Sound View's new owner shares vision, aims to 'embrace and enhance' irreplaceable property

North Fork, NY- When Rachel Levin Murphy and Ellen Levin Wiederlight announced the sale this week of the Sound View Restaurant and Sound View Inn this week, scores of residents and visitors bid farewell to a family that’s been a beloved member of the North Fork canvas for generations.

The family announced that, after decades of same-family ownership, the resort property has been sold to Eagle Point Hotel Partners LLC, with Filament Hospitality Group overseeing daily operations.

Today, Erik Warner, principal, along with Stephan Chan, in Eagle Point Hotel Partners, LLC, shared his vision for the future of the restaurant and inn, and said he plans to stay true to the very values that have made the Sound View a stand-out destination for decades.

“For at least 2016, we are going to operate it as it is, with upgrades in areas such as bedding, pool, furniture, etc., “ he said.

While at some point plans are in place to revamp the property, with a goal of remaining close to the original place that has meant so much to so many, Warner said first, “We need to better understand the community and how the Sound View fits into the community. The experience we have over the next year will help us to understand what direction we should go with the property.”

The macro plan, he said, is to “embrace and enhance what we purchased,” not doing too much “to take it too far from what it is today. Our management company, Filament Hospitality, is brilliant at creating wonderful hospitality experiences.”

No major changes to the decor or menu will take place, at least not at this time, he said.

When asked what about the Sound View sparked the company’s interest, Warner said, “We are constantly looking for irreplaceable assets, and the Sound View is just that. Rachel, Ellen and their family created something special here over three generations.”

Also beyond compare, he said, is the location, which epitomizes the wonder of the North Fork’s natural beauty.

The property, he said, is “irreplaceable, in that 1,200 linear waterfront feet on the Sound is something special, this close to New York City. I have been to the property in the depths of the winter when the Sound is frozen and in the middle of the summer, with record heat and everything in between. Every time, I have been mesmerized by its beauty. Note, this does include daily sunsets, which is the icing on the cake. The Sound View will tell us what its future is.”

Warner said the North Fork was a natural choice. “We are attracted to the people and the culture of the North Fork. There is nothing like the North Fork anywhere and the experience we ultimately create will embrace what we love. There are not too many places within two hours of New York City for travelers to lodge and feel as though they are in another part of the world. Sound View is close to everything, but at the same time, away from everything. In our world today, where it feels like we are busier than any other previous generations, being able to escape from a busy environment and be transported to what feels like a place that is far removed from said busy-ness, is what attracted us to Sound View.”

The North Fork, he added, embraces lasting qualities. “From the farmers to the fishermen to the lavender fields and historic Greenport, the lifestyle of this place is meaningful and lasting. Nowadays, travelers want meaningful experiences they can bond with. There is no place in the world like the North Fork.”

Eagle Point Hotel Partners, LLC has an array of boutique properties in stunning locales including Hawaii, Napa Valley, Boulder Creek, Colorado, New Orleans, and New York City, and Warner said the goal is to bring welcome the North Fork into the experience for guests.

“All that we try to do at Eagle Point and our sister company Filament Hospitality is create memorable experiences for our guests as part of the communities we work in. We know that the locations we work in are the backdrop to the on-property experience, and therefore, contributing to and being part of the local community is very important to us. The more compelling the backdrop, the easier it is for us to do our job for our guests and the community.”

Opening day will be as soon as possible, Warner said. He added that the search is currently on for a general manager and director of sales and marketing. All inquiries should be directed to www.filamenthospitality.com. “Our interim team is in place,” he said.

Warner said he is unable to disclose a price for the sale.

Down the line additional amenities such as entertainment will be explored, but there are no plans to do so at this time.

Warner has a message for those who have loved the Sound View for generations, and for new guests: “We are going to attempt to enhance and embrace what exists with the hope that we will continue to appeal to those coming for generations, as well as those who are about to discover us,” he said.

In their good-bye message Levin Murphy and Levin Wiederlight offered a heartfelt adieu and reminisced about the history of the Sound View.

“It is with mixed feelings that we announce the sale of the Sound View Restaurant and Sound View Inn, our beautiful resort property overlooking Long Island Sound in Greenport, New York.”

The property was in the family since 1953, when their parents, Jack and Donna Levin, built the Sound Shore Motel and then purchased the Soundview restaurant in 1968.

“Over the years, our parents added to the 12-unit motel, which grew into 45 units and a 10 unit Pebble Beach apartment complex . They also added a piano-bar lounge to the restaurant, and finally, a banquet room for 150 people, which has played host to thousands of events here on the East End of Long Island,” they wrote.

“Understandably, it is with some sadness as well as pleasure that we make this announcement. My sisters Ellen and Jody ,our brother, Andrew, who died in 1998, and I grew up in the family business, and each of us joined in the operation of the Sound View right after college. Throughout all those years, we have operated the enterprise just as our father taught us: give good value, charge a fair price, and reach out to your community neighbors when they need a helping hand. Our family business was always just that — a family business — inspired by our father, nurtured by our mother, and operated by a loyal staff that is as much a part of our family as our own blood line. Speaking personally, we feel blessed to have been born into a job that we have loved for our entire adult life. It has been our life, and our job. We wish our friends and new owners of the Soundview the utmost success and believe the Soundview is in good hands and will benefit the North Fork. The new owners plan to open with business as usual in March.

“Circumstances change, family needs change, and we have found it necessary to make this change at this time. It is our hope and expectation that the Sound View will continue to grow and to serve our local residents and visitors to the North Fork communities. Thank you all for you support over the years.”