MASSACHUSETTS-BASED LEGAL SEA FOODS RESTAURANT CHAIN HAS BEEN SOLD. ADD: — ED: AND NEW AT 6:00 WE’RE , HEARING FROM ROGER BERKOWITZ, WHOSE FAMILY OPENED THE FIRST LEGALS MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AGO. NEWSCENTER 5’S SHAUN CHAIYABHAT SPOKE WITH HIM AND JOINS US LIVE. SHAUN: THE LEGAL SEA FOODS BRAND WILL STAY. BUT IT’S LONGTIME FAMILY OWNER IS CHANGING COURSE. >> BIT OF MIXED EMOTIONS, BITTERSWEET, IF YOU WILL. SHAUN: ROGER BERKOWITZ IS ALMOST AS ICONIC AS HIS FAMILY-OWNED RESTAURANT LEGAL SEAFOODS. FROM THE ADS THAT SOMETIMES GOT HIM IN TROUBLE, TO THE FAMILY’S CLAM CHOWDER IT’S BEEN A GOOD , RUN UNTIL COVID. ,>> THE PANDEMIC THREW US A CURVEBALL. NO ONE ANTICIPATED THIS. THIS REALLY WAS SHOCKING TO MOST PEOPLE. SO WE HAVE TO, SORT OF FIGURE , OUT NEW MODELS. SHAUN: THE DECISION TO SELL STARTED IN AUGUST, AFTER MONTHS OF SHUTDOWNS. PPX FROM MEDFORD WILL TAKE OVER AND PLANS TO EXPAND LEGAL SEAFOODS EVEN MORE. THE COMPANY ALREADY RUNS HIGH-END RESTAURANTS SMITH AND WOLLENSKY AND STREGA. IS ANYTHING GOING TO CHANGE? >> WELL HOPEFULLY NOT. ,YOU KNOW A LOT OF OUR KEY , PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STAY ON WITH THE NEW COMPANY. SHAUN: FROM THEIR CAMBRIDGE GROCERY STORE IN THE EARLY 1900S, TO A FISH MARKET, TO THEIR 25 RESTAURANTS, THE FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS HAS PIVOTED WITH THE TIMES. HIS NEXT PIVOT? E-COMMERCE. HE PLANS TO FOCUS ON SELLING READY-MADE, FLASH-FROZEN MEALS DIRECT TO HOMES. SAYING THE PANDEMIC MAY FOREVER CHANGE HOW WE EAT OUT. >> THIS IS A WAY OF GETTING RESTAURANT-QUALITY PRODUCT SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO YOU AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. SO I THINK ITS A PATHWAY TO THE FUTURE, WHERE MAYBE FOOD COMSUMPTION IS GOING
Legal Sea Foods founder George Berkowitz dies at 97
Updated: 2:53 PM EST Feb 27, 2022
George Berkowitz, who founded the seafood restaurant chain Legal Sea Foods, has died in a Boston suburb. He was 97. Berkowitz died in his sleep on Feb. 20 in his retirement community home in Dedham after dealing with failing health, the Boston Globe reports. He originally founded Legal Sea Foods in 1950 as a fish market next to his Russian immigrant father’s meat market and grocery, Legal Cash Market, in Cambridge, according to the newspaper.Berkowitz opened the first Legal Sea Foods restaurant next to the fish market in 1968. Over the years the eateries, which feature traditional New England seafood such as clam chowder and fried clams, won a range of national accolades.Berkowitz’s son, Roger Berkowitz, eventually took over as CEO and sold the chain to Medford-based PPX Hospitality Brands in 2020, though he retained rights to its online marketplace operation.There are currently 23 Legal Sea Foods restaurants from Massachusetts to Virginia. Born in Cambridge, Berkowitz also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He leaves a wife, three sons, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family said in an obituary that funeral services for Berkowitz will be private.
George Berkowitz, who founded the seafood restaurant chain Legal Sea Foods, has died in a Boston suburb. He was 97.
Berkowitz died in his sleep on Feb. 20 in his retirement community home in Dedham after dealing with failing health, the Boston Globe reports.
He originally founded Legal Sea Foods in 1950 as a fish market next to his Russian immigrant father’s meat market and grocery, Legal Cash Market, in Cambridge, according to the newspaper.
Berkowitz opened the first Legal Sea Foods restaurant next to the fish market in 1968. Over the years the eateries, which feature traditional New England seafood such as clam chowder and fried clams, won a range of national accolades.
Berkowitz’s son, Roger Berkowitz, eventually took over as CEO and sold the chain to Medford-based PPX Hospitality Brands in 2020, though he retained rights to its online marketplace operation.
There are currently 23 Legal Sea Foods restaurants from Massachusetts to Virginia.
Born in Cambridge, Berkowitz also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He leaves a wife, three sons, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family said in an obituary that funeral services for Berkowitz will be private.