WASHINGTON — The Annapolis Yacht Club, which traces its roots to 1886, has reached a deal to temporarily fly its flag at a spacious restaurant facility located at the City Dock, after a devastating fire significantly damaged the club on Dec. 3.
Harbor Grill restaurant, the yacht club and the city of Annapolis have signed a memorandum of understanding that allows the public restaurant to temporarily and immediately become a private club.
“It takes effect immediately,” Rhonda Wardlaw, a spokeswoman for the city, says about the memorandum signed on Wednesday.
The memorandum allows the private club to occupy the public restaurant space until its waterfront, charred building can be restored, which is expected to take up to one and a half years. During that time, the temporary private club house is required to operate once a month publicly as the Harbor Grill restaurant in order to preserve the public facility’s standing.
The temporary move caused Harbor Grill restaurant workers to lose their jobs. But a Harbor Grill employee, who asks not to be named, says full-time and part-time workers are being offered jobs at the chain’s other eight Maryland restaurants or a two weeks severance pay. Other restaurants owned by Harbor Grill’s owners include The Big Fish Grill in Crofton, Fat Boy’s Crab Shack in Gambrills and Red Skye Steak and Fish House in Laurel.
Harbor Grill Restaurant, which will be the temporary home of the Annapolis Yacht Club, is located north of the burned yacht club on the other side of the Annapolis Yacht basin at 12 Dock Street, next to the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
