The Edgartown location of Sharky's Cantina restaurant will close at the end of the year after its lease was not renewed.
The Edgartown location of Sharky’s Cantina restaurant will close at the end of the year after its lease was not renewed, the restaurant and property owners confirmed Tuesday.
JB Blau, who owns Sharky’s, said in a phone conversation that the family Mexican restaurant would remain open the rest of the month before ceasing operations Dec. 31. Mr. Blau said he would consolidate operations with the Sharky’s Cantina location in Oak Bluffs, which will remain open.
“There wasn’t an opportunity to renew the lease,” Mr. Blau said. “The owners went in a different direction.”
Located on Upper Main street in Edgartown just past the Triangle, the approximately 0.6-acre parcel is owned by Island Realty Trust. Adam Bresnick, a partner in the realty trust, confirmed Tuesday that the property owners were not renewing leases with Mr. Blau or the owner of Tropical Bakery and Internet Cafe, a small eatery situated just behind the restaurant.
“We had a relationship and Sharky’s was there for 14 years. JB created a successful business with a strong following,” Mr. Bresnick said. “Both sides worked together whenever we needed to make sure the lease he had would enable him to become and remain successful. And at the end of the day, we felt we wanted to go in a different direction with the property."
Mr. Blau emphasized that the Sharky’s in Oak Bluffs would remain open year-round, saying the business would move to its other location. He said the Edgartown restaurant would have its full menu and hours until its last day, Dec. 31.
“We’re going to be going strong up until the day we close,” Mr. Blau said.
The lease for Tropical Bakery and Internet Cafe will also not be renewed, property owners said.
The lease for Tropical Bakery and Internet Cafe will also not be renewed, property owners said.
Mr. Bresnick said that property owners have not yet decided on future tenants for the property.
“We’re excited about [the property’s] future prospects and we’re confident it will continue to be a spot where visitors and year-round residents can enjoy,” Mr. Bresnick said.
Mr. Blau said the Edgartown Sharky’s location opened on Cinco de Mayo in 2008, mirroring a sister location that opened about four years earlier in 2005 on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Known for affordable Mexican food and a festive atmosphere, the restaurants have operated year-round from the start, offering Islanders mountainous nacho platters, gaucho steaks and chimichangas, as well as burgers, wings and other bar eats.
Mr. Blau, who also owns the Copper Anchor in Vineyard Haven as well as the Martha's Vineyard Chowder Company and The Loft in Oak Bluffs, said he plans to launch food delivery services this winter, hopefully offering Edgartown residents a convenient access point for Sharky’s food.
“That will be a way to get to our Edgartown guests,” Mr. Blau said.
Staff from the Edgartown Sharky’s will be rotated into the other restaurants, Mr. Blau said — although he acknowledged that it would be tough to replicate hours with fewer restaurants.
“It’s going to put a strain on the operation as far as finding hours for everybody this time of year. But everybody will be worked in,” Mr. Blau said.
With a slightly bigger footprint than the Oak Bluffs location, the Sharky’s in Edgartown gave Mr. Blau a chance to expand into a market more known for white clapboard whaling houses and fine dining than margaritas and wall-mounted shark heads.
After 14 years of business, he said the experiment was a resounding success.
“It was a little insane to open an identical restaurant six miles from the first one, but the larger space allowed us to do things such as fundraisers and community events,” Mr. Blau said. “We’re just super proud of what we did. We brought a different type of entertainment to Edgartown that didn’t exist there. We’re one of the first places in Edgartown that had colored paint on the wall. We had yellow and red and blue and wood ceilings...we just tried to shake it up a bit and have some fun.”
Mr. Blau said he was now focused on supporting his staff, and said he might announce plans for a “moving to Oak Bluffs” party in the coming weeks.
“We do have ungodly amounts of tequila,” he said.
Comments
This is terrible news.
Mike EdgartownThis is terrible news. Amazing food at a fair price! JB, does so much for the community I don’t understand this. He always is the first one out the gate with a helping hand in time of need. I hope he can find a new home in Edgartown…
I will miss Sharkeys in Edgartown always my go to for a nice dinner or cocktail… so upsetting…
Thank you JB I will be heading to OB I guess…
Say ain’t so not Sharky’s.
Gail EdgartownSay ain’t so not Sharky’s. Great Mexican food and best tequilas! I hope they can find a new home in Edgartown. Not everyone can afford a $100 entree, but these days with $38 dollar burgers in Edgartown I will miss this place.
JB is a great guy!!!and we are his side!!!
Thank you JB ! I hope my Sharky’s card works in OB :))
Happy Holidays !
Whenever we had a large group
Jen OBWhenever we had a large group visiting and we wanted something easy and affordable, we went to sit on the outside deck at Sharky’s Edgartown. Everyone could find something they liked to eat and we were comfortable and happy! It was always our go-to. I’m so sad and now I have to break it to my two boys…..it’s their favorite…we’ll still go to OB but it won’t work as well when we have 10 or 12 of us. (Maybe JB will
expanding in OB….)
This is sad news! Nice to
Josh ChappyThis is sad news! Nice to have a year round restaurant that stays open! with good food and fair prices.
