Ernie's Original Crab House owner James "Gil" Mao is hoping to find a buyer for his building at 1743 King St., up for sale for $2,475,000. Mao said that he'll decide the future of his family-run restaurant when and if he receives an offer for the building.
Located about 400 feet from the King Street Metro, the 1939 building is sandwiched between the Hilton Alexandria Old Town and an office building. The price has been knocked down about $300,000 since it first went up for sale last year.
The restaurant, which has changed hands over the years, is one of the oldest in the region, getting its start on Richmond Highway in 1943 and later opening a second location near Fairlington. (That location at Fern Street and Quaker Lane closed 14 years ago.)
Now, only the King Street location remains. The assessed value of the building and land by the city is $1,447,110, according to city records. Mao purchased the building and renovated it at a total cost of $2.4 million a decade ago and said at the time that it would probably be his final move.
The restaurant opened its King Street location in December 2007, taking the place of Thai Peppers, which has three Northern Virginia locations including one in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood.
The restaurant is known for its no-frills decor and fresh seafood menu featuring steamed blue crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp, crab legs, clam chowder, calamari, hush puppies, scallops and kimchi, a nod to Mao's Korean ancestry. It's open for lunch and dinner.
Mao bought the restaurant from Ernie in 1985.
