Iconic Tacoma waterfront restaurant to close 4 months for renovations. But then, oysters!
LATEST: Tacoma waterfront restaurant returns with $2 oyster happy hour, better views
The Lobster Shop will close in January for a planned four-month remodel of the ‘80s-era waterfront restaurant.
Owners E3 Restaurant Group, which purchased the iconic Tacoma seafood destination in December 2021, will modernize the layout and aesthetic, update the cocktail menu and wine program, and introduce a “very robust oyster program,” according to president Jim Rowe.
“It’s still going to be the Lobster Shop,” Rowe told the News Tribune in a phone call. “It’s a great place to dine but still very approachable, and our intent is not to lose that.”
In addition to more contemporary lighting, chairs and fixtures, perhaps the most visible change will be a more open floor plan, and the loss of the fish tank.
“We really want to be able to leverage the view as much as possible,” said Rowe. “When you first walk in, you’ll go, ‘Oh wow.’ You basically just feel like you’re sitting on water, right?”
He described the forthcoming design as “elevated” while maintaining that “classic seafood house feel.”
While management will remain on payroll during the transition, 70 employees will be temporarily laid off starting Jan. 15. They will be assisted with accessing unemployment benefits, and where possible, will have the opportunity to fill in — with a transportation allowance — at the Seattle-based company’s other venues, including Elliott’s Oyster House and Metropolitan Grill, said Rowe.
Both of those restaurants have been remodeled under E3’s watch, he noted.
The Lobster Shop bar will gain some square footage, allowing for a heavier emphasis on cocktails and an improved wine list.
It’s unlikely a seated raw bar will be integrated into the new design, said Rowe, in part because it requires particular investment and chews at space for other seating, but kitchen upgrades will include new equipment and a dedicated oyster station.
Through Elliott’s, which opened at Seattle’s Pier 56 in 1975, E3 has strong ties to local oyster farms and plenty of experience with proper preparation and service of the revered mollusk. That raw bar regularly offers up to 20 varieties during high season.
“Will it make sense to have eight? We’ll gauge to see how Tacoma kind of embraces a really solid oyster program,” said Rowe.
Noting Elliott’s tagline of “where Seattle goes for seafood,” he added, “At Lobster Shop, I’d like to make it where Tacoma will go for oysters.”
E3 has made minor changes to the menu since taking over last year, but the remodel will bring a few more — notably more steaks.
“By and large, we’ll keep those things that are near and dear to the guest’s heart,” said Rowe, which of course entails lobster.
The renovations should take 12 to 16 weeks, with a target reopening date in late April or early May.
Rowe said the company hopes to retain its staff, most of whom carried over from original proprietors Katie and Dennis Driscoll. The couple also sold their sister spot, Boathouse 19, to Anthony’s Restaurants in early 2022.
THE LOBSTER SHOP - TACOMA
▪ 4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253-759-2165, lobstershop.com
▪ Closed for remodel Jan. 15, anticipated reopening by May 2023
▪ Current Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (closed Christmas Day)
This story was originally published December 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM.