Here’s why The Chop House, Tidewater Grill at Charleston Town Center closed unexpectedly, according to owners

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Both The Chop House and Tidewater Grill restaurants in Charleston permanently closed their doors unexpectedly Sunday.

According to a Tidewater employee, workers were told the previous day that the restaurant would not open Sunday and were given no prior notice. A Chop House employee said they had only been working there for two weeks before the closure.

The president for Main Street Ventures Restaurant Group, the owners of the restaurants, told 13 News that the locations had been losing hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 5 years and that they were only able to support them through their other businesses while waiting on “promises of new tenants and hotels to materialize.”

The president also said all employees will be given their earned vacation pay (over $40,000 worth) and that everyone involved has been offered an opportunity to relocate to another location in Ohio or Michigan.

A notice that was recently posted at both locations said that those who purchased a gift card at either restaurant can be refunded for their remaining balance by emailing info@msventures.net before Dec. 31. However, promotional cards are not eligible for refunds.

Various kitchens in the area shared their support by offering jobs to displaced employees, such as Tricky Fish, Red Carpet and the Sleepy Hollow Golf Club.

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