Chain restaurant to replace highly regarded Ocean Grill

Not looking to sell, the owners received an offer too good to turn down.

By SHARON BOND

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Ocean Grill at 6445 Fourth St. N closed Saturday and was sold to a chain that plans to put a different type of restaurant there.

The Ocean Grill was only open a year but got high marks from reviewers and seafood lovers. It was packed with patrons on its last night.

David Fair said Tuesday he and the other three owners, Jan Fair and Rod and Liz Karcher, were not trying to sell the Ocean Grill but couldn't turn down the offer made to them.

"Every once in a while, we would get people" asking about purchasing it, Fair said. "This guy had cash. That was the difference. We really hated to close in the middle of the season."

Fair would not disclose the price or what chain restaurant will replace the Ocean Grill. He said the building will be gutted and remodeled with construction beginning next week.

"We loved it," he said. "It was a decision we really hated to make."

Fair said all four of the owners had full-time jobs outside the Ocean Grill and were finding that the extra hours at the restaurant cut into time with their families. He said the grill was not having money problems.

Posted beside the farewell letter on the restaurant doors Tuesday was a notice from the city that water to the restaurant would be turned off today2/23 if the $1,634.66 utility bill were not paid by 1:30 p.m. Of the total bill, $801.96 was past due, according to the notice. Fair said he didn't know why the bill had not been paid but that it would be taken care of.

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