The Crab Claw, the longtime waterfront seafood restaurant in St. Michaels, permanently closed on Sunday, November 1, bringing an end to 61 years in business.
In the days leading up to the closure, longtime customers returned to the restaurant for one final meal, with many sharing memories and photos from their visits. The Crab Claw also shared Instagram stories from customers who stopped by one last time, including a post of a large group that gathered at the restaurant on Halloween.
“What a fun Halloween! We loved seeing so many familiar faces and celebrating one last Halloween at The Crab Claw,” the restaurant wrote on Instagram before opening for its final day. “Now here we are, November 1st, our final day,” the restaurant continued. “We hope you’ll stop by and spend a little more time with us as we close out 61 incredible years.”
The Crab Claw opened in 1965 and remained in the same family for more than six decades. The business traces its roots to the 1950s, when the site operated as the Eastern Shore Clam Company, a clam and oyster shucking house where local watermen brought their daily catches.
Bill and Sylvia Jones transformed the business into The Crab Claw restaurant in 1965, and it went on to become a St. Michaels landmark known for steamed Maryland crabs, clams, oysters and crab cakes.
The restaurant initially announced that its 2026 season would be its 61st and final season before owner Tracey Jones-Wass later confirmed November 1 as the final day.
The closure comes several years after the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum acquired The Crab Claw property and an adjacent property in 2023. The restaurant continued operating under the Jones-Wass family through a lease arrangement following the acquisition.
The Crab Claw’s history is also closely tied to generations of Eastern Shore residents who worked at the restaurant. General Manager Wayne Bridges previously said he had worked there for more than 40 seasons, while Jones-Wass said many young people from Talbot County and surrounding areas worked at the restaurant and used their earnings to help pay for college.
The Crab Claw and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum also share a notable piece of St. Michaels history… both opened in 1965. When announcing the closure, The Crab Claw thanked generations of customers for filling the restaurant with “laughter, celebration, and community” and said the business had become much more than simply a place to eat.
That connection was on display during its final weekend, as longtime diners returned to Navy Point to meet up with friends, revisit memories and enjoy The Crab Claw one last time before the restaurant closed its doors after 61 years.
