Anthony’s Seafood Market & Restaurant, a fixture on Aquidneck Island since 1956, has been acquired by the Newport-based Heritage Restaurant Group, the companies announced Tuesday.
The deal marks the second acquisition this month for the expanding restaurant group, which announced Nov. 10 that it had acquired Glorious Affairs Catering and merged it with Audrain Hospitality.
The Aquidneck Avenue establishment, which gained national attention when Guy Fieri featured its Kung Pao Calamari and Stuffed Quahogs on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” will continue operating under the management of brothers Michael and Stephen Bucolo.
Anthony T. Bucolo founded the business as a wholesale lobster company on Newport’s Spring Wharf. It has since grown into a destination known for its dual concept, combining full-service dining with a retail seafood market where customers can take home any menu item.
“After 35 years of carrying on Dad’s legacy, we’re confident that Heritage Restaurant Group shares our values and vision,” Stephen Bucolo, who manages the restaurant, said in a statement. “They understand what makes Anthony’s special — it’s not just about the seafood, it’s about being part of this community.”
The acquisition continues Heritage Group’s push into seafood retail and wholesale operations. Anthony’s joins Newport Seafood Market, which the company launched earlier this year, along with Newport Lobster Company.
“Anthony’s Seafood Restaurant and Market represents everything we value — authentic, community-rooted dining with an unwavering dedication to quality,” said Matthew Lyons, a spokesman for Heritage Restaurant Group.
The existing staff will join Heritage Group’s network of more than 1,000 hospitality professionals. The company’s portfolio includes La Forge Casino Restaurant, The Reef, Caleb & Broad, Brick Alley Pub, The Red Parrot, Scales & Shells, Flo’s Clam Shack, Olneyville New York System and Union Station Brewery, among others.