The sale of the Islander Motel and Restaurant at the corner of Westhaven Drive and Neddie Rose Drive in the Westport Marina District was completed in mid-September. New owner, Nevada resident, Hu Wang, intends to hire a professional chef/manager, who will hire and train staff, as well as design a new menu that focuses on fresh local seafood in preparation for reopening later this winter.
Wang plans to install a new roof on the restaurant in the spring. Long range plans at this time include razing the current motel in the next two to four years, replacing it with a modern hotel.
Westport residents, Jarl and Brook Priest, leased the property for the past several years, operating the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill restaurant and the motel. Their lease is set to expire Nov. 30.
The Priests decided to close the business Oct. 14 in order to concentrate their time on the two businesses they own and operate, the new Aloha Alabama restaurant at the corner of Westhaven Drive and E. Dock Street in the Marina District, and Vacations by the Sea, a short-term lodging rental management firm they have owned and operated, also for the past several years.
See Page 4 to learn about the Islander’s history.
