Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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88 SHEREE GRANT On a warm day in August, I made my way through the bustling, tourist- laden streets of Gloucester to the Beauport Hotel. I was going to meet entrepreneur and owner Sheree Grant, a hard-working veteran of the hospitality world, who has dedicated her career to excellence in her chosen field. Soft-spoken and petite, Grant is as warm and welcoming as her luxury hotel and its attentive staff. A friendly hostess ushers us to a leather booth at the 1606 Restaurant and Oyster Bar, an upscale yet relaxed dining room overlooking the water. With nautical flags, model schooners, and varnished walls reminiscent of the interior of a wooden yacht, there is no mistaking you are by the sea. After ordering (Sheree recommends the tuna niçoise), we settle in to talk about success, leadership, community, and family. WHO WAS YOUR MENTOR? "When I was a young girl, my grandfather, Dan Grant, and my father—of the same name—worked at the old Ritz Carlton on Newbury Street," she explains. Sheree's grandfather was a bellman, and her father was the head bartender. "That was the late '60s and early '70s, and I would go and spend hours at the hotel following my father around, learning all I could about the hotel—from greeting guests to cleaning rooms to food service. I would watch it all," says Sheree, "and it's how I learned the business. I watched him interact with the staff and with guests—he always did so with respect and kindness. He was my mentor." SHEREE'S CORE VALUES: These values of respect and kindness spilled over into Sheree's own life and career. She received a degree in business from Merrimack College and her culinary arts degree from Newbury College. Sheree worked for the Marriott Corporation from 1978 to 1998 and represented Marriott in many countries. She became known as the turnaround specialist for properties needing additional support. A SNAPSHOT OF SHEREE'S SUCCESS: In 2005, Sheree struck out on her own. She purchased the Gloucester Maritime Terminal, one of only three private homeland security ports in the country. She then opened Cruiseport, a dreamy events hall with panoramic views of Gloucester Harbor. Next came Seaport Grille, a lively open-air eatery on the water with award-winning fried clams and friendly service. Beauport Princess (now Beauport Cruiselines)—a floating events venue on the sea—was soon added to Sheree's repertoire. And she also opened Rail Stop in 2017 in Allston, a restaurant celebrating the rail system in the 1920s and '30s. However, her largest project to date is the four-story, 115,000-square-foot Beauport Hotel, completed in the summer of 2016. The hotel was built on the site of a long-defunct fish processing plant famous as the place where Clarence Birdseye pioneered frozen foods. SHEREE'S FAVORITE SPOT AT BEAUPORT HOTEL: Overlooking Pavilion Beach, Gloucester Harbor, and 10-Pound Light in the distance, the 94-room luxury hotel has transformed Gloucester's waterfront in many ways, creating more than 400 jobs for the city as well as bringing world-class accommodations to this tourist destination and hard-working fishing port. "My favorite spot in the hotel is the Clarence Birdseye Rooftop Bar—the views are just spectacular," she says. "I love to end my day with a glass of wine or a cocktail and take in the Atlantic." When asked about her favorite aspect of owning these hospitality and event venues, she says it's the people. Whether it is a guest at the Beauport or a server at the Seaport Grille. She approaches everyone with kindness and respect and instills these values in her staff. Sheree attributes much of her success to her entire leadership team, which includes some of her long-time staff, Lauren Johnston, Ray Johnston, and Jeanne Hennessy, who share Sheree's passion and drive for excellence. Sheree is active in several civic and charitable groups and is generous—with both her time and resources—to the Cape Ann community. Sheree continues to serve and has served on several boards including Addison Gilbert Hospital, North Shore Chamber of Commerce, and most recently Bishop Fenwick High School. Her generosity is vast and far-reaching; she gives to many local nonprofit groups, such as the Open-Door Pantry and Pathways for Children. She speaks across the country on the topic of leadership and empowering women in business. Sheree was a founding board member of GMGI (Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute), an addition to Gloucester's harbor of ocean-centered enterprises. The new institute works in collaboration with fishermen, scientists, and environmental agencies to create a world-class facility dedicated to marine sciences. Sheree's true passion is her family. She lost her son, Jeffrey G. DeLorenzo, tragically in a car accident but says she still learns from him every day. She is close to her daughter, Judy, and Jeffrey's twin, Alan. The family just welcomed Sheree's first grandchild. With so many accomplishments in her career, Sheree is still looking for opportunities to improve her business portfolio as well as the Cape Ann community she calls home. A true Wonder Woman among us. PHOTOGRAPH BY SHAWN HENRY