George Harrington Sr. Retires, Lyceum to Close

The following email was sent to patrons on the email list.

For more information on this closing, please see our Five Things to Know Today.

After 22 years of dedication to making The Lyceum one of the finest restaurants on the North Shore, George Harrington, Sr., has decided to retire to spend more time with family and friends. He has worked tirelessly over the years to make everyone feel at home at The Lyceum, and has earned his well-deserved rest.

George has been the face of The Lyceum since it opened its doors in August of 1989. Since then George Harrington and the The Lyceum have become synonymous. Without George on the floor, The Lyceum just isn't the same. It's time to turn the page and begin a new chapter. And so, after 22 years, The Lyceum will be closing on July 31st.

This, however, is not a time for sadness. Rather, it is a time to celebrate, a time to commemorate one of Salem's great gathering spots and a time to raise a toast to George and his wife Deborah, who have given so much to the City of Salem and to the North Shore. But while 2011 will mark the end of George's long run in the restaurant industry, the storied building at 43 Church Street that has been home to The Lyceum, and to a number of other drinking and eating establishments throughout its many years, will continue to serve as a fine dining venue in historic downtown Salem.

This August a new restaurant will be opening there, and George, who remains a partner in the business, is looking forward to being an avid customer as well. We hope our Lyceum friends and loyalists will do the same. In the meantime, please stop by and have some fun, share some laughs and stories with George about the great times we've all had at one of Salem's best.

Stay tuned and happy Summer!

The Lyceum