by Marcus Harrison Green
Lovers of southern soul food were left scratching their heads this weekend upon learning of the abrupt closure of Jackson’s Catfish Corner in South Seattle’s Brighton Neighborhood.
Neighborhood social media pages lit up with chatter of the dismayed after residents discovered the restaurant, beloved for mouthwatering catfish filets and hushpuppies, completely boarded up, with its sign reversed, and no notice left explaining the sudden turn of events.
The closure caught many of the restaurant’s regulars completely off guard, as business seemed to be operating normally only days before. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray even paid a ceremonial visit to the restaurant earlier in the week.
“I just drove by there a last Thursday, and things looked just like they always do, a line to get into it,” said Colleen Murphy, a Rainier View resident who says she visited the restaurant at least once a week for its fried catfish.
Originally located in the Central District at the corner of MLK and Cherry for more than 30 years, the South Seattle location was the restaurant’s second iteration after it, along with several venerable CD businesses, fell victim to skyrocketing rent in the area and was forced to close its doors.
Terrell Jackson, a Rainier Beach High grad and grandson of the original owners of Catfish Corner, resurrected the restaurant under the name Jackson’s Catfish Corner in May of 2015 during a serious of pop-up locations in the Skyway and Rainier Beach neighborhoods.
Proving a rousing success, the temporary eateries paved the way for Jackson to relocate his business to more permanent digs in June of 2015, until its unexpected closure last Friday. Catfish Corner frequently provided dishes from its menu free of charge at community events, including at June’s Peace Festival in Rainier Beach.
Jackson, has agreed to speak with the Emerald next week to discuss the reason for the closure as well his future plans for the restaurant.
Sudden closures without notices or signs always seem weird. The same thing happened to Phoenix Cafe downtown. 2 young ladies who opened their own spot after previous Tully’s closed. They loved their customers, their business and then poof, gone, no word.
Looking forward to the interview. Want to hear Terrell’s plans
It is sad that he chose that location that has a poor reputation for safety and illegal activity.
We’re from THAT neighborhood that you speak or that has always been a black community. There’s nothing SAD about that location at all. What is SAD is how they kicking all of the black people out of the community.
Choosing “that” location was great for the neighborhood. It made a positive impact on the area, and we were thrilled to have them here. Pretty sure being in “that” location wasn’t the reason they closed.
Seriously, “sad” and “that” location? Phrasing something in that context is highly questionable at best. Better to have re-opened where…?
Me thinks its a scam to make a quick buck.
I read a while back (can’t remember where) that the owners were planning on opening a shop in the CD again. Maybe this is the first step in that move?