End Of An Era: Phillips Seafood Closed Ocean City Maryland
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Iconic Phillips Seafood restaurant announced it's closure last night in Ocean City Maryland. This iconic restaurant has created millions of memories from locals to tourists for the 66 years it was open. They will certainly be missed.
Opened in 1956, Phillips was once known as the busiest restaurant in ocean City. On a social media post last night (12/20/2021) they announced they will be closed for good and the property has been sold.
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Phillips Facebook Post: / 10158211420266196
12/20/2021: "To our valued guests:
The Phillips family has made the difficult decision to sell our Phillips Crab House property in Ocean City, Maryland, and the location has now permanently closed. Over our 66 seasons in business, we’ve served millions of families, vacationers and OC locals, and our family feels so fortunate to have earned the loyalty of our guests, who came back year after year to build their vacation memories with us. Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our story.
Not many restaurants live to see their 50th season, let alone celebrate over 65 years, and our family credits the amazing Crab House team for giving the business such longevity. From the crab department to the prep room, through the upstairs and downstairs kitchen staff, to the servers, bussers and bartenders, our employees returned season after season and became part of the extended Phillips family. Led by a strong management team, our staff worked together to deliver delicious dishes, all served up with a warm smile and welcoming Eastern Shore hospitality. None of our success over the years would have been possible without their hard work and dedication, and we are so grateful for their loyalty.
While it is extremely difficult for our family to say goodbye to the Crab House, we will take with us all the memories from the days and nights with our coworkers and guests, the lessons we have all learned from working together as a strong team, and the friendships we have grown over the years. As we move forward, we will continue to build on the strong foundation that our original Crab House location gave us. We remain firmly planted in Maryland and will dedicate our resources in support of our Baltimore restaurant location, Baltimore culinary center and the growth of our retail, club, foodservice, and international business."
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Like so much in Ocean City, gone but not forgotten. Old timers like myself bid a fond farewell and a thank you for the memories. Great video.
Bro! This is one of the most saddest and upsetting news stories I’ve heard concerning Ocean City. I have so many fond memories of Phillips over my 47 years of going to Ocean City MD. I’m 53 now and as a kid in the 70’s my parents and I would go to Phillips every other evening while we were at the beach for
Our two week vacation in August. I remember getting dropped off at the door and running to get in line while my dad parked the car because the lines would wrap around the building. The place was packed every night back then in the summer. I remember when all of the dinning rooms where used, upstairs and downstairs and waiting on the steps to go upstairs, every step up the step got you closer to get your table. This was back in the days when you would bring your own beer in. I remember coming out of Phillips always full as a kid and running over to the Sun Burst putt putt golf course that was down the street with my grandma to play putt putt, it’s a motel now. I remember all the girls in their Phillips waiting dresses and even Shirley herself would bus tables if needed, but she usually worked the cash register area for the waitress staff next to the take out area. Oh how I’m going to miss this place!!! As the years past the food quality and quantity went down hill but it was still a tradition to go to Phillips at least twice during the summer vacation. I still remember the original English’s chicken when you sat in the old chicken coop outside to eat. Oh I how I will miss seeing the dancing crab when I drive up and down the coastal highway! RIP dancing crab!! You will be missed.
I heard a rumor over the summer they were shutting down, heard the same rumor a few days prior to the announcement. I was hoping it wasn't true! Really appreciate your detailed comment, it just goes to show everyone how well Phillips was loved and the memories made.
I really would like to know what’s happening in Ocean City. What is the city councils project outlook for the city and what does it want Ocean City to become? I know that Covid hit OC hard. But now I see that Jimmy Buffets placed pulled out. What will become of the beach plaza. All of the good restaurants in Ocean City are going away. It’s becoming all pizza shops. I would love to know where you can still get a really good jumbo lump crab cake or crab imperial in Ocean City. Not on the boardwalk that’s for sure. But I’ll still be back down this spring and summer because no matter what I still love OC. Thanks Jay for all that you do!
