The Cortez Kitchen at 45288 119th St. W. on the waterfront in the Cortez announced Aug. 6. it would close its doors that Sunday.
The Islander was alerted Aug. 3 by members of the restaurant staff of the closure.
Property owner John Banyas told The Islander Aug. 4 that the operator, Joe Oekler, is retiring.
The Islander reached out to Oekler, who has operated the “Kitchen” for 20-plus years but, as of Islander press time Aug. 7, there had been no reply.
Banyas said he would reopen Cortez Kitchen after some renovations.
“I’ve been wanting to take it over for quite a few years,” Banyas said. “I’ll close and renovate it, then I’ll reopen for season. It’s going to be the same name, same Cortez Kitchen, just new management.”
Banyas, a fourth-generation Cortezian, commercial fisherman, also owns Swordfish Grill, N.E. Taylor Boatworks, Cortez Bait & Seafood fish house and the strip mall that includes Cortez seafood market and the post office.
Elizabeth Winters, a manager at Cortez Kitchens, said there was a staff of more than 10 employees, some of whom have worked there more than 10 years.
She said the closure comes at a bad time for employees as the summer months are the hardest to find work in the restaurant industry, but she was glad to hear that Banyas was taking control of the restaurant.
“He said we could come back after the renovations. He’s been very kind to us,” said Winters.