Tom Mears, president and CEO of The Holland Inc., announced Monday he will sell his interest in Beaches Restaurant to longtime friend and business partner Mark Matthias.
As of Jan. 1, Matthias will take sole ownership of the Vancouver restaurant. A sale price was not disclosed.
The sale will allow Mears to focus more attention on Burgerville, The Holland’s chain of 39 restaurants across Washington and Oregon.
“The sale was really in line with the direction we’re looking to take (The Holland), and in line with what Mark wants to do with Beaches,” Mears said. “The timing was perfect.”
Mears and Matthias started working on the waterfront restaurant in 1993 and opened it in 1995, hoping to create a fun, upscale dining experience.
Matthias does not have plans to make any major changes in restaurant operations.
“I love Beaches, and I’m not sad at all going forward,” Mears said. “I’m going to be down there eating as much as I have been.
