For 28 years Chips’ Pub III in downtown Clinton has been a landmark along the shoreline. Now, owner Steven Sinni has decided to retire and sell the restaurant. But fear not: the new owners are not expected to change much about the local favorite.

Whether you were looking for a casual dinner with friends, a place to watch the games on Sunday, a cold beer on a Friday night, or a kitchen open later than 9 p.m. after a marathon zoning meeting at Town Hall, Chips’ Pub III located at 24 West Main Street has been the go-to destination and a Clinton staple for close to 30 years.

On Oct. 25, owner Steven Sinni told the Harbor News that a major change was coming: he would be selling the restaurant and retiring.

“I’m going to be turning 67 soon and I’ve been in the restaurant business for 45 years. It’s time,” Sinni said.

While Sinni will be leaving, Clinton residents don’t need to worry about losing their favorite watering hole. Sinni said that he approached Jeff Mastroianni, owner of Chow in Clinton and Bacari Social in nearby Westbrook, about buying the restaurant.

Mastroianni said locals shouldn’t fret when they hear the news of the sale. Mastroianni said that he and his brother Gary Mastroianni would not be changing much about Chips’.

“Chips’ is going to remain Chips’. No changes are going to come to the name or the atmosphere,” said Mastroianni.

While no final date for the sale is finalized at press time, Mastroianni said the deal should be finalized by Halloween if not in the days soon after.

“We have no intention of changing such a brand. Also, Chow is still going to be Chow and Bacari is still going to be Bacari,” Mastroianni said of his other restaurants.

“Our thoughts are we may brighten it up a bit, and down the road we might change some menu items but we’ll talk to the staff about what is popular on the menu and what could be changed since they know best,” said Mastroianni.

Sinni said that he approached Mastroianni since they had known each other for several years.

“We’ve known each other since our kids were little. We had a conversation about nine months ago, and I really feel like he could take it to the next level. It’s in good hands,” said Sinni.

“Chips’ is an institution, and it’s an honor to buy it,” Mastroianni said.

Chips’ came to Clinton in 1994 when Sinni, who along with business partner Bruce Chips ran Chips’ Pub II in Guilford, had an idea. “I said to Bruce ‘You know, Clinton could really use a Chips’.’” Soon after that conversation, a previous restaurant at 24 West Main Street went out of business and Chips’ Pub III opened on April Fool’s Day 1994.

“I’m serving the children of customers we’ve had at this point! ,” Sinni joked.

Chips’ retired in 2013 and Sinni took over sole ownership then. Reflecting on his years of ownership Sinni said “The place can basically run on auto pilot and I have my staff and of course the loyal customers of 28 years to thank. I can’t say how grateful I am to the staff for getting us through COVID, too.”

Asked what he plans to do in retirement once the sale goes through Sinni said he has no plans other than to just “decompress and relax” at this point.