Uptown seafood restaurant cuts bait after three years

Manzo Lobster & Oyster Bar had its fair share of challenges after opening in September 2020.

The Uptown seafood restaurant was sued by a former tenant a month later. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021, after a year of operating. And it was temporarily closed for entire months in 2022 because of “labor constraints,” according to bankruptcy court filings.

And now, the restaurant at 500 E. 19th Ave. has closed for good.

Its 2,980-square-foot space is being marketed for lease by CM Commercial Partners. CM owner Mike Lindemann said the space was released on the market yesterday — asking price $52 a square foot annually — and he’s already received a dozen calls.

Owner Richard Manzo said he’d been in the restaurant business for over 36 years and he opened the business during the height of the pandemic but suffered hardships.

“I just want to basically move forward in a positive way,” Manzo said. “We had a great team, but it was a long haul. Dur...