ing to the Worcester County Fire Marshall’s Office at the time. Though it didn’t spread past its point of origin, firefighters needed to chainsaw through the roof to contain it.

Eddie Johnson of the Fast Eddie’s group said in a text message that they’re in the process of backing out of the lease after Ramadan did not remodel the establishment in October like he said he would, according to the plan at the time the lease was signed.

But last they heard from Ramadan, Johnson said, he told them they wouldn’t be able to get the restaurant again until 2024.

Johnson said they still have no idea what the plans for the property might be.

“We appreciate anyone who was able to come and support our business,” Johnson said. “We love our town and we love our locals. We have Fast Eddie’s and we look forward to keep having fun and bringing people together with good service and a fun atmosphere.”

When reached by phone early last week, Ramadan said that he had something “big” in store for the property, but that he couldn’t comment until Friday, July 21.

Attempts to contact Ramadan after that date were not successful.

Mum seems to be the word with the business leaders around town, too.

Amy Thompson and Susan Jones, executive directors of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, respectively, both said that they’ve wanted answers to those same questions but had been unsuccessful as well, as of July 17.

The property stood as Phillips Crab House for 66 years, predating much of the development that transforms Ocean City into the secondlargest municipality every summer. Mayor Rick Meehan called its original owners, Brice and Shirley Phillips, “true Ocean City icons.”