Tom Holmes stood by the door greeting customers at 1776 on New Year’s Eve. Many of those customers have become longtime friends.

The iconic steakhouse, where 27 previous new years had been celebrated, was filling up fast. It was Holmes’ final night as proprietor of the place he had owned since 2007.

Holmes recently sold the restaurant to Regan Derrickson, owner of Nalu and Summer House. The deal closed Jan. 2.

Sad was the first word Holmes used when describing his feelings.

“A piece of me is leaving the restaurant,” he said. “The customers here have become family. I look through the Cape Gazette twice a week at the obituaries to see if there’s a funeral I need to attend that week.”

Holmes spent the night making the rounds from table to table, saying farewell to the people who have eaten countless Delmonicos, ribeyes and filet mignon trios.

“We’ve come here since the very first time we were dating,” said Cathy St. Clair.

Sharon Collins owes her life to Holmes’ staff. She needed the Heimlich maneuver during a choking incident last year.

“The waiter wasn’t even our waiter, but he saw I was in distress and came over. It was scary,” Collins said.

While it might have been farewell to Holmes, it is not goodbye to 1776 – far from it.

“I didn’t buy 1776 to change it,” Derrickson said. “I want to take it into the future, one of the old-school places we’re trying to keep relevant for decades to come. I’d rather buy something that’s riding on a high than start something new.”

But Derrickson does plan to put his touches on the menu.

“We’ve identified about 12 items that customers gravitated to over the years. We’re going to keep all the greatest hits – the filet trio, black ravioli and creme brulee, to name a few – everything people love. But we’re adding some new items. We’ll still have a great steak selection with more Wagu and dry-aged choices,” Derrickson said.

Derrickson will be the managing partner. He has brought in Lion Gardner, former executive chef and co-owner of Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach, as a strategic partner.  Gardner also helped launch Drift and Bodhi in Rehoboth Beach.

“He will bring his experience to the kitchen and the front of house. It is great to have another local involved,” Derrickson said.

The restaurant is now closed for renovations. Derrickson said he plans to reopen in late February. Derrickson said the interior is getting a much-needed update.

“I don’t believe, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ A restaurant as busy as 1776 takes a beating and needs attention. We’re going to freshen it up,” he said.

Holmes said he planned to take the famous fighter pilot helmet that was encased behind the hostess stand. The customers the Cape Gazette talked to on Holmes’ last night said they are looking forward to trying the “new” restaurant.

Holmes said he plans to be there on the big night.

“I came here from South Jersey 23 years ago, with no money and no job,” he said. “Now, I’m going back to New Jersey probably with no job, but we’ll figure that out. I want the new owners to succeed, and on opening night, I hope to be here to cheer them on.”

All 1776 gift cards will be honored, according to the restaurant’s website.