Local

Ivar’s Acres of Clams, Salmon House closing until Spring due to COVID-19

SEATTLE — Seattle-based Ivar’s announced Thursday plans to close its Acres of Clams and Salmon House restaurants on Monday until the Spring.

The temporary closures come as the chain continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has seen a significant drop in customers at both restaurants.

The fish bars on the sidewalk in front of each restaurant will stay open along with the full service restaurant and fish bar in Mukilteo. The other 19 seafood bars throughout the region will also stay open.

When dining rooms were closed in March, officials said they lost nearly all revenues. Ivar’s said it has seen a small fraction of past business since their full-service restaurants were allowed to reopen.

“Without cruise passengers, conventions, tourists, banquets, Sounders, Seahawks, and Mariner fans, and workers in the downtown offices, there are few people eating in our full service restaurants,” Bob Donegan from Ivar’s said in a news release. “We fear when the weather changes and the rains return, we lose outside dining and we won’t have any customers.”

Donegan said the company’s Seafood Bars and Kidd Valley locations that will remain open are in neighborhoods that rely less on tourists and outdoor dining.