Mason’s Restaurant on Harrison Street in Easton changed ownership last week, according to an article in The Talbot Spy.
For 48 years, the Mason family has owned a restaurant, catering business and retail chocolate counter at 22 South Harrison Street. I rarely dined at Mason’s without seeing and exchanging brief conversation with Matt Mason, who operated the business for about 25 years with his mother, Mary.
Matt was always there, barely masking an intense desire to run a tough business. He epitomized the proto-typical restaurant owner whose life seems to revolve around a public eatery.
Nearly 15 years ago, Mason’s changed from a small, cozy lunch area, where you could enjoy a delicious sandwich, talk with your table companion—and still hear what someone in a closely adjacent table was saying. This family-run restaurant then became an upscale operation that set the tone for several other eateries that have claimed part of the culinary market in Easton.
I always thought that the wait staff at Mason’s was top-notch. Turnover seemed minimal.
I often referred friends from out of town to Mason’s, feeling confident they would have a satisfying experience. And, invariably, they did. As competition grew, my referrals became more complicated.
The new owner, Bob Pascal, said in a Star Democrat article that thousands of people have celebrated significant events at Mason’s. And Liz and I are among them; the rehearsal dinner for our youngest daughter Bess and her husband-to-be Eric took place in Mason’s outside area in July 2008. It was a wonderful occasion, thanks to the quality of the food and service.
Many of us will miss Matt and his purposeful direction of a restaurant widely known and liked both in and out of Talbot County. He worked hard and long.
Mason’s survived through two generations. Family businesses are tough to sustain as I have learned. Matt took a risk nearly 15 years ago when he expanded his family restaurant and changed its business model. His customers benefitted. And so did other restaurant entrepreneurs, who saw that Easton could and did support high-quality culinary experiences.
Like Matt Mason, the new owner, Bob Pascal, too believes in running first-class operations. Mason’s will remain a mainstay in Easton. That benefits its longtime and new customers.
We will miss seeing you, Matt.
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