Main Street Oyster House Closes, Reopening with New Name

BEL AIR, MD — The Main Street Oyster House has closed and will reopen in September — with a new name.

Called "Black-Eyed Susie's," the new restaurant will open after remodeling and rebranding in mid September. New management is taking over the establishment, which is named for the Maryland state flower: Black-Eyed Susan.

Brian Acquavella, who grew up in Bel Air and also owns Blue Agave in Federal Hill, will take over ownership of the restaurant as of Sept. 1, when the settlement becomes official.

Black-Eyed Susie’s will have a similar concept to Main Street Oyster House, he said; however, it will be more reliant on food for its business than the previous model.

"We really don't intend on being a 'bar' here," Acquavella said.

While he hopes to take advantage of the late-night bar business — with the restaurant open for lunch and dinner and the bar open until 1 or 2 a.m. — the goal is "to try and establish ourselves as an actual dining place," he explained. "Food is where you make your money."

The food offerings will be similar to the Main Street Oyster House but with more local flavor.

"We kind of wanted the same idea, just done a little better," Acquavella said. "We don't want to limit ourselves by calling it an oyster house but we also want to continue that idea of having a raw bar, having a solid American food menu."

The restaurant will pay tribute to the Free State with its offerings. "We really want to focus on Maryland things, from local vendors to local beers on tap," he said.

Related: Main Street Oyster House Changing Owners

And what about the mural on the side of the building?

“The intent is to get rid of the mural on the side of the building,” Acquavella said. "...to keep an oyster mural on the side of the building is not the direction we want to go."

What will take its place has not been determined, but Acquavella said it would have a "Maryland idea," in accordance with the restaurant's new name and theme.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Janney.