Ottaray Raw Bar & Taphouse has shucked its last oyster. The Laurens Road seafood spot in Greenville announced that Sunday was its final day, closing permanently after business came in slower than hoped.
The restaurant broke the news on social media, according to WYFF, which reported that Ottaray closed permanently due to slow business. In its statement, the restaurant said business was slower than it had hoped, and it thanked its staff, guests, friends, family, and community for their support during its run.
Ottaray opened in mid-December 2024 at 1418 Laurens Road, taking over the former Warehouse at Midtown space, according to The Greenville News. The nearly 6,000-square-foot restaurant built its menu around seven seasonally fresh, shucked oysters served in a half shell, paired with 26 draft beers on tap, the outlet's opening-day report noted.
A Corridor Full of New Neighbors
When Ottaray first signed on for the Laurens Road address, it was joining a stretch of the corridor that had recently seen a wave of new openings. The Post and Courier reported that The 07, Comal 864, Grazeland and The Radio Room had all recently opened in the area, making Laurens Road one of the busier restaurant and entertainment strips in Greenville at the time.
That same stretch has also seen longstanding businesses disappear. Bee Bee's Drive Thru, described as a Laurens Road staple, permanently closed, as reported by UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL. A leasing agent cited in that report said the business closed at the end of January, though the account did not specify the year, and it noted that the exact date and reasons for the closure were not immediately available.
Part of a Rough Year for Upstate Restaurants
Ottaray's closure adds to a string of recent shutdowns across the region. A report from greenvilleonline.com found that at least 12 locally or regionally owned restaurants in the Upstate closed in 2025, pointing to causes ranging from building issues and liquor liability laws to denied insurance claims.
One of those closures, Greenville's Mr. Crisp, also pointed to a drop-off in customers. As noted by The Greenville News, the decision to close came after Mr. Crisp experienced fewer customers than usual, and an opportunity to sell the business arose around the same time. Ottaray's own statement, pointing to business that was slower than hoped, echoes that broader pattern of Upstate restaurants struggling to keep tables full even in newly developed corridors.
