Catonsville Crab Icon Ship's Cafe Braces For Final Voyage As Sushi Bar Moves In

One of Catonsville’s best-known crab joints looks headed for its final season.

Ship's Cafe, the longtime crab house on Frederick Road, is expected to close after the owners agreed to sell the property and business. For now, the restaurant is still shucking and steaming, but the buyer has signaled plans to flip the space into an Asian-style sushi and cocktail spot called Ginger & Gin. A Baltimore County liquor-board hearing set for March 9, 2026, is expected to be a key step in transferring the bar license to the new operator.

David F. Mister, who is involved in the deal, told The Banner that the sale to Hing Mai “is not final and is pending additional administrative steps.” County filings reviewed in that report show that an application to modify and transfer Ship's Café's liquor license was filed on Feb. 3. The public notice in The Banner lays out the March 9 hearing date and the prospective buyer’s plans for the property.

The cafe at 828 Frederick Road opened in 2002, after Sharon and Jim Andrews bought the former 828 bar and turned it into a crab house, according to What's Going On Catonsville. Since then, the menu has leaned heavily on Chesapeake staples such as steamed crabs, crab cakes, cream of crab soup, and crab quesadillas, items listed on the restaurant’s OpenTable menu. Commercial real-estate listings for 826–828 Frederick Road state that the sale package includes the building, the operating business, and a Class D tavern liquor license, standard details in broker marketing materials.

County records name Hing Mai as the proposed new license holder, with a plan to relaunch the space as Ginger & Gin, an Asian and sushi restaurant, according to The Banner. If the Board of License Commissioners signs off on the transfer at the March 9 hearing, the buyers could move ahead with renovations and a full rebrand. Mister has emphasized that various administrative approvals are still pending while county officials review the application.

Over the years, Ship's Café has built a loyal following of locals and road-tripping crab fans. A feature on Family Destinations Guide highlights its crab-focused menu, and numerous reviews on TripAdvisor describe travelers making a specific detour to Catonsville for steamed crabs. Regulars, neighbors, and regional food watchers will be watching that March 9 hearing closely to see whether the license transfer goes through and a sushi-and-cocktail concept replaces a classic crab house.

What happens next

Liquor-license transfers and changes to licensed premises in Baltimore County go through the Board of License Commissioners, which typically requires a location hearing, public notice, and an administrative review process, according to the county’s meetings calendar. The board posts upcoming license-location hearings and later records its decisions on its meetings pages. That sequence, along with any conditions the board may attach, will determine whether the new operator can start renovations and set a reopening timeline under the Ginger & Gin banner.

For now, Ship's Café remains open and serving its familiar crab dishes while the proposed sale and license transfer move through the system. Reservation and review platforms still list current hours and contact information for anyone looking to squeeze in another meal before the board’s decision. More clarity is likely to follow the March 9 liquor-board hearing and any formal filings that come after it.