The owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar, Perry Raso, is expressing gratitude to members of the public who have reached out to him after a devastating fire early Tuesday morning.
In a statement sent to The Public’s Radio, Raso said his priority right now is assisting the restaurant’s 300 full-time and seasonal employees. He said he’s working with the state Department of Labor and Training, the governor’s office, and others to help find available resources “as our long-term plan for Matunuck Oyster Bar is developed.”
“We are humbled and grateful for what Matunuck Oyster Bar represents to so many people,” Raso said. “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.”
Chief Steven Pinch of the Union Fire District in South Kingstown says the restaurant building “may be a total loss” as a result of the fire. Pinch said Matunuck Oyster Bar has significant structural problems after sustaining water, fire and smoke damage.
About 35 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was called in shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday. The windy conditions made it difficult for fire crews to bring the flames under control, but they finally did so after 90 minutes.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Matunuck Oyster Bar has been a staple in South County since it opened in 2009 and has been named one of the best seafood restaurants in the country. The restaurant is located on Potter Pond, where owner Perry Raso has grown and harvested oysters for over 20 years.
Chief Pinch says the timing of the fire couldn’t have been worse.
“It’s tough imagining the summer going on without having the Oyster Bar open,” Pinch said in a news release. “We feel bad for the owners and all the employees who are now out of work. Hopefully, they rebuild and are even better when they reopen.”
DISCLOSURE: Matunuck Oyster Bar is an underwriter of The Public’s Radio.
