Popular waterfront restaurant in Tacoma has new owners; sister spot’s future unclear
Editor’s Note 1/7/2022: Sister restaurant Boathouse 19 is headed to another prominent Puget Sound restaurant group, The News Tribune reported in January 2022.
The Lobster Shop, one of Tacoma’s most popular waterfront destinations, has new owners, the restaurant announced Thursday.
Owners Dennis and Katie Driscoll are retiring, according to a press release, and have agreed to sell the business to Seattle’s E3 Restaurant Group. It is unclear what the couple’s retirement means for their sister restaurant, Boathouse 19 at the Narrows Marina.
E3 CEO Jim Rowe confirmed to The News Tribune that it is not part of the purchase agreement.
E3 operates four concepts to the north, including The Metropolitan Grill, Elliott’s Oyster House and Wing Dome. The group has history in Tacoma: It owned Steamer’s Seafood Cafe for several years before it closed in March when the landlord declined to renew the lease, according to the company.
“We like the Tacoma market and would definitely consider expanding there if the right opportunity presented itself,” Rowe told The News Tribune at the time.
“The Driscolls’ and E3’s values, business acumen and philosophy are extremely well aligned, which should make for a smooth transition for the Lobster Shop team and guests alike as our plan is to continue operating without disruption to service or operating hours,” he said in a release about the Lobster Shop sale.
The new entity will take over as of Dec. 13. Existing staff will be “given every opportunity to remain with the restaurant,” he said.
In an email Friday morning, Rowe added that all employees will receive an offer of employment with E3 “without any interruption of employment.” Tenured staff will also be granted full service credit for their years served under previous ownership, he said.
Dennis Driscoll, who goes by Denny, opened the first Lobster Shop in 1977, in Dash Point; it closed in 2015. He and his wife added the Commencement Bay location in 1981, followed by the since-shuttered Tanglewood Grill in Gig Harbor — now home to Dunagan Brewing’s Irish brewpub — and Boathouse 19.
In 2018, The Lobster Shop at 4015 Ruston Way was named one of the 100 most scenic restaurants in America by OpenTable, the restaurant reservation platform.
The Driscolls said in the release they appreciated E3’s history of serving local seafood and “great hospitality” at Steamer’s.
“Passing the baton to Jim [Rowe] and his team brings us deep peace of mind as we end our time at the helm,” they said.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 1:59 PM.