put it out of business?

Anonymous said...

Please folks, if every place had the smokeing ban applied evenly, thats just an excuse. Bottom line, thier food got where it sucked, and it caught up with them. Stop making excuses.