Paula Lyons
Sunday, July 4, 2021 - 10:42pm
Larkin Stallings has spent 40 years opening and running bars, restaurants and nightclubs, mostly in Houston, Texas. How he arrived on an island off the coast of Massachusetts and how he came to own the iconic Ritz on Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs is a Vineyard story of the best kind.
Q. Larkin, when did you buy The Ritz?
A. I’ve owned The Ritz going on about six years now.
Q. And what made you buy it?
A. Well, not great sense!
But my wife Jackie and I got a home up here about 15 years ago, so we’ve been living here on and off and in Houston on and off. One winter, snow was coming down and I was walking down Circuit Ave. And there was a sign in the window that said “For Sale by Owner.” I walked in and saw Janet King, the owner. We started talking about it and before I knew it, we owned The Ritz!
The Times reached out to some local musicians to get an idea of when we can see them next, playing live for Island audiences. Their responses are music to our ears. “We’re obviously completely stoked to get back onstage,” says Maria Stukey from the Dukes of Circuit Ave. “It’s been the longest any of us […]
An early morning concert at The Ritz Monday was intended to celebrate the loosening of state restrictions to allow for indoor singing performances, but newly released guidance from the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) makes it impossible for small venues to host shows. With the new guidance, a slate of upcoming shows booked at The […]
The Ritz revives indoor singing on-Island
Performers and bar goers rejoice with Holy Rock and Roll Revival as Massachusetts indoor singing ban is lifted.
Sean McMahon starting off the night. -Jeremy Driesen
Larking and Jackie Stallings, owners of The Ritz. -Jeremy Driesen
Sylvia Mako was in the bar. -Jeremy Driesen
Owner Larking Stallings keeping an eye on things. -Jeremy Driesen
Owner Jackie Stallings enjoys the music with friends. -Jeremy Driesen
Sean McMahon sings to the crowd. -Jeremy Driesen
Katie Mayhew-McMahon sings to the crowd. -Jeremy Driesen
Patrons enjoying the music. -Jeremy Driesen
Katie and Sean singing together. (The Ritz installed the plastic shields as extra protection.) -Jeremy Driesen
The Martha s Vineyard Times
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Mike Alberice braves the cold after the Freezin’ for a Reason 5K at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. The race benefited veterans and the West Tisbury School Scholarship Fund. Lexi Pline
Gannon and Benjamin opened their doors to guests to celebrate the Vineyard Haven wooden boatbuilder s 40th anniversary. Lexi Pline
Brian Packish, who was Oak Bluffs selectmen chair at the time, read a prepared statement about then-Fire Chief John Rose and the controversy that swirled around him. Lexi Pline
Times staffers got together to bake pies, and this one, from reporter Brian Dowd, was a hit. Lexi Pline