PROVIDENCE – The Newport Harbor Corporation (NHC) today announced the acquisition of Hemenway’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, adding the 25-year-old downtown eatery to the list of local restaurants the company owns and operates in Newport, Tiverton, Narragansett and Providence.
“Acquiring Hemenway’s is like coming full circle,” said Ken Cusson, director of restaurants for NHC. “I cut my teeth with Ned Grace’s organization at the Capital Grille back in 1993, and his attention to detail, service standards and focus on the customer experience has a lot of synergy with Newport Harbor Corporation’s core philosophies. It’s like a marriage made in heaven.”
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Hemenway’s, which well-known restaurateur Edward P. “Ned” Grace III founded, was purchased from Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc., which acquired it in 2007. Darden is one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, with $6.7 billion in annual sales and more than 1,700 eateries nationwide. No acquisition price was included in today’s news releases and company officials did not immediately respond to a request for it.
Guests at Hemenway’s will not notice any immediate changes, Cusson said.
Hemenway’s will retain its name, which Grace chose in tribute to his grandfather, Charles Martin Hemenway, an entrepreneur who loved catching fish and selling seafood and owned a Manhattan restaurant called The Flying Lobster. Grace also founded The Capital Grille and Bugaboo Creek Steak House national chains.
Not one staff member will be replaced, Cusson said. “There are servers who have worked here for 20 years and there are kitchen staff who have been here more than 18 years,” Cussom said. As an employee-owned company, NHC “rewards longevity and commitment,” he noted.
Hemenway’s Executive Chef Steve Long will remain in charge of the restaurant’s culinary team and, working with NHC culinary experts, will incorporate “what is fresh and local into its menu,” said Casey Riley, director of culinary operations for NHC. Tobey Sanborn will remain in charge of Hemenway’s management team.
The NHC group owns and operates Castle Hill Inn & Resort, The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, and the Smokehouse Café, all in Newport, along with The Boathouse Restaurant in Tiverton, Trio in Narragansett and The Waterman Grille on the Seekonk River in Providence. Hemenway’s will become part of the NHC’s FareRewards and gift card programs. For more information, go to www.newportharbor.com.
