THEODORE, Ala. (WKRG) — Bayley’s Seafood will be officially shutting its doors Tuesday, June 28, at 4:00 p.m. according to a Facebook post by the well-known restaurant.
The restaurant announced they will be closing for good “next week” last Tuesday, June 21, due to the restaurant not being able to keep enough staff to run the business. The original plan was to close Wednesday. But now patrons will have until just 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon for their last meal at Bayley’s Seafood.
“Due to such overwhelming business from our loyal patrons, we must close as of 4:00 pm today! Our fresh seafood will be gone by this afternoon so it makes opening tomorrow impossible!” read the Facebook post.
WKRG NEWS 5 spoke with the owner, William Bayley says this restaurant has been serving customers in Theodore for 27 years. Bayley says he opened the eatery, after working with his father in the restaurant industry for several years.
“We opened up because there wasn’t any decent seafood to eat in Mobile,” said Bayley. “Not fried seafood. It was decent, but it wasn’t the original.” Bayley says he’s overcome disasters like the BP oil spill and the coronavirus pandemic….but staffing shortages forced him to close his restaurant.
“It’s just getting to where you can’t nobody to work. They may for 3 or 4 days and then they’re gone,” said Bayley. “We got this one cook been here for 27 years and it’s hard to find another cook to do it like we do it…the two waitresses I have were working 12 hours a day.” Loyal customers, including Robert Berglin who eats here at least once a week, stopped by Tuesday to enjoy one more meal.
“I’m from Fairhope, and this is my favorite seafood place, and I’ve been coming here a long time,” said customer Robert Berglin. “Since today is the final day they’re open I came on down here to eat.” It’s a long run with a lot of memories in business.
“I just want to say I appreciate them coming, eating here, being faithful customers, and I’m going to hate it that I won’t be able to take care of them again,” said Bayley.