Annapolis Yacht Club Moves into Restaurant; Workers Let Go: Report

ANNAPOLIS, MD — When leaders surveyed the charred Annapolis Yacht Club following a $9 million fire last month, they pledged to move quickly to find the historic club a new home and the organization vowed to take care of its employees.

Apparently, that will put some Harbor Grill employees out of work, after representatives for the club, city and restaurant signed an agreement last week to locate the yacht club at the eatery for now.

The Capital-Gazette reports that Harbor Grill’s management laid off its staff of about 20 workers to make way for the yacht club’s use of the facility at 12 Dock St. The agreement says the yacht club can sell food and drink from the Harbor Grill venue until repairs allow the club to return its Compromise Street location, which could take up to two years.

Harbor Grill general manager Ray Tompkins told the newspaper the company is trying to place the laid-off employees at other Blonder-owned restaurants, including Big Fish Grille in Crofton.

But several restaurant employees told The Capital that they were not told about other job opportunities within the company.

“They lost their job, the place burns down, that really sucks,” bartender Timothy Burns told the newspaper. “But their employer paid them the entire time they weren’t working through the holidays. .. After New Year’s, they’re going back on the job again, but we’re out on the street. Where’s the justice here?”

The Facebook page for Harbor Grill was taken down when Patch checked it Monday.

Cause, Scope of Yacht Club Fire

An electrical problem with a Christmas tree equipped with built-in lights sparked the Dec. 12 blaze that heavily damaged the historic Annapolis Yacht Club, officials said.

The Annapolis Fire Department said that damage from the fire is likely to surpass $9 million.

Government leaders last month vowed to help rebuild the institution and find work for its 150 employees.

See Also:

• Pictures, Videos from Annapolis Yacht Club Fire
• Historic Annapolis Yacht Club Struck By Massive Fire
• Historic Annapolis Yacht Club Investigation Seeks Cause Of Massive Fire
• Annapolis Yacht Club Fire Damage Estimated at $9M

On Dec. 13, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joined Annapolis Mayor Michael Pantelides, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh, and the leaders of Annapolis Yacht Club to survey the damage.

“Our state agencies are ready to assist the over 150 individuals who work at AYC and get this important part of the history, culture and economy of Annapolis back on its feet,” Hogan said.

The three-alarm fire broke out at the Annapolis Yacht Club, 2 Compromise St., Dec. 12 before being extinguished by nearly 100 firefighters.

Capt. John Bowes of the Annapolis Fire Marshal’s Office told the Capital Gazette the fire damaged the second and third floors of the building while the rest of the building was damaged by smoke. The building lacks a sprinkler system, leading Bowes to attribute that as the reason the fire did so much damage.

The club planned to take care of its 150 employees through the holidays and possibly beyond, Mayor Pantelides said in December, and the city is working to find jobs for all of those displaced workers.

“It’s a huge loss for the community, but it’s also an opportunity,” Pantelides said. “We’re going to help make sure this place is rebuilt the best it can be.”

The historic club that played host to several national and international racing events was created in 1886 as an informal canoe club, according to the AYC website. In 1904, the club had close to 30 members compared to its membership today, which stands at 1,600.

The club has been a destination spot for sailors and their families for generations. Its leaders are looking for a site to relocate to while the structure is rebuilt.

On its website, the Annapolis Yacht Club said the 2016 racing season will go on as planned. The club’s offices, race management equipment and regatta of support vessels are all located at its Eastport properties, which weren’t affected by the fire.

»Video from Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters’; fire photos and aftermath images from AACPFF and Gov. Larry Hogan’s Facebook page