The Net Result, the iconic Vineyard Haven fish market that sits across Beach Road from the harbor, has been sold, family owner Louis Larsen confirmed Thursday.

The buyer is Mike Santoro, who owns the Lookout Tavern, Fishbones and the Ocean View restaurant in Oak Bluffs.

Mr. Larsen who has owned the restaurant since it opened just over 33 years ago, declined to disclose the sale price. He said he has only sold the business, and not the property.

And he said he will continue to work in the store and that customers will not notice a difference.

“The transition is going to be seamless,” Mr. Larsen said, speaking to the Gazette by phone Thursday. “I’m staying here, he’s going to work for me for a couple years,” he said, speaking of Mr. Santoro. “Then I’ll work for him for a couple years. There will definitely be no changes this summer.”

Reached by phone, Mr. Santoro said it all happened on a whim.

“I just happened to stop in to approach Louis in December, and ask if he ever thought of selling, and next thing you know we were working out a deal,” he said. “It’s funny. I’ve lived here 26 years. The last 10 years I’ve considered buying it every day. I thought it would be right up my alley with the takeout restaurant. You have a dream.”

Mr. Larsen comes from a long line of Island fishmongers, growing up working for his father at Larsen’s Fish Market in Menemsha. He spent most of his life before The Net Result on the “catch,” rather than the “release” side of the fishing business. But his roots as a fisherman have not hampered The Net Result’s success as a business, as it has turned into one of the most popular fish markets on the Island over the past three decades.

Now Mr. Larsen wants to spend more time with his family, citing age as the primary reason for the sale.

“The reason just walked through the door,” he said on the phone. “My three-year-old grandson.”

Mr. Larsen said the sale would go through Thursday. Once the business is sold, Mr. Larsen will rent the market space to Mr. Santoro.

“He’s not going to change anything about the fish market because it works,” Mr. Larsen said. “Why change it if it works?”

Mr. Santoro said the new business represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

“I have three restaurants now, and I’ve always wanted to do takeout, and this is perfect,” he said. “The retail part of the operation also excites me. It’s different. It’s something that I’m going to learn. It’s something new.”

He acknowledged that he was buying more than a fish market, but something of an Island institution.

“The fact that it’s been established for 35 years makes it even easier for me. The Ocean View was an Island icon, and I wasn’t going to turn that upside down,” he said. “I look at this the same. Louie and Beth have had 35 years of this, and it would be crazy to change anything, to the point that they will stay on board.”

He continued: “Maybe down the road, I’m looking to do some more prepared meals to go and also establish an app that will allow people to make orders online.”

But for now, he said: “People are going to come in, and they won’t even notice. All they’ll notice is Louis smiling a little more because he can take time off.”

He concluded: “I’m very excited. People know me. They know my restaurants for quality and service, and I’m going to bring that same thing to the Net Result. And I’m very excited to be in Vineyard Haven. That’s something new for me that I look forward to as well.”