Wealthy Fertitta family to purchase Boston’s historic Union Oyster House

A general view of The Union Oyster House on March 2, 2013 in Boston. (Paul Marotta/Getty Images)

The wealthy Houston family whose holdings include Landry’s Inc. has just made a major move by nabbing a historic East Coast property. The Boston Globe reports the Fertitta family hospitality conglomerate is buying the city’s historic Union Oyster House, the oldest known operating restaurant in the U.S.

The Fertitta family confirmed the purchase to Chron on Wednesday afternoon.

“The Fertitta family of Houston, Texas, are acquiring the Union Oyster House, America’s oldest restaurant and a National Historic Landmark on Boston’s iconic Freedom Trail,” read a statement from a Fertitta family representative.

The clam chowder is seen at the Union Oyster House in Boston on Feb. 28, 2016. Tilman Fertitta’s hospitality company, Landry’s Inc., has purchased the restaurant, called the oldest known operating restaurant in the U.S. (Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe via Getty Images)

“Upon closing of the transaction, the Fertitta family will continue to run Union Oyster House just as it has been operated for more than 200 years, with no changes to its staff or operations,” the statement continued. “The Fertitta family looks forward to carrying its storied traditions forward for generations to come.”

The family told the Boston Globe on Wednesday that Tilman Fertitta’s son Patrick led the transaction, and that the businessman and U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino was “not involved” in the deal.

One can visit the Union Oyster House and sit in booth 18 where John Fitzgerald Kennedy use to dine on lobster stew. (Jonathan Wiggs/Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The restaurant first opened as Atwood & Bacon Oyster House in October 1826. In the 200 years since, the restaurant has changed names and owners, but apparently it’s never stopped running, smack in a historic Boston area that includes Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market. Joe Milano and his family have owned the restaurant since the 1970s. 

The purchase of the Union Oyster House comes more than a year after the Fertitta family sunk its teeth into the iconic Keens Steakhouse in New York City, another old-school East Coast institution.

Executive Chef Americo DiFronzo holds the Boston cream pie at the Union Oyster House in Boston on May 17, 2018. (Lane Turner/Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Meanwhile and closer to home, Landry’s just opened a new Landry’s Seafood House location in Sugar Land. It also debuted the 1932 Cattleman’s Club, a new concept at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

Union Oyster House would fit in nicely with Landry’s seafood-oriented portfolio. Oysters, of course, are on the menu, as are a variety of shrimp, sandwiches, soups, chowders and other East Coast delicacies that haven’t quite made their way to Texas yet.

More Food & Drink

Changes | Houston restaurant Preslee’s to replace The Hop nightclub
Good Eats | Pappa’s Restaurants reveal 3-course meals for $40 in special deal
Drama | Embattled Texas restaurant to relocate after lockout
Gross | Video claims Texas Popeyes put condom in customer’s chicken

For more food news and features from Chron, sign up for The Feed newsletter here.

This article originally published at Wealthy Fertitta family to purchase Boston’s historic Union Oyster House.