T
he century-old Casa Basso restaurant in Westhampton has found a buyer, but it's not who you might expect. The Town of Southampton plans to purchase the waterfront property for $4 million, as reported by 27East. The town's acquisition is set to be discussed at an upcoming Town Board meeting this month.

    Casa Basso had been serving Italian food for nearly a century before closing its doors last month. The current owners, Bejto and Zyli Bracovic, listed the property in 2021 for $6.5 million after purchasing it themselves in 1986. The estate includes a unique faux castle built by sculptor Theophilus Brouwer in 1906, as well as studio apartments and a pastry business.

    The town's use of its Community Preservation Fund to finance the purchase suggests that they plan to preserve the property's historic aspects rather than maintain it as a restaurant. If the deal goes through, the town would demolish the current structure and create public access on Beaverdam Creek, dedicating the land as a park while restoring tidal marshlands at the shoreline.

    The castle, which has been an iconic landmark for over 120 years, is set to be preserved by the town. A public hearing before the Town Board is scheduled for Tuesday, where the fate of the property will be decided.