UPDATED: GM Confirms Closure Of Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

The windows at Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant Brooklyn (256 5th Avenue between Garfield Place and Carroll Street) were papered over as of Friday, July 1 and the restaurant’s fate was initially unclear.

“After three years, the corporate office has rightly decided that it is time to move on. I don’t want to say sadly, because it truly isn’t, as myself and my staff have consistently talked about all the wonderful relationships we have made with our neighbors/customers/friends,” General Manager Michael Slimmer told Park Slope Stoop. “It is truly the relationships that myself and the staff have formed which makes me able to walk away with my head held high.”

The 5th Avenue seafood place opened in late 2013.

The place was shucking oysters at the Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair on May 15. “It’s my favorite day of the year,” G.M. Michael Slimmer told us at the time. “Our live band that will play is just a fun, insane group. We had a huge turn out for them last year, and we expect that to happen again on Sunday.”

The restaurant also took part at the 5th Annual Taste Of Fifth at The Grand Prospect Hall on April 6.

The restaurant — normally open on Fridays at 11:30am — had not answered its phone. We reached out to the General Manager but have not yet heard back at the time.

A Yelp reviewer left their comments on Tuesday, June 28, however they were leaving feedback about a Father’s Day brunch. Grand Central was also involved in last week’s Make Music New York event which took place on Tuesday, June 21.

When we first interviewed co-owner Jonathan Young during their 2013, he spoke about the difference between the original Grand Central location and the Park Slope restaurant. “Manhattan’s great,” said Young, referencing the Grand Central location. “I worked there for 10 years, I had my first clam chowder there when I was 10 years old with my grandmother, I love the place. This is just going to be a smaller version of it, with some different things, too.”

“To me, restaurants are so much more than food and drink, they are about different groups of people coming together and enjoying the fellowship that can develop over ‘breaking bread’,” added Slimmer. “…About sharing an hour or so together and just enjoying some good food, great conversation and a laugh or two!”

Updated, July 6, 2016 at 11am: General Manager Michael Slimmer has confirmed the restaurant has permanently closed.