Oleai Beach Bar, one of the island’s longest serving bars and restaurants, has decided to “temporarily” close the establishment.
Oleai Beach Bar manager Tamara Hunter said one of the three owners — Joe Layo — has decided to sell his shares.
Asked by Variety if she knew of the planned sale, she said, “I’ve known it for a while that he wanted to sell his shares.”
Hunter said she felt sad about the decision to close the restaurant. “I feel bad for the regulars who may not have a place to go.”
But she assured, “I know it would be opened again.”
She said it will be reopened as soon as the sale is final.
As for the employees, Hunter said they were put “on standby.” Some have already found employment somewhere else.
She said the economic climate and the new immigration rules prompted Layo to decide to sell his shares.
Some of employees have been on Saipan for over 15 years.
Yesterday, the restaurant returned the generator it had rented for four days after its power was disconnected by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Oleai Beach Bar has been around for over two decades now.
It used to be a steak and lobster restaurant called California Beach Inn from 1978 to 1982 and was owned and operated by Don Bufton.
Bufton told Variety that after he closed his restaurant, a Japanese man took over for a few months, followed by Joe Seman then Robert Rudolf who turned it into Rudolfo’s. Then Rudolfo’s closed and moved to Lower Base and the place became Oleai Beach Bar.
The restaurant and bar was frequented by its patrons not only for food, drinks, dart and billiard tournaments, and music, but also for the sunset.
Customers come to the restaurant just to sit and watch for the “green flash” to occur.
