Downtown Traverse City restaurant Scalawags Whitefish & Chips is temporarily closed after owner and operator Jamie (Jamo) Washburne unexpectedly died Friday at his home in Traverse City at the age of 64. 

A Petoskey native, Washburne had a long career in the restaurant industry - working in locations including Mackinaw City and Naples, Florida - before opening Scalawags on State Street in downtown Traverse City in 2005. His friends and family note he was active in the downtown scene, participating in events like Friday Night Live and the Downtown Chili Cookoff, and frequently gave back to the community. During the pandemic, he set up in the parking lot of the Foster Family Community Health Center & Urgent Care and fed fresh whitefish to over 100 local emergency workers.

"It always made us smile to talk with Jamo, who was a wonderful neighbor for so many years,” says Traverse City Downtown Development Authority CEO Jean Derenzy. "His beloved restaurant brought important vibrancy and energy to State Street, and we know that his customers and employees truly loved Jamo. We will miss him."

The Washburne family said in a statement that they were grateful for the many words of support they had received from the community since Friday. "It’s overwhelming,” said Jake Washburne, Jamo’s son. "I really had no idea how many lives my father has touched here in Traverse City. It is truly comforting knowing that he was so very well liked."

According to the statement, Scalawags will "remain temporarily closed while the family navigates this tragic loss."