Marshfield 87-Year-Old Family Restaurant Announces Sale

MARSHFIELD (WBSM) — The owners of Marshfield’s Haddad’s Ocean Café announced they have agreed in principle to sell the family-owned restaurant that first opened in 1937.

Owners Chuck and Mitch Haddad posted the announcement to Facebook Thursday afternoon.

“It is with bittersweet emotions that we are announcing that we have agreed, in principle, to sell Haddad’s Ocean Café,” they wrote. “Obviously, after 87 years of being a continuous family business, this was not an easy decision to make. However, after more than 50 years of working and owning the restaurant, we feel it is the time to begin the next chapter of our lives.”

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The post went on to thank their “great and loyal customers for their incredible support.”

“A restaurant cannot survive for 87 years without the support of the community and we will forever be grateful to Marshfield, the South Shore and the region for providing us the opportunity to serve you over the eight-plus decades,” they wrote.

The owners also thanked the restaurant’s staff, both past and present, and most importantly, the Haddads’ families.

“Owning a restaurant is a labor of love, albeit a very time-consuming labor of love. The life of a restaurant owner is working nights, weekends and holidays, leaving our wives to do the work of both parents,” they wrote. “Thank you for your sacrifice and understanding and enabling us to pursue our dreams. Without the support of our families, none of what we have accomplished would have been possible.”

Haddad’s Ocean Café Weathered Storms for 87 Years

They also reflected on what the decades have been like situated mere yards from the shore at the top of the Brant Rock peninsula.

“Being a restaurant in Brant Rock presented many challenges over the years,” they wrote. “As a community, we have encountered floods (too many to count), Nor’easters, blizzards and perfect storms. These shared experiences have only made our bond with the community stronger.”

What Is the Future of Haddad’s Ocean Café?

According to the post, the Haddads will continue to operate the restaurant until the middle of August 2024. That’s when the new owners, the Assembly Restaurant Group, will take over.

“The new owners are experienced operators with restaurants located throughout the Boston area. We are confident that given their impressive track record, that they will not only succeed but flourish,” the Haddads wrote. “We encourage everyone to support them in this venture. We believe you will not be disappointed.”

What Is the History of Haddad’s Ocean Café?

According to its website, Haddad’s first opened in 1937 and has been run by four generations of the Haddad family.

Louis Haddad was the original owner, who ran it until his death in 1959. After his passing, two of his nephews, George and Hal Haddad, took over.

Hal passed away in 1976, with George then becoming the sole owner until he passed in 1986. His three sons Chuck, Mitch and George then took over, with Chuck and Mitch being the last two Haddads running the restaurant since 2011.

The following year, the restaurant moved into its current space, which features seating for almost 400 people as well as a function room and outdoor second-level deck that offers spectacular ocean views.

The restaurant drew attention last year when it canceled a function that had been booked in its function room that was slated to be a fundraiser for the defense of Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother charged with killing her three children in 2023.

What Happens to Your Unused Haddad’s Gift Card?

The Haddads are asking that if you have any unused gift cards, that you use them “in the upcoming weeks.”

“This may be our last summer, but we vow to make it our best summer ever!” they wrote.