Bringing a Taste of New England Charm to Town Center

Building on Success: Legal Sea Foods Launches Second Virginia Location, Fueling Impressive Expansion

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. - (May 15, 2023) -​​ Legal Sea Foods, the renowned New England-based seafood restaurant brand, has opened a new location in Virginia Beach, its second in the state. The expansion is part of the brand’s impressive growth strategy, and commitment to serving high-quality seafood to more guests in the region. Located in the bustling Town Center of Virginia Beach at 211 Market St, the new restaurant offers Legal Sea Foods' signature dishes, including its celebrated New England Clam Chowder, Baked Haddock, Half Pound Maine Lobster Roll, and local favorites like She-Crab Bisque – all served in a newly renovated space.

“We are thrilled to be making waves in Virginia Beach and expanding our footprint in the mid-Atlantic,” said Matt King, President and COO of Legal Sea Foods. “Virginia Beach is a community with rich coastal history and a passion for seafood, and we are eager to give them a taste of our New England-style dishes and warm hospitality.”

The new restaurant boasts an impressive 8,000 square-foot space that overlooks the main plaza at Town Center of Virginia Beach. With a total capacity of nearly 300 guests, the restaurant features modern furnishings with warm, natural wood tones, and pops of marine blues, yellow, and other colorful accents that create a comfortable and contemporary ambiance. The vibrant bar scene includes a 26-seat three-sided bar, ample high-top seating, and a lounge area that can accommodate over 50 people in total. The dining room offers various seating options, including café tables along the long-curved window wall, plush banquette seating, large round power booths, and people-watching views. Additionally, the restaurant offers a 70-seat wrap-around outdoor patio, perfect for alfresco dining while enjoying the view, or an occasional outdoor show.

"Town Center of Virginia Beach is proud to welcome the iconic Legal Sea Foods to our community. We pride ourselves on curating an unparalleled experience for our guests, and Legal Sea Foods fits perfectly within that vision,” said Lou Haddad of Armada Hoffler. “We believe that Legal Sea Foods will quickly become a staple in the Virginia Beach dining scene, and we look forward to a successful partnership."

For those looking for a private space to host parties, meetings, corporate dinners and events, the restaurant also offers a private dining room thoughtfully named "Ship's Cabin" that can accommodate up to 50 guests seated or 75 reception-style. The naming of the space is a respectful nod to Virginia Beach local Joseph Hoggard and his famed landmark restaurant in Norfolk called Ships Cabin. Hoggard and his restaurant are highly regarded as legends in hospitality, quality seafood, and fine wines by locals, and were an inspiration to the Legal Sea Foods team when naming the space. A formal naming dedication and sign unveiling will take place later this spring.

The Legal Sea Foods menu includes more Legal favorites like Lobster Bisque, Anna’s Baked Haddock, Fish & Chips and their signature Crab Cakes. The restaurant also introduces a robust Sushi & Sake program that has become very popular in the Boston market. Guests can also enjoy a curated selection of specialty cocktails, wines by the glass, ciders, seltzers and brews – including an exciting collaboration with Boston’s local Night Shift Brewing, Legally Hazy IPA.

The brand also recently debuted its Legal Net Rewards loyalty program, allowing guests to earn points with every purchase and redeem them for rewards, a long awaited perk for Legal’s most loyal fans. Local residents, shoppers, visitors and business professionals will benefit from a free cup of chowder just for joining!

"We are thrilled to welcome Legal Sea Foods to the Town Center of Virginia Beach!” said Jeanne Evans of the Central Business District Association for the City of Virginia Beach. “As a premier dining destination in the area, we are always seeking to bring in restaurants that offer exceptional culinary experiences to our visitors. Legal Sea Foods' reputation for serving the freshest seafood available and their commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with our community values. We are confident that their arrival will enhance our local dining scene and attract seafood enthusiasts from all over the region."

Legal Sea Foods Virginia Beach is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit legalseafoods.com/locations/virginia-beach or follow along on Facebook @LegalSeaFoods, Twitter @LegalSeaFoods, or Instagram @LegalSeaFoods.

About Legal Sea Foods
Seventy years ago, Legal Sea Foods opened as a fish market in Cambridge, MA and has since cast a wider net – now operating 23 restaurants along the east coast as well as its own Quality Control Center on Boston Harbor. Legal Sea Foods' iconic tagline, "If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal!" speaks to its legendary fanaticism for seafood quality and safety. The restaurants serve over 40 varieties of fresh fish and shellfish throughout the year; the menu highlights quintessential New England fare, including its famous New England Clam Chowder that has been served at nearly every Presidential Inauguration since 1981. To learn more, visit legalseafoods.com.

About PPX Hospitality Brands
PPX Hospitality Brands is a Boston-based hospitality group that includes The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, The Strega Group and Legal Sea Foods Restaurant Group. To learn more, visit ppxhospitalitybrands.com.