Celebrity Chef Vivian Howard Shuts Down Her Kinston Oyster Bar

James Beard Award winner and television host Vivian Howard recently disclosed that she and her husband Ben Knight decided to shutter their burger/oyster bar the Boiler Room in Kinston, North Carolina.

Howard’s acclaimed restaurant Chef & the Farmer will remain, but will not reopen this summer. The chef told the News & Observer that because her establishments are destination spots, the current pandemic has decimated the customer base and takeout wasn’t a viable option.

Previous to the whole world shutting down, Howard announced two new projects in Charleston, South Carolina. Bakeshop Handy + Hot and “casual yet refined” Southern eatery Lenoir were planned to open this summer at the Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel at 68 Wentworth Street. Howard says that both projects are still going forward and that Handy + Hot could open as soon as the end of July. Of course, as things progress, deadlines may shift, depending what is happening in the world.

• Vivian Howard Closes Kinston Oyster Bar [N&O]
• North Carolina Legend Vivian Howard Upgrades Charleston Hotel With Two Restaurants [ECAR]