Soundview Sold in Greenport; Owners Bid Adieu

It’s the end of an era.

After decades of same-family ownership, the Soundview Restaurant and Sound View Inn have been sold.

Owners Rachel Levin Murphy and Ellen Levin Wiederlight posted a message on the business’ Facebook page today, announcing the news.

“It is with mixed feelings that we announce the sale of the Sound View Restaurant and Sound View Inn, our beautiful resort property overlooking Long Island Sound in Greenport, New York. The enterprise has been in our family since 1953, when our parents, Jack and Donna Levin, built the Sound Shore Motel and then purchased the Soundview restaurant in 1968.

“Over the years, our parents added to the 12-unit motel, which grew into 45 units and a 10 unit Pebble Beach apartment complex . They also added a piano-bar lounge to the restaurant, and finally, a banquet room for 150 people, which has played host to thousands of events here on the East End of Long Island,” they wrote.

“It is with joy and pleasure that we announce the name of the purchaser of the Sound View Restaurant and Inn as Eagle Point Hotel Partners LLC, a company with an excellent reputation as hoteliers in the Sound View tradition. Filament Hospitality Group will be overseeing daily operations,” the statement read. “The company has expressed its intent to continue operating the property as a family resort with the same staff that has served the Levin family and its guests for decades. Eagle Point Hotel Partners LLC has taken over the property as of January 12, 2016.

“Understandably, it is with some sadness as well as pleasure that we make this announcement. My sisters Ellen and Jody ,our brother, Andrew, who died in 1998, and I grew up in the family business, and each of us joined in the operation of the Sound View right after college. Throughout all those years, we have operated the enterprise just as our father taught us: give good value, charge a fair price, and reach out to your community neighbors when they need a helping hand. Our family business was always just that — a family business — inspired by our father, nurtured by our mother, and operated by a loyal staff that is as much a part of our family as our own blood line. Speaking personally, we feel blessed to have been born into a job that we have loved for our entire adult life. It has been our life, and our job. We wish our friends and new owners of the Soundview the utmost success and believe the Soundview is in good hands and will benefit the North Fork. The new owners plan to open with business as usual in March.

“Circumstances change, family needs change, and we have found it necessary to make this change at this time. It is our hope and expectation that the Sound View will continue to grow and to serve our local residents and visitors to the North Fork communities. Thank you all for you support over the years.

Rachel and Ellen.”