TYASKIN, Md. - A longtime dinner spot in Wicomico County is up for sale, leaving some residents in the small community of Tyaskin shocked and saddened.
The closure of Boonies, a well-known local restaurant, has stirred concern among neighbors who say the doors were expected to reopen this spring.
The sign on the door says ‘opening back up in the spring,’ but to some people’s surprise, the building is for sale.
“I was shocked. I’m sad. I’m sad that it’s not—we don’t have a place to go now. And, you know, it’s quick. Instead of driving all the way into Salisbury for dinner,” said Iris Gehrang, a homeowner in the area.
“We’re all kind of heartsick because it is a nice place to go. It’s close. It just works out better for us,” said James Wade, owner of the NAPA Auto Care Center nearby.
Residents say the restaurant closed for the winter but has not reopened. On Wednesday afternoon, signs posted on the door and an empty parking lot suggested no activity. A commercial real estate sign now stands beside the building — an unwelcome sight for loyal patrons.
“It played a part for me as far as the chicken wings they cooked — they were great,” Wade said. “And just knowing a lot of people here from having this gas station, there’s a lot of people that would really love to see it open.”
The property is listed online for $795,000. Some in the community are hopeful a new buyer will maintain the restaurant’s legacy.
“I miss Wednesday burger nights. We would go there for that,” Gehrang said. “They were having their half-price burger nights on Wednesdays, and that brought a lot of the community to the restaurant. It was like something people looked forward to.”
“I love the bar. I like the outside concept. And I’d like to see it open year-round, at least some nights a week, even if it was four or five,” said Donald Messick, another homeowner in the area.
As the future of Boonies remains uncertain, many locals are calling it the end of an era for a beloved gathering spot in the heart of the Tyaskin community.