For your interest, the following is the full text of “Troy’s Take” from The Falmouth Enterprise published on 1/30/26, page 4, entitled, “Two Good Neighbors, One Great Site.”
Bill Sweeney was a local legend. He may have been small in stature, but he was a giant in our community. His smile appeared to extend beyond his cheeks, and his hearty laugh could fuel a day’s worth of good feelings.
I got to know Bill, the owner of the Wharf and Casino in Falmouth Heights, when I worked at John’s Liquor Store as a kid. Bill would pop in from time to time when I was in college and working at the liquor store during the summer and on occasional weekends. We struck up a relationship and I got to know Bill and his children during those years. I still see his daughters around town from time to time and we share a smile. Bill and his family loved the Casino/Wharf, and recognized it as the iconic locale and memory-making machine it was.
All these years later, I frequently bump into people all around the Commonwealth who have a story, a memory, and many times, an anecdote about Bill Sweeney when remembering the Casino and Wharf. Many focus on Bill’s prowess as a fisherman, and his oft-repeated practice of catching bluefish in the morning and selling them as part of “Captain Bill’s Bluefish Bonanza” that same night. Bill was indeed the captain of his domain. He knew the Heights neighbors and they knew him by name. They had a way to coexist and did so peacefully as neighbors and, more often than not, friends. They had a seasonal liquor license in those days, and each year, Bill and neighbor Rudy Cvitan would follow a ritual of discussing the noise emanating from the building at the license hearing. Bill would invite Rudy to come over for dinner and discuss things. They would work things out. Bill tried to be a good neighbor.
Years (but not too many years) after befriending Bill, I was elected to the Select Board and, upon the death of Bill and his wife, Vera, the property was sold. Still more years later, in 2000, developer F.X. Messina bought the complex on the beach in Falmouth Heights, and planned the renovation that resulted in the mixed-use property that stands today—the restaurant on the eastern side of the property, and condos lining the coastline on the rest of the beachfront locale. In order for the project to work, the developers needed permission from the town to run sewer lines under the public road in front of the building, as the septic system itself was in a secondary lot adjacent to the Heights ballfield. As the chairman of the Select Board at the time, I, along with Town Administrator Peter Boyer, negotiated with the Messina team.
I had only one unwavering request, fueled by overwhelming feedback from the community: the developers needed to maintain some sort of public access to the property. That could have come in many forms, but the end result was the building you see today. The Messina team designed a large, multi-story waterfront restaurant and eight condos. Peter and I agreed and took the proposal to the Select Board and got a positive vote to allow the utility easement. Without it, the project would have likely not moved forward.
The condos are in an amazing location, but have not been a hot commodity over the years. I’m not a real estate expert, but I’ve heard from several of them that high-value condominiums and the noise and aromas of a restaurant right next to one another—and in the same building—were never a good mix. If that’s the case, I’ll claim my mea culpa for any role I played in convincing the Messina team to build the restaurant in order to secure the easement for the wastewater apparatus. The restaurant has had a few different owners—including the Messina team themselves—with some success, but the legendary parties, Jello wrestling, and revelers lining the decks and the beach are confined to our memories.
I offer that history to be both instructive and hopefully helpful to Alex Khan, the successful owner of Shipwrecked, the restaurant across the street, who is taking over the restaurant and function space on the beach. In a full-page ad in the Enterprise and subsequent news article, Alex asked the community for input on what will come next at the restaurant and function space, which he will call the “Old Casino.” Just the name conjures up a smile and some wonderful memories.
I’ll restate for Alex what I shared with Frank Messina and his team all those years ago: public access is key. I recognize that any restaurant owner needs to have cash flow to be successful, but providing opportunities for the public to enjoy the view and natural beauty of the site can easily be blended in with the commercial use. Just the fact that the new owner is seeking the public’s input demonstrates that he cares about the history and the future of this site—and cares about the people that make Falmouth the vibrant community it is.
There is a Facebook group solely committed to Casino and Wharf memories that is a great source of stories and history. I’m certain that Falmouthites and former employees and patrons have mementoes and photos that they would gladly share to help create some sort of visual history of the Old Wharf and Casino at the now new “Old Casino.”
Alex Khan knows Falmouth, and certainly knows Falmouth Heights. He has been a phenomenal corporate citizen as the owner of Shipwrecked, supporting community organizations, being a good employer, and being a good steward of the property. He deserves our thanks for all of those things.
Most of all, though, I’d like to thank Alex for caring enough to ask the public to share their thoughts, their hopes, and their vision for the Old Casino. Somewhere out in the universe, Bill Sweeney is looking down with a smile, knowing that another good neighbor is at the helm.