Iconic Massachusetts restaurant chain acquired

One of the country's most famous seafood restaurant chains is getting a new owner. 

PPX Hospitality Brands announced the acquisition of Legal Sea Foods, which operates approximately 27 locations in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington, D.C., The deal, which was for an undisclosed amount, also includes Legal’s Quality Control Center in Boston’s Seaport. Legal was founded by the Berkowitz family in 1968, in Cambridge, Mass.

PPX, which was launched in January of 2020 as the parent company of the  Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group,  will own and operate the Legal Sea Foods restaurants. Roger Berkowitz, who had been president and CEO of Legal since 1992, will retain the name outside of restaurants, in channels such as e-commerce and retail.

Similar to many restaurant chains, Legal has been hit hard by the pandemic. Six locations have closed. Eighteen of the company’s 27 locations have reopened.

“Our restaurants will continue under the stewardship of PPX, and my family and I will own and operate the Legal Sea Foods brand in non-restaurant channels,” stated Berkowitz. “I am excited to pursue a future-focused on fish by further expanding the brand into e-commerce and retail."