OCEAN CITY, Md. - A beloved staple at the beach might be closing its doors soon. Plans are in the works for BJ's on the Water to be sold, but those plans have not gone through yet.
BJ's on the Water sits on critical wetlands of the Assawoman Bay. When the restaurant was built 41 years ago, there were no laws against building on the wetlands. Now, new developers need special approval from the county, which are holding up progress of the sale.
People in Ocean City say they've loved BJ's throughout the years, but they're looking forward to what's to come, if that sale does goes through.
Rahman Chisty has lived in the beach town for years, and said the bayside classic holds a special place in his heart.
He said, "I've been going there since, actually like almost 20 years. A friend of mine when I was in college actually used to work there, so that's how I started going there. And I love their seafood skins, actually one of my favorites, every time I go there I get it."
According to the OC Chamber of Commerce, the longtime owners might be moving on and selling the lot to the owners of another popular resort restaurant group in OC.
Fisher Architecture shared 3D renderings with WBOC that show plans for a new restaurant, Windward OC, to take BJ's place. The plans feature rooftop dining and expansive views of the bayside sunset.
(Photo: Fisher Architecture LLC)(Photo: Fisher Architecture LLC)
(Photo: Fisher Architecture LLC)(Photo: Fisher Architecture LLC)
Susan Jones from the OC Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association said, if BJ's owners do sell, it's good that another restaurant will quickly take it's place.
"I would say, especially given the times of COVID, you know, if they were at a point in their lives where they were ready to have the next chapter and sell, it's very pleasing that the building is not gonna sit empty, so we are happy that we wont have an empty storefront," she said.
There is currently no date for when the sale might go through, but for now, BJ's on the Water is temporarily closed for the holidays until December 26.
