Legal Sea Foods Sold To Medford Hospitality Group

MEDFORD, MA — The sale of Legal Sea Foods was finalized Tuesday afternoon. The iconic restaurant chain was sold to PPX Hospitality Brands, a Medford-based company behind Smith & Wollensky and three Boston-area Strega restaurants.

The sale was announced around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, but a spokesperson for PPX later said the deal "has not been finalized as yet." In an email shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the company confirmed the sale had gone through.

Legal Sea Foods has been owned by the same family since its founding in Cambridge in 1968. Roger Berkowitz, the public face of Legal Sea Foods since taking over as chief executive officer from his father in 1992, told The Boston Globe the sale was directly related to the coronavirus pandemic that has decimated the restaurant industry.

Prior to COVID-19 business shutdowns in March, Legal had 33 restaurants and 3,500 employees from New England to Florida and annual revenue of about $200 million.

Under the deal, Berkowitz can continue to sell seafood under the Legal brand name from his online store and through retail outlets, while PPX will operate the restaurants. The holding company, part of Dublin-based Danu Partners, has asked current Legal employees to remain onboard.

Previously: Legal Sea Foods Founding Family Selling Iconic MA Chain