PORT TOWNSEND — T’s Restaurant, which had the reputation of being one of Port Townsend’s finest and most scenic eating spots, closed its doors Wednesday.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this place,” said co-owner Gary Tocatlian on Friday as he cleaned out the space he had renovated when he moved in three years ago.
“We did everything right, but then the economy crashed.”
T’s was family-owned and operated, with Gary’s wife, Nancy, working as a manager and their son, Tim, working as head chef.
When they made the decision Wednesday morning that it would be their last day, they sent out a notice on their email distribution list.
“We thought it would be a normal night for this year — that it would be pretty slow — but it was packed,” Nancy Tocatlian said.
Since the closing was announced, “we have been flooded with emails from our customers that have brought tears to our eyes,” Gary Tocatlian said.
The Tocatlians moved to Port Townsend six years ago from Hawaii, choosing the location because they wanted to live in a picturesque small town.
They operated the restaurant at 2330 Washington St. for three years before moving to the Point Hudson location, which is on a stretch of land between Point Hudson Marina and Port Townsend Bay.
The Port of Port Townsend renovated the outside of the historic former military nurses’ quarters building at a cost of about $180,000, said Deputy Port Director Jim Pivarnik, while the Tocatlians finished the interior.
“When we started this project, the building was on the demo list,” Pivarnik said.
“Now it is a great space for a restaurant that is ready to go, and we are looking for someone who can make it work.”
Pivarnik called the Tocatlians “great tenants who always paid their rent on time.”
The Tocatlians said they made the decision to close after they found they would not be able to meet expenses.
They said they were told by the banks that they would be able to secure a loan if certain conditions were met, but the banks reversed the position “because we hadn’t been in this location long enough, even though we had been in business for six years,” Nancy Tocatlian said.
The best part of running the restaurant, she said, was the customers.
She said she’d still like to work in the restaurant industry but not as an owner or manager.
The Tocatlians don’t know what they will do next.
They declined to have their picture taken for this article because the situation “is too emotional.”
They instead suggested a picture of some of the staff members “because they will be looking for jobs.”
Nancy Tocatlian said the food served at T’s was unique because it was all fresh and homemade.
“We always used real onions,” she said.
“It was never ‘onion product.’”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
