Regulars and RIHA Rally to Launch Matunuck Oyster Bar Employee Relief Funds
The iconic Rhode Island seafood restaurant suffered a catastrophic fire yesterday, and several regulars and the Rhode Island Hospitality Association have started Matunuck Oyster Bar relief funds to help displaced employees.
Owner Perry Raso shucks oysters in the early days of Matunuck Oyster Bar. Photo by Angel Tucker.
Yesterday was a tough day. Many of us experienced the loss and devastation that felt like losing a good friend. Matunuck Oyster Bar is a place where memories were made and where summer lived on indefinitely, no matter the season. I have no doubt Perry Raso will bring the beloved Rhode Island seafood institution back, better than ever. The man has faced more opposition and challenges than a restaurant owner and oyster farmer should, but he always rebounds. From battles over oyster farming to a crash that took place in front of the restaurant, Raso has proven himself resilient. But no one expected the final blow that was the inferno that took the life of his restaurant on the early morning of May 20, 2025.
See the extensive damage from a drone shot by Max Buchholz of @dronecoastal.
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Chief Steve Pinch of the Union Fire District of South Kingstown issued a report on Tuesday afternoon, explaining how the fire broke out in the early morning hours while no one was in the building, and although extensive damage was caused, it was contained with no injuries. “Our firefighters did a tremendous job, in extreme heat and wind conditions in a difficult building,” Chief Pinch said. “It was a pretty stubborn fire. Everyone did a remarkable job to stop the fire as quickly as they did. We had a lot of things working against us, but they did a great job overcoming those obstacles. Thankfully, we had no injuries, which is always nice.”
The restaurant is a total loss. Raso issued a statement last night.
“I would like to sincerely thank the Union Fire District of South Kingstown and neighboring fire fighters who were on site heroically fighting the Matunuck Oyster Bar fire when I arrived in the early morning of Tuesday, May 20. While the damage to our building is devastating to me, our patrons, and our employees, we are very thankful no one was injured.
As we assess our next steps, our first priority is in finding ways to assist our more than 300 full-time and seasonal employees, whose service and dedication have made Matunuck Oyster Bar what it is today, and who rely on this business to support themselves and their families. We are currently working closely Department of Labor & Training, the Governor’s Office, and other public officials to identify available resources, and we are committed to staying in direct contact with our team members as our long-term plan for Matunuck Oyster Bar is developed.
I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our neighbors, patrons, partners, colleagues and friends from Rhode Island and beyond, who have reached out over the last several hours with selfless offers to help. We are humbled by this outpouring of kindness from our community, and we are working to explore the most efficient and most impactful avenues available, in order to ensure that our staff receives assistance during this difficult time.
We are humbled and grateful for what Matunuck Oyster Bar represents to so many people. While we are heartbroken that our doors will be temporarily closed, we are committed to opening them back up and welcoming guests back to our tables as soon as possible.”
Chief Pinch said he’s proud of his team for putting out the fire with no injuries, but mourns the loss of an important fixture in town.
“It employs a lot of people. Most people in the community know someone who works there. It has a big impact on the town’s economy. It’s tough imagining the summer going on without having the Oyster Bar open,” Chief Pinch said. “We feel bad for the owners and all the employees who are now out of work. Hopefully, they rebuild and are even better when they reopen.”
There have been several fundraising campaigns that have been launched to gather funds for displaced employees and the rebuild. Donations from the Matunuck Oyster Bar Recovery Fund, initiated by a long-time MOB regulars David Stine (who donated $10,000 himself) and Dan Smalley, will directly support the rebuilding effort and help the dedicated employees bridge the gap until MOB is back up and running. Donate here.
Late yesterday afternoon, the Rhode Island Hospitality Association’s Education Foundation (RIHEF) also initiated what they are calling the official employee relief fund to support the more than 300 staff members suddenly left without work. Matunuck Oyster Bar owner Perry Raso is a longtime RIHEF member, and this fund will provide need-based grants directly to affected employees, including fishermen, farmers, servers and kitchen staff. Donations are being accepted at rihospitality.org/MOB. “The fund will serve as the only official source of organized financial support for Matunuck Oyster Bar staff and personnel affected by the fire,” according to RIHA.
Oysters at Matunuck Oyster bar.
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