JB the first to help out people in need. He does so much for MV. I will miss the specials. I sure he finds a new place.
We always enjoyed Sharky’s
Maya EdgartownWe always enjoyed Sharky’s and are very sad at this news. Our kids grew up going there. We need family-friendly and affordable dining options in Edgartown. The property owners are making a terrible mistake by not allowing the restaurant to renew, imo.
I am so disappointed ☹️
Marie W West TisburyI am so disappointed ☹️
It was so easy to get in and out of here.
I always found a spot near the door which
Made it easier for me to walk in.
I don’t find it easy to park or walk in OB.
I love Sharky’s! Best tacos
Carol EdgartownI love Sharky’s! Best tacos on the island!!! You always can get a nice meal and nice staff…
We don’t need another high end restaurant in Edgartown…. This was a quality restaurant that I could afford. Sorry to see a year round restaurant close.
So many great memories.
Erica Fort WashingtonSo many great memories. Extremely sad to see it go. Well I’ll still be going to the ob location it was nice To sit outside with a larger group at the Edgartown location.
Oh how sad! My family is
Beth BostonOh how sad! My family is bummed out. It is an annual tradition to eat at Sharky's the first day we arrive on island. We will venture to OB!
Sad… So many changes makes my
Jen Oak BluffsSad… So many changes makes my head spin…
So sad!! We've been a loyal
Chris Vineyard HavenSo sad!! We've been a loyal customer since the day you opened in Edgartown. Sharky's has been part of our family and friends tradition for eating on site and placing large take-out orders! In fact, we made the fatal mistake one year by placing our Illumination Night order at the Oak Bluffs site vs. Edgartown. Not sure how often we'll navigate the Oak Bluffs parking & traffic going forward -- the Edgartown spot was so accessible.
What a great place,it will be
Mr G OBWhat a great place,it will be sorely missed.
Oh no, another one of my
Lee TisburyOh no, another one of my favorite restaurants to go… JB, I hope you can find another home in Edgartown. Sharky’s was a year round restaurant that you could park and the hood was so good…
Noooo! We have so many
Abby Hardwick, MANoooo! We have so many memories of great family meals at Sharky's. It was fun for all ages. We'll miss the Edgartown location but of course We'll be having good times and good food at the OB location.
Can’t Be!!
Lynn Oak BluffsCan’t Be!!
We are so sorry to hear about EDG Sharkeys closing! Our family has patronized for years and years. The staff was always attentive , the outdoor deck inviting, and the great mix of islanders and vacationers created a welcoming environment The triangle was a perfect spot for a perfect Mexican restaurant for those who wanted a less expensive but fun meal with family and friends. JB was terrific to work with when we planned our son’s wedding rehearsal party. We hope that JB finds another spot to enlarge and continue to serve the MV community who love Sharkeys.
I am so sorry to hear this
Nancy Rose Steinbock EdgartownI am so sorry to hear this news! While I only run in for a quick take-out -- great codfish tacos! -- the staff is always kind and courteous. This is sad event in our town for sure!
The changing restaurant scene
Bob EdgartownThe changing restaurant scene in Edgartown continues. Change is good and look forward to a new place to check out. This location has always had good food at a reasonable price lets hope that part continues. Way back from the start Lawrys Seafood was a place you could take a family to.
Oh no! I am saddened to hear
Leslie EdgartownOh no! I am saddened to hear this. JB and his crew are the best!! It’s nice to be able to go out with the family and little ones and get a nice dinner and a reasonable price. I always try to support local year round business it’s so important, otherwise we will have a ghost town in the off season…
Nothing against the other restaurants but it’s nice to have a restaurant where an entree is under $50.00….
JB I hope you can find a new home in Edgartown, I will be sure to get over to OB to show my support.
Merry Christmas to all and Happy New year!
I am sorry to hear this,
PJ West TisburyI am sorry to hear this, always had a nice experience and great restaurant! Hope JB can find a new home..
Thanks JB for all you go over the years for the community.
PJ
Long live “ Cinco de Mayo “
Upislander AquinnahLong live “ Cinco de Mayo “ in Waspville. Muchisimas gracias Senor Blau for many tacos ricos and cervezas frescas !!
Oh nooooo. This was the first
Bob ConnecticutOh nooooo. This was the first place we go to after getting off the ferry. Our family has been going here since it opened in 2008. We have taken a picture of the kids with the outside shark every year since they were babies. What a loss for edgartown. Great food, great prices, plenty of room plenty of parking, and a fun atmosphere. Looks like we will be stopping at the oak bluffs one now after getting off the ferry from now on.
Great place for quality
Paul MVGreat place for quality Mexican food at a reasonable price…. I hope JB finds a new home in Edgartown. I agree with comments we need affordable year round business.
it was certainly a place to
Michael edgartownit was certainly a place to bring kids for a reasonabley priced night out dinner. the island is certainly lacking this affordability for families..
anyone have suggestions for a restaurant that you can bring kids to, at reasonable prices?
Bravissimo JB, well and
Geoff EdgartownBravissimo JB, well and nicely done sir...This was 'Our Place' in a town of eye-popping dine-out prices. Adam B - Please put another fam-friendly place where year rounders don't have to cringe when the tab comes to the table.
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