Lucas Wharf in Bodega Bay closed abruptly last week. So much so, even the employees were shocked. After closing Thursday night, an email went out to staff from the owners, Karen and Wally Parker, stating that they were closing for good. The owners cited a slew of reasons: “a slow summer, COVID continues, a recession starting, high gas prices, enormous increase for cost of goods, and now, an extremely cold and wet winter.” Former employees tell the Press Democrat that it was very sudden and several of them haven’t received their final checks and tips from credit cards. Lucas Wharf was opened in 1984 by brothers James and Gary Lucas or the “Shrimp Kings.” It had been in the Lucas family until it was purchased by the Parkers in 2019.