Castaways, a popular local waterfront bar in Ithaca, announced on Facebook yesterday that it will close its doors May 1.
After years of negotiations, the landlord notified the owners
Friday that the bar’s lease will not be renewed, Elaina Rogers, day manager at Castaways, said. The bar has been open for seven years.
Rogers said the owners are hoping to relocate, but there are no set plans yet.
“Most of us have been here a long time and the community loves us, the musicians, so we definitely want to reopen,” she said.
Rogers said the sudden news came as a surprise to the staff.
“We’re kind of all in shock,” she said. “We’re like a family. For a lot of us, this is our only job. It’s just like anyone who loses their job — they’ve got rent to pay, a mortgage to pay.”
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