R.F. McDougall’s has been a Tri-Cities hot spot for decades. Is it closed for good?

Rumors are swirling that the longtime Tri-City establishment R.F. McDougall’s is closed for good.

The Richland restaurant that opened in 1979 overlooking Bateman Island on Columbia Park Trail, shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to reopen.

Multiple social media posts to its page and in local Facebook groups have asked when it will reopen or whether it’s permanently closed.

But the restaurant’s general manager tells the Herald that R.F. McDougall’s is here to stay.

Kyle Chism has managed McDougall’s for four years and neighboring Kimo’s Sports Bar for 10 years.

He said there are several reasons McDougall’s hasn’t reopened — but mostly they need to find enough employees.

Chism said that Kimo’s — which has the same owners — has been able to stay open because McDougall’s is smaller, making less sense to operate at only the 50 percent indoor capacity allowed in Phase 3.

He said that he believes the extra COVID unemployment benefits are deterring employees from returning.

“The hope is that sooner rather than later that these people will have to come back to work,” Chism said. “The workforce will be elevated so we can actually grab employees.”

Employers across the nation are scrambling to find enough restaurant and hotel workers to operate fully staffed.

Several hotel owners have told the Herald that their biggest challenge moving forward is finding staff.

National chains such as Subway and Texas Roadhouse have posted open hiring events, and McDonald’s announced Wednesday that the corporation plans to hire 4,500 employees this summer just in Washington.

Changes brewing

Chism said in light of a long-term closure, it has provided owners the time to re-examine McDougall’s and rethink their strategy moving forward.

McDougall’s was long owned by a couple who also operated the Boulevard Bar and Grill.

The Boulevard later became Rattlesnake Mountain Brewing Co. before making the switch to Kimo’s. Rattlesnake still operates as a brewery inside the restaurant.

McDougall’s closed its doors in 1998, the Tri-City Herald reported at the time. While it is unclear when it reopened, both restaurants have been owned by the same group for at least 20 years.

The corporation is made up of longtime Tri-City businessman Bruce Ratchford, who owns Apollo Mechanical, former NFL football player Kimo Von Oelhoffen and John Stewart.

Chism said that owners have reconsidered whether a Irish pub makes senses in Tri-Cities anymore.

“The thing is we are struggling with is, ‘Does an Irish Pub outside of St. Patrick’s Day work for Tri-Cities?’” he said.

When McDougall’s opens again, the only thing that will remain the same is the name.

The tone was set last summer for a complete overhaul when new carpet and decor were installed. New food and drink menus will be introduced along with new operating days and hours.

Chism said the target date is July 1. State records show that all its state licenses and permits are expiring June 30.

This story was originally published June 3, 2021 at 5:00 AM.