The Four Swallows Restaurant, an institution on Bainbridge Island’s Madison Avenue, has closed.
Owners of the 26-year-old establishment were unable to secure a new lease agreement, according to a note on the restaurant’s Facebook page posted by owners Michael Sharp and Geraldine Ferraro.
“We intend to continue in some capacity in the future,” the note said.
The restaurant’s landlords were surprised by the sudden closure. Eric Fredricks, managing partner of Madison Avenue Real Estate, said the lease on the building isn’t up until the end of the year.
Fredricks said it was unclear why The Four Swallows owners didn’t agree to a new lease.
“We don’t know what it was that made them not want to stay,” Fredricks said. “… they’re good people, we love their food, and we wish them well.”
Fredricks said the company hopes to find another restaurant to occupy the quaint farmhouse on Madison. The William Grow house was built in 1889.
The Four Swallows property and adjacent Bainbridge Pavilion are up for sale.
The restaurant earned consistently high marks for its Italian-influenced menu, local ingredients and elegant setting. The Seattle Times recommended The Four Swallows as a “genteel spot for a casual dinner or a special occasion that’s even worth a trip across Puget Sound.”
The full Facebook note from The Four Swallows is posted below:
