By RUSS OLIVO

WOONSOCKET — After less than a year in business, Wetherlaine’s is history.
Formerly Box Seats, the pub-style restaurant at 350 River St. shut its doors for good last week, posting a sign in a window thanking customers for their patronage.

“Basically, it’s an economic thing,” said general manager Joe Costa. “We just weren’t making it anymore.”
Jack Wetherbee, and his wife, Tiffany, of North Attleboro, took over Box Seats from longtime owner Peter Morrisey last July 25. Costa said the Wetherbees kept the old Box Seats menu and added a few more dinner items, like pasta dishes and steaks.
Traffic was still brisk, but the restaurant was struggling to keep up with high overhead and escalating fuel costs, said Costa. Some restaurant suppliers have been starting to add fuel surcharges to their bills. The Wetherbees own two other restaurants, another Wetherlaine’s in Attleboro and a slightly more upscale locale on the New Bedford waterfront, Freestone’s.
A sign on the door of the River Street restaurant says dinner and gift cards will be honored at the Attleboro Wetherlaine’s.
“To our valued friends and customers, Wetherlaine’s will be closed for business as of Sunday night, July 13,” the sign says. “We thank you for your support and friendship.”
Approximately 15 to 20 waitresses, bartenders and other employees had been informed of the closing a few days earlier. Costa said he had worked at Box Seats for six years as general manager and stayed on after the change in ownership.
Morrissey bought the original Box Seats when it was a small bar at the same location some 30 years ago. Eventually, the Box Seats brand came to include locations in Smithfield and North Attleboro before Morrissey began downsizing several years ago. The River Street location was the last of Morrissey’s three restaurants to be sold.
The Wetherbees used to live in Blackstone and had enjoyed dining at Box Seats on a number of occasions before making Morrissey an offer on the restaurant.