Landmark Newport Beach Restaurant to Reopen in July
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—One of Newport Beach’s oldest seafood restaurants is set to reopen in July after almost three years of construction to rebuild the iconic red building.
Crab Cooker is known for its casual atmosphere, serving up premium seafood and homemade specialties such as smoked fish and its famous clam chowders served on disposable plates.
The Balboa Peninsula building, formerly home to a Bank of America, was originally erected in 1938, and has been home of the Crab Cooker since 1951.
In 2014, the historic restaurant’s foundation was severely damaged due to the construction of an adjacent condominium project. he damage was so extensive that the expense to fix it made rebuilding a better option for Crab Cooker owner, Jim Wasko, and his family. They made the decision to demolish and rebuild the building instead of trying to renovate.