@@spanzek There are SO many great places to eat both old and new! Try Coins Pub, not far from Phillips. Or High Steaks on RT 54 at the north end of town. Newer favorite Pit n Pub - I prefer the north side location. Try OC Wasabi or Nori for the best in Sushi. You can go to Sunset Grill in the harbor for fresh and creative seafood, Cafe Mirage (Shh! its a secret!) for artistic creations with daily menu changes and Mio Fratello for some fine Italian cuisine. All together you have well over 300 choices between West, North and along the main drag. You can eat super formal (they don't advertise) or family friendly. Last thing - I'll put the local pizza up against anyone's! Looking forward to seeing you when the weather warms up!!!
Yeah that’s the problem, the quality went downhill, I did not enjoy going there
I started my 38 year hotel career in Ocean City the summer of 1972. Ofcourse, everyone knew of Phillips Crab House & little did I know then that 30 years later I would manage a hotel owned by the Phillips family!!! They owned the Holiday Inn Airport hotel & conference hotel at the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida. I retired from that hotel in 2009 & I thoroughly loved working for the Phillips family. Brice & Shirley were always so nice to me when they visited the hotel frequently. They had a summer home in Boca Raton, Florida. Love your videos keeping me in touch with what's happening in OC! Thank you!!! David Booth: West Palm Beach, Florida
Hi David! I believe you commented before, I remember your story because of how interesting and cool it is. Hope all is well with you!
Thank you for making this I am OG O Ocean City Maryland and I miss it so very much XoXoX
Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it!
So sorry to see another OCMD landmark go. It has been over ten years since I ate there last, but as some one who has been coming to OCMD since I was 4, I'm 47 now, I will always remember the big brick building. I have to agree, the quality of the food did suffer greatly from years ago, but I'd pay dearly for one more meal there. Thanks for the memories Phillips!
Going to OC won't be the same without seeing the giant Phillips seafood sign on the building
Thank you for filming this. I'm absolutely heart broken over not being able to take my children here. It meant so much to my family. 💔
It's still hard to believe they are gone! But the building is still there, from what I hear the inside it relatively the same.
1991 I would go to the back door and buy buckets of crab claws to eat after my shift bartending. I will miss Phillips! I still buy the Phillip Seasoning for cooking, hope they continue making it.
That must have been awesome! Do you remember how much the bucket of claws was?
@@ReelJayB yes $3.50 in 1991. I would eat them cold w cocktail at 3:00 am after my shift on my deck bayside (94 street) The good old days. Secrets was a locals only jerk bar. I still have my plastic locals card… also playpen dance club pass. Now secrets is huge.
@@cupcakepaper7743 that's awesome!! Ive heard about the locals card!
My heart is broken and I can’t help but cry
It's sad....even driving by it now....it's still sad.
Phillips was a highlight of going to OC MD back in the 70s and early 80s.... I loved it!
I will miss it. Best crab coup anywhere. And we always got the same waiter every year. Dark haired guy with a dry sense of humor. He was great.
Beautiful video! I feel ya man and I have such beautiful memories of Ocean City! My favourite time with the family was at Phil’s! The night, the experience, the atmosphere and Vibe I truly felt the soul of America. It brought back so many fond memories. I only wish that others could have enjoyed it as I had! I loved the food, and Am saddened to hear..
Glad you enjoyed it!
My grandparent,my dad and me and my brother work there and my grandparents were the last to leave right when they cloesed
That is incredible! I'm sure you all have quite a few stories of being there!!
thanks for the vid! So sad .ate here many-many times and loved it !
I can still hear the commercials
"Phillips Seafood Restaurant's as good as it gets. A family tradition since 1956."
So many childhood memories.
Merry Christmas 🎄🎄 to you and your family 🎄🎄
Thanks Joe, Merry Christmas to you as well.
I'm going back to Ocean City this year after a four-year absence. Hard to believe Phillips isn't going to be there.
Welcome back!! It's pretty crazy passing by and not seeing it as Phillips. But thankfully the new owners kept the building.
Wow. Didn't see that one coming. Very sad to see them go.
