Mattapoisett Inn on Shipyard Park Restaurant Sold

The Inn on Shipyard Park, or as Mattapoisett townies stubbornly call it, The Mattapoisett Inn or simply The Inn, has sold.

After 12 years of ownership, Nils Johnson and Andrea Perry have decided to step away from that part of the restaurant business.

The duo started to get the itch to sell toward the end of last summer, both having been in the hospitality business for decades.  When their general manager and executive chef came to them with a plan to take over the restaurant, Johnson and Perry accepted.

Get our free mobile app

The Inn's General Manager Chrissy Soares and sous chef Jon Cameron finalized an agreement with ownership on February 16, 2024.  Soares and Cameron will assume operations of the restaurant and bar while Johnson and Perry will continue to own the building. Johnson said he considers building ownership the next step in the industry for him.

"It's not often that you get to hand a business down to the employees of a small business, and we are thrilled to do so," Johnson said.  "We don't have a specific plan to buy a new restaurant, but we are definitely open to finding something and starting something new."

Cameron said, "We hope to keep the Inn's tradition alive and provide the area with the same, but even better, food, drink and atmosphere that everybody is looking for. We look forward to the future and what it's going to bring us."

Meanwhile, the two new owners have been spending much of the past week painting as the Inn remains on their winter break.

The Inn on Shipyard Park is scheduled to open on or before Saint Patrick's Day.

Johnson said he'll be available if needed. "We both want to take a few months and enjoy the fact that we don't have to ramp back in," he said. "I can go and help them if needed, but I don't think they're going to need our help."

Watch for the Inn to stay relatively stable, with some culinary touches from the new ownership. Cameron has been the executive chef for five years. He may want to do some things that he didn't previously have the opportunity to do.

You can expect to see more shareable items, higher-end bar menu items and fun finger foods.