The Lannan Ship Model Gallery Is Moving

Photo provided by the Lannan Gallery

The Lannan Model Ship Gallery is charting a new course—one that’s sailing to the South Shore.

The nautical shop filled with ship’s wheels, models, and maritime artifacts is leaving its location at 99 High Street for a charming yellow Colonial in Norwell. It’s peddled portholes near Atlantic Avenue for 23 years, but the gallery’s building owner opted not to renew the shop’s lease. Instead, a steakhouse by WAAF’s Greg Hill will take its place.

While the move is involuntary, gallery owner Larry Lannan is ready for a new voyage.

“Frankly, the rates down here on the waterfront just got so crazy. This would have gotten out of hand,” he says, wishing the new restaurant concept well.

Lannan has been working with maritime antiques since his father, Joseph Lannan Sr., opened the original Lannan Gallery in the basement of their Quincy home in 1967. Eventually, when Larry took over the store, the Lannan Gallery set up shop near the waterfront in 1992. For 10 years it existed at 540 Atlantic Avenue, now the spot of Jody Adams’ Mediterranean restaurant Trade. It then moved to 99 High Street, where its shining shop window has attracted curious passersby for 13 years.

“Right now, we’re kind of Boston’s maritime museum, even though we’re leaving,” says Lannan. “There was really nothing where you could see everything maritime, whether it be maritime instruments, fine ship models, maritime paintings, artifacts ships, lanterns—we have hundreds of them.”

The nautical store will live on in Lannan’s new home at 483 Washington Street in Norwell. A separate entrance for the business will open to 4,000 square feet of gallery space. For Bostonians who don’t frequent the Southeast Expressway, the Lannan Gallery will continue to operate its Market Stall at the Boston Design Center.

Lannan is eyeing a few different spots on the South Shore to hold auctions. The gallery’s last auction at its High Street location will be held on December 3, where Lannan expects to empty the entire gallery.

The new Lannan Gallery has a soft opening planned for February 1, 2017 at 483 Washington Street, Norwell, lannangallery.com.

The new gallery at 482 Washington Street in Norwell. / Photo provided by the Lannan Gallery