I'm going to miss this place. It has been a staple designation everytime we come to OC. When I saw the line wrapped around the building, I knew I had to give them a try. I know it was a crabhouse, but when my daughter was a toddler, this place introduced her to burgers on a bun! She has loved them every since. She is 13 now and looks forward to going here every summer. I guess not this year 😕.
I am absolutely saddened to hear they are closing. I'll miss the brick building with the crab on top. It was one of the highlights of my OC trip even if the food quality went down over the years.
No seafood restaurant/buffet in the area can compare. Again, I'm so sad to see it go.
Any suggestions guys?
The new Embers looks like it's going to be great! For crab houses we've always liked Higgins. For an awesome atmosphere we love going to Ropewalk because of the outside dining. OC is definitely going to be different without Phillips.
Embers or Bonefire
My sister just text me this a day or 2 ago an I kinda didn’t believe her but, now I see it is true. Ate at Phillips many times but, after a few years ago starting going to Embers instead. Sad to see it go, wished I’d given it another go before it closed for good.
Maybe the family doesn't want to take it over. They made their millions and closed the doors. More power to them.
Thankfully they won't be tearing it down. That place holds so many memories for my family. I am tearing up just writing this. Hopefully the Union Chesapeake seafood restaurant will be good.
I was really hoping they were going to keep the building the same. The owners also own Fast Eddie's, a new restaurant here. I think the food is going to be good. If you go, let me know what you think!
@@ReelJayB Keeping the building the same is what I heard. We will be in OC last week in July. Wasn't even going this year, but something came up with our other plans, so we just booked a place in OC.
I just went there last week. I saw a lot of people walk away once they figured out it was no longer Phillips. The food is "ok", but definitely not Phillips and certainly not anything to write home about.
@@Niccole-oq8wo Awwww that's no good! Hopefully they will work out the kinks.
@@ReelJayB I really hope they do. I want to see them succeed. They have a big pair of shoes to fill. I might try them again later, if they make changes. Hopefully they will take notes and make improvements as necessary.
I was there a year ago and the place was deserted. I thought to myself that this would be my last time here. I was right.
It was kind of empty the last time I went, but that was October 2021. October is normally a slower month. I was worried, because I wondered if they could recover after the pandemic. A lot of people are still scared to eat at buffets now. However, in all fairness, Phillips was less crowded than usual the last few years. I think the pandemic put the nail in the coffin for this location.
Hopefully Phillips keeps it running they just must,!!!! It h is a trademark of ocean city.
Really
the line was always around the block
during the summer months
Maybe you can see if you can get that marlin and plaque. Talk about a keepsake.
I would die!! Hoping I can get in there and get at least something....but who knows.
Mr.phillips was born in fishing creek MD.
Was he really? Never knew that, pretty cool!
Whats next Trashers goes out of business I was looking forward to eat there this summer
The new owners just announced who they are. They said they are keeping it the same concept, AYCE buffet with prime rib and downstairs is kept as a crab house. If you try it, let me know what you think!
@@ReelJayB Hallelujah
Sad to see it go
Sad. Really liked the vibe there. It had a historical feel inside. That said. Covid takes out another…
Check out the new place, they left the building alone and "white washed" the outside to update it. Real happy they left the building alone and didn't demolish it.
Wonder what it'll be next
A Sunsations 🤣🤣🤣
As a former employee please know that a large group of former employees from the 80’s, 90’s and the early 2000’s get together every March for the last 16 years!
No way!! Seriously?! That is AWESOME! It just shows the impact Phillips had in Ocean City. That is so cool, thanks for commenting!
😢
Heartbreaking
Legit cried
Phillps hasn't been good in over 20 years. They cashed in on the commercializing of their product years ago and the quality had just gone down from there.
It seems in recent years people were attracted to it for the old memories or traditions with family/friends. It still seemed pretty busy, but nothing like the past.
We used to love it now my wife calls it Phillip's Sewer Seafood Restaurant. Last few times we went it was horrible. Just goes to show you cant rip people off and expect to survive. Good riddance
From what I was reading about the history, the stories all sounded like when the original owners passed away, the quality went downhill.
This place was mythical.
Even if they stayed open to sell t-$Hirts it would be great to me !!!!
☹️
😳