When news spread that Smitty McGee’s Restaurant and Raw Bar closed its doors for the final time on Saturday, hundreds of people turned to social media with memories, well wishes and regret at not ordering one last plate of wings or crabby fries.
One woman shared that she met her partner of more than 25 years at Smitty McGee’s bar.
Another loyal customer raved about the iconic wings and begged for the recipe.
Even more people expressed their gratitude for a local business and staff that felt like family.
The restaurant and bar just west of Fenwick Island in Selbyville – or located in West Fenwick Ireland, as the establishment and its followers liked to call it – was open since 1989.
It was long a place where people from Ocean City and the Delaware beaches would meet to grab a cold beer, compete in some trivia or celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in all its green glory.
The restaurant announced its closure on Facebook on Saturday evening, and the original post was shared more than one thousand times.
Part of the post read, “Thank you for being a special part of the Smitty McGee’s family! We will truly miss you!”
This closure comes at a time when other beloved local restaurants have temporarily or permanently shuttered often due to hardships over the last year, including staffing challenges and supply chain issues.
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Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.
