Crisfield Seafood in Silver Spring, Maryland, which has been open since 1945, is closing its doors for good on Dec. 22. 

The restaurant has been owned and operated by the Landis family over three generations. In its Facebook post Wednesday announcing the closure, Crisfield Seafood wrote that it “always felt that the restaurant was just another room in our house. We have been proud to welcome you [to] our home for nearly 80 years.”

Crisfield Seafood began when Henry and Lillian Landis bought the space, and the latter ran the restaurant until her death in 1999. Her grandchildren and their cousins still run the restaurant, but the fourth generation has less interest in maintaining the family business. 

The matter came to a head when the space’s landlord informed the proprietors that they had to commit to a yearlong lease for 2025. 

“It’s a mixed feeling. In family businesses, each successive generation gets harder because the generations also have other things they want to do. Now, with our fourth generation, they’re far and wide,” John Landis, co-owner of the restaurant with several of his siblings and cousins, told Washingtonian.

Mr. Landis told WTOP-FM, “I’ve had enough, to be honest. I hate to leave it. It’s just time.”

Over the years, Crisfield attracted a slew of loyal patrons, including the late musician Jimmy Buffett, who sparked a friendship with Mr. Landis’ uncle Ned.

“Jimmy would come in, and Ned would take care of Jimmy. Jimmy would give him tickets to go see him at Wolf Trap or whatever. It was just a nice relationship. It was one of those things I thought was really amazing about this place,” Mr. Landis said.

Patrons offered thanks and mourned the coming closure of Crisfield Seafood on the Facebook page.

“This breaks my heart. You’ve always held a very special place in my world; I’ve been coming in frequently since I was a child with my family and for years as an adult — DC won’t be the same without you,” wrote Jackie Greenbaum.

Amy Hornaday posted, “This makes me cry. So many memories with our Dad and extended family. He started coming there in 1959. We honored him with his folded flag at the head of the table after his Arlington burial ceremony. Ned was a gem. I can’t possibly count the number of times over the decades we ate there. And yes, the seafood was like nothing you could get anywhere else.”

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.