Sara and Tyler Hansen (Photos property Oystercatcher restaurant)
The restaurant was founded in 1998 by chef Susan Vanderbeek.
They’re looking to streamline.
After a nine-year run operating Coupeville’s popular Oystercatcher restaurant, owners Sara and Tyler Hansen are placing the business up for sale.
The last day under the current leadership is set for Sunday, Oct. 30.
The duo plan to turn their focus to their other business, The Little Red Hen Bakery, and are moving that establishment back from Front Street to Grace Street.
That storefront will be open Thursday, Sept. 1.
The Hansens released the following letter:
To Our Oystercatcher and Little Red Hen community (near and far):
Together we are approaching our 9-year anniversary since we took over the Oystercatcher restaurant.
The experience has been life changing for us; it has allowed us to put down roots in this place we call home, grow from those roots, have fun and experiment, and get to know you all – our community, fellow business owners, friends and staff that have become family.
You all have nurtured us so that we could realize our dream of the Oystercatcher, together.
With that realization has come the deep understanding that it is time for us, Sara and Tyler, to step back, refocus and devote our energy to other passions and to let someone else take the reins.
We are starting the process of listing the Oystercatcher restaurant for sale and wanted you to hear it directly from us first.
Please know that this is not a decision we came to lightly, we’ve put a lot of heart into this business and are extremely proud of what we have accomplished with our talented, dedicated and creative team members throughout the years.
Instead, we are choosing to listen to our hearts and realize this is the right time for us to step back and look ahead.
We are lucky to be working with local broker extraordinaire, Janet Burchfield, on the listing of our beloved business and feel extremely well cared for throughout the process.
If you are interested to know more, please direct all inquiries to Janet at frontstreetjb@aol.com.
As for us, we are not going anywhere.
Over the last few years we have purchased the building at 901 Grace Street, which currently contains our production bakery for Little Red Hen and upstairs the current Oystercatcher restaurant.
With this sale, we are digging down deeper in our Coupeville community and are thrilled to be able to partner, and nurture, the creative talents of the next chefs and owners of the restaurant space.
Our resolve to enrich our island community has only gotten stronger and we look forward to continuing further down the path of simply good food.
With that being said, the Little Red Hen Bakery is going back to its roots.
We’re moving our retail storefront from Front Street back up to our production bakery at 901 Grace Street – where it all started.
Our beloved breads and craft pastries will be available just mere steps from where we pull them fresh out of the oven.
The Little Red Hen Bakery at 901 Grace Street will (re)debut on Thursday, September 1, and will have plenty of open-air seating for you to sit and enjoy our craft breads, pastries and drip coffee – with more cover to come as the seasons change.
We love this community, and we want to preserve ourselves to be here for the long haul.
Sometimes you need to take a moment to slow down, to move forward with intention.
Stay tuned for Little Red Hen and Oystercatcher updates, for exciting new ventures from our longtime staff members and for special celebrations as we approach the Oystercatcher’s last day this coming fall.
We appreciate this community more than we can put in words and will be forever thankful for the opportunity you gave us with the Oystercatcher.
That has led to Little Red Hen Bakery and given us the chance to prove just how much we value this Whidbey community and want to continue to share our passion of simply good food with you all.
With love,
Sara and Tyler Hansen
and the Oystercatcher & Little Red Hen Team
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