Business Page: Cap’t Cass Is Back At Rock Harbor
ORLEANS – A row of brightly repainted buoys stretches across the side of the building, weathered but familiar. Above them, a bold red sign makes it official: Cap’t Cass is back at Rock Harbor.
After closing in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cap’t Cass has reopened under new ownership. The iconic seafood restaurant, originally established in 1961 by George Morton, has been renovated by local resident Michelle Lamy, who bought the property in 2020 alongside Tiago Batista, who partnered with her on the property purchase. While the building has undergone updates, the restaurant retains its original menu staples and coastal character.
Cap’t Cass takes its name from Morton, a local lobsterman nicknamed Cap’t Cass who bought the Rock Harbor shack in 1961. Alongside his wife, Betty Morton, and their three children, Morton transformed the space into a seasonal seafood spot, selling lobster traps and fresh catch right off the boat for decades. After he passed away in 2013, his family continued the business until the pandemic hit.
That’s when Lamy stepped in, purchasing Cap’t Cass and beginning the work to painstakingly renovate the 105-year-old building.
While Lamy, a longtime contractor, has experience building houses and commercial projects, Cap’t Cass was a project especially close to her heart. She spent summers in Orleans as a child, working at Cap’t Cass in the kitchen and as a waitress in the 1980s.
“I grew up here, and when I saw this building disintegrating I knew something had to be done. So, I rose up to save it,” Lamy said.
Over the course of five years, Lamy worked alongside plumbers, builders and other contractors to update Cap’t Cass without losing its roots. At each step, she said, she had to make sure the right people were on the job, “masters” who helped her take the building from a gutted shell to a blend of new and old.
“I don’t know what I would have done without the team. I’m just really grateful.” she said.
Now the restaurant is back in action, the decor featuring old photographs of its namesake, refurbished versions of the original 105-year-old stools, and an original Cap’t Cass lobster trap filled with plush lobsters. A guest book at the entrance invites visitors to share their story during their visit.
Other improvements include an open-air seating area behind the building and a newly installed art garden overlooking the marsh. Artwork includes an 11-foot lobster sculpture and a fiddler crab named Poppa.
The menu has also expanded to include new items like salmon, burgers, chicken tenders and salads, offering more choices than before. But not to worry — the iconic recipes for lobster rolls, clam chowder, and she-crab soup remain exactly the same.
“We’re keeping it salty and local,” Lamy said, “and that nostalgia is joyful.”
After an introductory picnic on July 2, the restaurant opened full-time on July 5. Located on 117 Rock Harbor Rd, it is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily according to its website.
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