Little Creek Oyster Farm and Market in Greenport, housed in the historic White’s Bait & Tackle building for 10 years, will have its last service October 13 behind Bootleg Alley before moving to a new location on Carpenter Street, according to the company.
In a statement provided to Northforker, co-founder Ian Wile explained the abrupt closure of the popular oyster spot.
“After 10 years of treating the old shack like it was ours — saving her from destruction and regular catastrophic flooding — the rent demand was simply unmeetable,” he says.
Adds Wile’s wife and co-founder Rosalie Rung, “We know that this is terrible news for our collective family and community, but we also know that this place was never about the building. It has always been about the love and care for each other, and a commitment to the people and places who make up our DNA.”
The self-shucking oyster shack easily gained bushels of loyal followers over the years due to their complementary commitment to both the surrounding community and aquaculture health of East End, celebrating their 10th anniversary just this past year.
“With the changes to the [waterfront commercial] zoning in January, we thought it would be a storm that took us out. The possible loss of our formerly conforming use weighed heavily already. Perhaps this will be a blessing in disguise, but the end of the bait shop is emotionally devastating,” Wile adds.
Little Creek Oysters is one of the original members of the Suffolk County Aquaculture Lease Program. They also operate the Sunshine Shack in Orient Beach State Park.
Partner Travis Zurawski summed up the group’s thoughts on the beloved oyster shack: “A family does not cease being a family if they move to a new home down the street. We are committed to being a part of this community and have moved our own personal mountains to ensure that the Little Creek way of life has a place in Greenport for years to come.”
Little Creek Oyster Farm will hold a special farewell “anchor drop” on Sunday, Oct. 13 at sunset at the shack (Bootleg Alley, 37 Front St.) before preparing to move to their new location on Carpenter Street, which faces the Greenport Yacht & Ship Building Co.
“We are truly humbled and shaken by the level of support and emotions of the past few weeks from our customers, oyster farmers and our heroes and icons of our seafood industry like Charlie Manwaring and the Phillips family,” says Wile. “This was a life or death crossroads and we will prevail only because of this support.”
