Catfish Willy's Closes Evansville Restaurant
The Tri-State seafood restaurant will shut its Virginia Street location at the end of November after 19 years.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Catfish Willy's will close its Evansville restaurant at the end of November, the business announced on October 31. The owners are retiring, and the restaurant said the decision was not easy.
Why it matters
The closing removes a long-running Tri-State seafood option from Evansville's east side, where the restaurant moved in late 2018. The owners' retirement is the stated reason for the decision.
Catfish Willy's has operated for 19 years, and its Evansville location at 5720 Virginia St. is set to close at the end of November 2026. The extraction does not indicate the restaurant's revenue or customer volume, nor any future plans for the site.
The players
Catfish Willy's
A Tri-State seafood restaurant that began in Owensboro, Kentucky, and built a 19-year regional following before relocating to Evansville.
The details
Catfish Willy's began on Frederica Street in Owensboro, Kentucky, and moved to Evansville's east side in late 2018. In 2023 it expanded its menu with more non-seafood options before announcing on October 31 that it would close at the end of November.
Timeline
2018: Restaurant moved operations to Evansville's east side.
2023: Restaurant rebranded its menu with more non-seafood options.
October 31, 2026: Closing announced in a Facebook post.
November 30, 2026: Restaurant closes.
Market Landscape
Catfish Willy's relocation to Virginia Street in late 2018 followed its start in Owensboro, Kentucky, and its closing now ends that Evansville chapter. The announcement reflects the ordinary turnover of owner-operated restaurants when proprietors retire.
Diners who want a meal at the Virginia Street location have until the end of November to visit before it closes. Customers may also look for seafood and non-seafood options at other Tri-State restaurants after the closing.
The takeaway
Regular customers who value the restaurant should plan a final visit before November 30, since the extraction gives no information on a successor business or any reopening.
What happens next
The restaurant is scheduled to close at the end of November 2026, with November 30 as its final day of service.
Further reading
Find more on Openings & Closings across the Evansville business scene.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NewsTalk 1280 WGBF.
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