Midcoast Entrepreneurs: Bright Ideas, Creativity and Enterprise
From restaurateurs to artists, and everything in between, the Midcoast is beaming with creatives and innovators in all mediums.
Since the inception of PenBayPilot.com, a collective goal of our writers has been to spotlight entrepreneurs and their creativity. Now, we have established a hub for our stories about the Midcoast’s entrepreneurs to permanently reside.
We encourage our readers to support as many local business owners as possible across as many industries as you can. Our neighbors need our support, so please browse through this hub for potential purchases or places to eat.
Bull On The Run Tours set to capitalize on all-inclusive brewery, distillery and winery tours
WARREN—With the monster success of Maine Brew Bus tours in Portland and Boston, it was only a matter of time that all-inclusive minivan tours to Midcoast breweries, distilleries and wineries would materialize.
Larry and Rose Bull, of Warren, have envisioned a new service for locals and tourists to capitalize on the Maine Wine, Beer and Spirit Trails by doing all of the driving.
Bull On The Run Tours, a play on their last name, is set to start operating in May 12, Mother’s… Read more
Ollie’s, mobile food truck to open in Waldoboro April 22
WALDOBORO—A new mobile food truck is set to open in Waldoboro this spring. Opposite Moody’s Diner at the corner of Rt. 1 and Washington Road, Ollie’s, a bright red mobile kitchen, is set to open April 22.
Owners Vickey and Ralph Jones, who formerly owned Ollie’s Place, a small grocery store and restaurant in Jefferson, had to put the business on hold in 2015 to care for Ralph’s ailing mother. After taking a couple of years after that to travel, the couple decided to move to Waldoboro… Read more
Two friends open a pizza restaurant a stone’s throw from Lincolnville, Belfast
NORTHPORT— Friends and former coworkers Stacy Schlensker and Nicole Pearse were catching up on each other’s lives over a drink last fall when they realized they both had the same dream: to open a food truck or a small restaurant in the Midcoast that provided fresh, affordable food to an under-served community. Their dream turned into the opening of The Stone Brick Oven Kitchen on Route 1 in Northport, just past Wentworth’s Grocery, on March 1.
“Before I got married at Point Lookout… Read more
Sterlingtown Public House to bring craft beer, upscale comfort food, brunch to Union
UNION — A new chapter has emerged for a beloved Union eatery. Owners Jillian Lary and Brian Fickett, both 24, said that they are aiming to open the doors to Sterlingtown Public House in late April.
The Public House will occupy the location that formerly housed the Badger Cafe, an established and popular community eatery known for creative comfort food, a stellar beer selection and assorted trivia nights and events.
Badger Cafe owners Christy and Michael Greer said they… Read more
From gridiron to guitars: Former football coach Thad Chilton prospers as luthier
CAMDEN — Many in the Midcoast recognize Camden resident Thad Chilton as a Five Town Football youth football program cofounder and as the former varsity head football coach at Camden Hills Regional High School.
While Chilton, indeed, devoted countless hours to youth football in the area, he is not simply just a football coach.
Chilton is the proud owner of Camden Harbor Custom Guitars, his Camden-based business where he uses his skills as a luthier to hand-craft guitars. … Read more
Shop Local Spotlight: Pure Maine Birch Syrup
For the month of December, we continue our “Shop Local” series to shine the spotlight on craftspeople who make things by hand.
Temple Tappers
Mike Romanyshyn and his wife, Susie Dennison, owners of Temple Tappers, small batch pure Maine birch syrup made from birch trees.
The back story:
In 2012, Romanyshyn and Dennison, and their sons, Auley,14, and… Read more
Shop Local Spotlight: Upcycled handmade hats from old sweaters
For the month of December, we continue our “Shop Local” series to shine the spotlight on local craftspeople who make things by hand. So each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Mary Alice Bird’s Hat Designs
Upcycled handmade hats from old sweaters
The Back Story:
It… Read more
Shop Local Spotlight: Gourmet Maine Lobster Crackers
For the month of December, we continue our “Shop Local” series to shine the spotlight on local craftspeople who make things by hand. It’s important to shop local and to support the innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive in the Midcoast. So each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Gourmet Maine Lobster Crackers
Real Maine… Read more
Shop Local Spotlight: Robot sculptures made from vintage finds
For the month of December, we continue our “Shop Local” series to shine the spotlight on local craftspeople who make things by hand. So each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Recycle Me Silly Design
Robot sculptures made with found objects and vintage tins by Bill Tozier in Augusta.
The back story… Read more
Liberator Brewing Co, Rockland South End’s new nanobrewery opens its doors
ROCKLAND — In a long-awaited moment for brewer Rich Ruggerio, the doors of his WW II aviation-themed nanobrewery, Liberator Brewing Co., officially opened to the public Wednesday, Oct. 31.
“Back in the ‘90s, I had a brewery called Rocky Bay and over the years, I put in breweries for other people, but I just felt it was time to do something on my own,” he said. “It just felt awesome to finally open the doors.”
With a two-barrel system, Liberator opened with four beers on the… Read more