Captain James Crab House closes for the season following fire

The crab house is closed for the season, but you can still crack open a crab across the street.

Captain James Crab House, the popular Fells Point waterfront seafood restaurant, will close for the rest of the season following a weekend fire, according to a restaurant social media post.

At around 4:38 a.m. on Sunday, the Baltimore City Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at the Crab House and observed smoke coming from the restaurant.

The Fire Department cleared the scene around 6:15 a.m.

On Tuesday afternoon, a Baltimore City Health Department closure notice was taped to the front door. Other posters on the door were charred.

Although there was no visible exterior damage, the restaurant’s inner walls and ceiling were blackened with soot.

A restaurant social media post urged patrons to head across Aliceanna Street to Captain James Seafood Palace, its sister business, a landmark ship-shaped restaurant.

“We want everyone to know that our restaurant is still open — and still steaming crabs!” the post reads.

The fire comes at the height of Maryland crab season. Captain James has been serving steamed crabs since 1979, when it was opened by the Tserkis family, immigrants from Greece, according to the restaurant’s website.

No one was injured in the fire, according to the social media post.

The fire currently remains under investigation, the Fire Department said.

“As a family business that has proudly called Baltimore home since 1979, they protected so much more than just a building,” the post said. “While our Crabhouse may be quiet for now, the heart of Captain James is still beating strong.”