A New Bedford couple had less than four days to find a new wedding venue after discovering that the United Fishermen's Club, the Orchard Street hall they'd booked since January, had apparently shut its doors. The club's abrupt closure has left customers and community events scrambling, with no public word yet from club leadership on whether the shutdown is temporary or permanent.
Peter DaSilva and Rose Jackson had scheduled their wedding at the club for October, according to Mary-Jo DaSilva, as reported by the Fall River Herald News. The couple had booked the venue back in January and even signed a revised contract and paid their remaining balance after new management took over this year. But club president Mark Custodio told them the club had closed and that it had no money left in its accounts, per the same account, directing the couple instead to Casa Benfica.
Unable to recover the money they'd already paid, DaSilva and Jackson spent almost four days searching before landing a replacement venue roughly 30 minutes from New Bedford that fit their budget and allowed them to keep their original vendors, according to the Herald News report. Their situation illustrates the scramble now facing others who had booked the 700-person function hall, which was marketed for parties, bridal showers and wedding receptions, according to a listing from explorenewbedford.org.
A Club With Deep Roots, Now Silent
Founded in May 1983, the United Fishermen's Club at 639 Orchard St. had long served as a gathering spot for Portuguese heritage events, soccer viewing and local fishermen, the article notes. The property included a sports bar, restaurant and function hall, and as recently as early October the club was still promoting its hall for rentals and had advertised for bartenders and announced expanded hours in September.
By this past Monday, though, signs of trouble were unmistakable. The club's phone number, 508-994-5883, was out of service, and an entrance notice only indicated the building was smoke-free, offering no explanation for the closure. O Jornal, the section that first reported the story, said it was unable to reach club representatives by phone, and messages sent through the club's Facebook page went unanswered.
Shareholders Warned Of Legal And Financial Exposure
The closure follows months of internal turmoil. A new administration took over management of the club in August, but the previous administration did not transfer event records and booking information to the incoming leadership, forcing the club to ask prior customers for receipts or documentation to verify their reservations.
Weeks later, the club held an emergency shareholders meeting in late September. Club clerk Alex Vidal signed a letter to shareholders, issued at Custodio's direction, stating the meeting would address urgent legal, financial and operational matters. The agenda reportedly included a lawyer's briefing on corporation legal matters and mortgage-related issues, a certified public accountant's presentation on tax liabilities and outstanding filings, and allegations of potential improper conduct by former officers and directors. The letter attributed potential financial exposure to prior mismanagement and urged shareholders to attend given the seriousness of the matters at hand.
A Fairhaven Planner Steps In To Help
With the club offering no public comment on its closure or future plans, questions remain about whether the shutdown is temporary, what obligations are outstanding, and whether customer deposits will be reimbursed. Into that vacuum has stepped Sofia Gomes Sylvia, an event coordinator for Seaport Resort and Marina in Fairhaven who is also associated with SassyAngel Events.
Sylvia said she acted after hearing that a woman's daughter had lost her quinceañera venue because of the closure, and she posted an offer of help on Facebook. The response, she said, was immediate — she has since helped secure three new bookings and says Seaport Resort and Marina management has agreed to offer discounted rates when possible. Sylvia is also willing to assist with last-minute arrangements and can be reached at 508-726-0335.
A comparable situation unfolded nationally in 2020, when a wave of Noah's Event Venue closures left engaged couples across the country scrambling for new wedding locations, according to ClickOnDetroit. For now, New Bedford families booked at the United Fishermen's Club are left waiting for answers the club has yet to provide.
