A neighborhood staple Southern diner is preparing to close after 12 years of service. The Mason Jar by Fratboys will serve its last customers by the end of the month. The restaurant owner shared the closure announcement on social media and wrote a farewell message for the community.
The Mason Jar Shutters After 12 Years
Established in 2014, The Mason Jar by Fratboys serves Lowcountry-inspired comfort food and Southern dishes. The menu includes Southern comfort food and soul food dishes such as buttermilk fried chicken, the Fat Boy burger, catfish nuggets, and crab cakes.
Operated by Laura Black and Charles Lee, The Mason Jar, located at 2487 Ashley River Road in Charleston, will serve its final dinner on September 27.
The owners announced the closure in a social media post on August 31, 2026. In the post, the owners explained how the restaurant began, “A little over 12 years ago, mine and Charles’s dads passed away just a few months apart. We took what they left us and invested it into a dream together.”
They mentioned that together they found every piece of furniture and decor, collected the cooking equipment, and created a cozy eatery.
The owners of the restaurant mentioned, “We wanted to make the kind of food you crave when you miss home. The food that takes you back to your grandma’s kitchen.”
In the closure announcement, Laura hinted that she wants to focus on her family and daughter and made the decision to close the restaurant. She said, “Since having my daughter, our entire family’s priorities have changed. She needs us, and she deserves to have us there.”
Message for the Community
The owners shared a long and emotional message for the community and thanked them for their love and support.
“Thank you to every family who made us part of your traditions, every regular who became a friend, and every employee—past and present—who poured a piece of themselves into this place.”
In the post, Laura highlighted that in 12 years, they have seen many ups and downs of owning a restaurant. “We survived COVID. We even survived a car driving through our dining room,” added the owners.
As The Mason Jar enters its final month of operations, the owners encouraged the community to visit the restaurant and enjoy one more meal with them.
