A fire broke out early Tuesday morning at the popular Matunuck Oyster Bar, damaging part of the building just days ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend.
Firefighters responded to the scene on Succotash Road around 3:45 a.m. and were met with heavy smoke and visible flames coming from the upper level of the restaurant. Strong winds at the time made the fire more difficult to control, and mutual aid was requested from neighboring departments.
Crews worked for several hours to bring the blaze under control. No injuries were reported.
The full extent of the damage has not yet been released, but the iconic waterfront restaurant — known for its farm-to-table seafood and scenic views — is a fixture in the South County dining scene, especially during the summer season.
The restaurant has been declared a total loss.
“I would like to sincerely thank the Union Fire District of South Kingstown and neighboring fire fighters who were on site heroically fighting the Matunuck Oyster Bar fire when I arrived in the early morning of Tuesday, May 20. While the damage to our building is devastating to me, our patrons, and our employees, we are very thankful no one was injured,” said Matunuck Oyster Bar owner Perry Raso.
“As we assess our next steps,” Raso continued “our first priority is in finding ways to assist our more than 300 full-time and seasonal employees, whose service and dedication have made Matunuck Oyster Bar what it is today, and who rely on this business to support themselves and their families. We are currently working closely Department of Labor & Training, the Governor’s Office, and other public officials to identify available resources, and we are committed to staying in direct contact with our team members as our long-term plan for Matunuck Oyster Bar is developed. ”
“I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our neighbors, patrons, partners, colleagues and friends from Rhode Island and beyond, who have reached out over the last several hours with selfless offers to help. We are humbled by this outpouring of kindness from our community, and we are working to explore the most efficient and most impactful avenues available, in order to ensure that our staff receives assistance during this difficult time.”
We are humbled and grateful for what Matunuck Oyster Bar represents to so many people. While we are heartbroken that our doors will be temporarily closed, we are committed to opening them back up and welcoming guests back to our tables as soon as possible.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Please consider donating to the Matunuck Oyster Bar Recovery Fund.
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