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Monday, July 6, 2009
Oceanaire closes

The 50 employees at Oceanaire, the seldom-busy seafood behemoth on Washington Square, got the word this morning from corporate:

It's closed.

A corporate spokeswoman said the Minneapolis-based chain -- founded by a guy from Camden, N.J. -- has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and shuttered a few locations.

Oceanaire opened in late 2006 in a soaring-ceilinged, art-deco space in what was a PSFS building on the south side of Walnut between Seventh and Eighth. As I wrote then: "It's easy to see why people liken the decor to that of a cruise ship; it's spacious and plush on two levels, with romantic banquettes and more utilitarian tables."
 

Posted by Michael Klein @ 1:03 PM  Permalink | File Under: TableTalk | 6 comments
Comments   
Posted 02:19 PM, 07/06/2009
Jack O
This is one I’ll miss. While it was seldom filled, I thought they had a fabulous staff and menu. Excellent food, great space. Best of luck. Whatever’s next, I’m full on steak houses.
Comment removed.
Posted 02:49 PM, 07/06/2009
Stanley Levin
This is too bad. Everytime something closes or goes into bankruptcy, a little piece of us goes down with them. A very sad situation.
Comment removed.
Posted 02:59 PM, 07/06/2009
danF
to contrast, i had 3 extremely disapointing meals here. The food was good on one of the trips but the bill was high all three times. the staff was obviously very competent but i found them occassionally pushy. I also experienced long wait times for the food on once occasion where the place was practically empty. There is too much competition right now to survive with so many faults
Posted 03:13 PM, 07/06/2009
nh7
The laid off employees might be covered by the WARN Act (the federal plant closing law) which requires 60 days notice when a workplace is shut down or the equivalent amount of pay.
6 comments
About Michael Klein
Michael Klein chronicles local people, places and things (in easy-to-digest portions) three days a week in his Inquirer column "INQlings." He also covers the restaurant scene in his Thursday Food column, "Table Talk." See his work at http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_klein.
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