What happened to ‘RHOP’ star Ashley Darby’s restaurant Oz? Here’s why Darbys shuttered eatery

What happened to ‘RHOP’ star Ashley Darby’s restaurant Oz? Here’s why Darbys shuttered eatery
'RHOP' star Ashley Darby and restaurant Oz (@ashleyboalchdarby, ozarlington/Instagram)

POTOMAC, MARYLAND: Ashley Darby is a woman of many talents. The "RHOP" housewife is a TV personality, singer, mother, former beauty queen, and even a businesswoman. In 2015, the starlet and her ex-husband Michael Darby decided to venture into the restaurant business and opened their own place. In Clarendon, Arlington, Virginia, the Darbys opened 'Oz' restaurant, which features an unorthodox menu of kangaroo and camel burgers, python croquettes, and the occasional ostrich dish, possibly an ode to Michael's Australian roots.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Darbys had opened the restaurant years ago when their relationship was still in full swing. The business had apparently even brought the couple together and strengthened their bond. In an old interview, Ashley talked about how the restaurant had helped the couple's relationship. She said, "I focus on the fact that Michael has been such a successful real estate developer for the last thirtysomething years of his life he wants to give me knowledge. He wants to be appreciated for his business acumen. So I think the fact that he can feel like he's pitching me something helps support our relationship. And then at the same time, we're both working to build something. We don't have kids yet, but this is like a child. So both of us are really giving literally,110 percent of our effort. So it makes us both feel invested in something like we're sharing something." But the Darbys later decided to pull the plug and close the restaurant after only four years of operation. What prompted them to take this drastic action? Well, here's what we know.