03/18/2026
Dear Neighbors & Patrons,
We know a lot of you have been wondering what’s going on, and more than anything, we wanted to speak to you directly, as the people who built real relationships with you over the past few years.
After a lot of thought, the management and bartending team as you know it has made the individual decisions to step away from Ruth.
This wasn’t a sudden or easy decision. It came after many conversations between management/staff asking the owner, Steve Fishman, to improve operations in a way that felt sustainable and respectful to both staff and guests. Over time, ownership decisions led to working conditions and overall direction of the space shifting in ways that no longer aligned with our values — especially when it comes to supporting staff and showing up for this community in the way we believe it deserves.
The former team believes running this kind of establishment in our community shouldn’t be some detached cash-grab that devalues industry workers and patrons. To us it’s something more meaningful, and when you put your heart and soul into working in this industry and connecting with the patrons you serve then you know what the real value is.
We also want to be clear: everyone made this choice for themselves. The relationships we built with each other and with you are real, and that’s what guided each of us to make the decisions they felt were right.
What matters most to us is the community that existed inside those walls. The regulars, the neighbors, the conversations, the energy…that’s what made Ruth what it was to us. We’re incredibly proud of that, and deeply grateful to have been a part of it with you.
Thank you for always showing up for us. We are honored to have been there for you, making your favorite drinks, celebrating all your important events, and toasting to all your endeavors. This isn’t a goodbye, you’ll be seeing us around the neighborhood, we promise.
-Your friendly neighborhood bartenders
