Island Creek Oyster Bar To Become More Affordable Row 34 Brand

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington's Island Creek Oyster Bar will become a Row 34 location, a more affordable, family-friendly brand from the same restaurant group.

The two brands are going to separate, they said Thursday.

Burlington's Island Creek is the only Island Creek location after the Boston restaurant closed last month. Row 34 has locations in Boston and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The restaurant is located at 300 District Ave.

The name-change, and a change of manager, secured the Board of Selectmen's approval at their Tuesday meeting, as first reported by the Burlington Union. Laura Staley, the wine director for the restaurant group, will manage the re-named restaurant.

Attorney Mark Vaughan represented the ownership to the selectmen.

"This has been an enormously challenging year for the restaurant industry," Vaughan said. "Refreshing this concept with the Row 34 brand would be a very positive step for future success."

One of the restaurant partners, Shore Gregory, explained the differences.

"The price point is a little more friendly than Island Creek," Gregory said. "Our passion is oysters and the freshest seafood and we're going to stay in that lane with an attempt to continue to make the restaurant more approachable."

The selectmen approved the change unanimously.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-3853 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.

This story has been updated.