Seafood Restaurant Owners Close Ocean City Hotel: Report

OCEAN CITY, MD — The Phillips family, which owns Phillips Seafood, will close its hotel on the Ocean City Boardwalk. The family announced the decision Friday evening.

The inn, named the "Beach Plaza Hotel," opened in 1967. It was located at the corner of 13th Street and Washington Lane. The hotel was known for its waterside porch with an abundance of rocking chairs.

"Through our over 50 years operating on the Boardwalk, we've loved getting to know all our guests who stayed with us year after year," said Steve Phillips, son of founders Brice and Shirley Phillips. "The Beach Plaza Hotel was a wonderful home base for thousands of beach vacations, weekend getaways, wedding and anniversary celebrations and reunions, and we're so grateful to have been a part of these unforgettable memories in Ocean City."

The closure comes after the deaths of Brice and Shirley Phillips, who owned the Phillips enterprise. Brice Phillips died in 2011 at 90 years old. Shirley Phillips passed six years later at 95. They were married for 68 years.

The Phillips estate has owned the hotel ever since their deaths. With the estate closing soon, the family is now deciding which Phillips properties to keep and which to sell. The Beach Plaza Hotel fell into the second category.

The hotel is canceling all of its 2021 reservations and issuing refunds. Customers can email info@beachplazaoc.com with any questions.

The Phillips Seafood restaurants all remain open. The Ocean City location plans to reopen for weekends, starting in late spring.

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