Blackwall Hitch Headed to Former Rockfish Location in Eastport

Renovations are underway at the former Rockfish Raw Bar and Grill in Eastport, soon to be the home of a new restaurant—Blackwall Hitch.

The restaurant's namesake is a knot used to tie vessels to shore; a motif that's sure to fit right in at its location, sandwiched between Spa and Back creeks in Eastport.

The business owners for Blackwall Hitch include the co-owner of Greene Turtle restaurants County Councilman Derek Fink and a former Anne Arundel County lobbyist, Alan Friedman.

The new owners of the establishment secured a liquor license transfer from Rockfish to Blackwall Hitch earlier this month through the City of Annapolis.

Annapolis businessman Larry Ray, also an owner of The Greene Turtle, and owner of The Big Vanilla athletic clubs, has been making waves in Alexandria with the announcement that he would bring a Blackwall Hitch restaurant to a long-dormant property with a prime location.

No opening date has been announced for the Eastport restaurant, but construction crews can be seen along Sixth Street digging up the old parking lot. Former Rockfish owner Greg Casten said the new owners would be building an outdoor patio and a new parking lot with licenses he secured from the state and city.

The Rockfish closed in September after nearly 10 years of business in Eastport. 

Read Patch's interview with the Rockfish owner on why he chose to close shop.