NEWPORT -- Christie's of Newport, the city's oldest waterfront restaurant, has been sold to Campbell Soup heiress Dorrance H. Hamilton for $6.7 million.

The purchase agreement was signed yesterday afternoon, ending months of speculation about the future of the Thames Street restaurant that's been a fixture for tourists and residents for more than 60 years.

802 Partners LLC, of Delaware, a family trust established by Hamilton, is listed as the buyer in the deal, which was recorded yesterday and includes $26,616 in tax stamps.

Paul Fleming, a spokesman for the company, said the restaurant, which closed for business last week, will remain closed indefinitely. The marina, which will undergo improvements over the next few weeks, should reopen by the end of next month and offer limited food and beverage service to marina patrons.

Fleming said the Christie's building could serve yachts visiting the marina, but plans were indefinite. Whatever its new purpose, the building will reopen in 18 months to two years.  "They're currently evaluating alternatives," he said.

The nine Crowley siblings, the former owners, have been tightlipped about plans for the property since they told employees that they had a new buyer last month.

The former owners, who put the restaurant on the market in 2005 with a $12.5-million asking price, had signed a purchase agreement with New York developer Stephen Glascock, who is the husband of Hamilton's niece, in September.

That plan fell through in April, and Christie's 150 employees were assured that the restaurant would be open through the summer. Proceeding with normal summer preparations, the staff hired additional seasonal workers, made private party reservations, and scheduled more than 20 bands.

When the owners said they had a new buyer last month, the fate of the employees, the bands, the parties, and of food and liquor vendors dependent on the restaurant became uncertain. In an effort to secure their jobs, employees signed a petition pleading for the owners to stay open through the summer and circulated another petition to local businesses.

"Give the Christie's family a chance to earn a living this summer, and the community a chance to bid farewell to this treasured landmark," the employees said in a release.

Told there was nothing the Crowley's could do, employees scoured the city to find new summer jobs while patrons adjusted to the news that the restaurant many find synonymous with Newport is closing.

Christie's, which opened in 1945, closed its indoor dining area last week, but the bar remained open until Sunday. Yesterday afternoon, a handful of remaining employees filled a nearby bin with debris and placed a metal fence around the property. A sign posted to the fence read, "Christie's is closed."

Zachary Green, 18, and Christopher Napoli, 20, who worked as dock boys, swept plastic cups and other garbage into a bin behind the restaurant.  "Right now, I'm just looking for jobs," said Green, who had worked there for five years and has a line on a bar job at another restaurant.  Napoli, who is also looking for work, said he and other employees were caught off-guard by the closing.

"What are you gonna do?" he said.