First, there was the permanent closure of Miami Beach's Epicure Market, which in a tweet blamed the storm.
Now River Yacht Club and Dashi have closed indefinitely. Management issued the following statement:
Due to serious damage incurred from the effects of Hurricane Irma, River Yacht Club and Dashi on the Miami River will be temporarily closed. Ensuring the safety of its guests and employees is of the utmost importance to ownership, and plans are in place to begin work as soon as possible. During the closure, the restaurant will undergo major repairs with a to-be-announced date of grand reopening.According to River Yacht Club owner Stephane Dupoux, storm surge caused part of the seawall to fall. The main building's structure was compromised, and concrete pilings and beams supporting it were damaged. The building is currently deemed unsafe.
At this point, the extent of the damage, along with long-term ramifications for the River Yacht Club, are unknown until experts further inspect the property later in the week.
According to Dupoux, most of the staff was temporarily let go, and the owners are in the process of paying all outstanding wages. Some key employees were retained, and all staff members are expected to be fully paid by the end of the week.
The River Yacht Club was named the Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Towners by New Times in 2017 for its stunning design and river views. Dashi, located in the compound that included a marina and the VanDutch Lounge, opened six months ago and offered dishes overseen by Shuji Hiyakawa, former executive sushi chef of Kuro at the Seminole Hard Rock.
