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.
Meanwhile in Belfast, new wood-fired pizza restaurant opens in Belfast
BELFAST — The name of a new Midcoast eatery sounds like what you’d say in the middle of a good story, but it’s not one you’ll forget. Meanwhile in Belfast is the name of a wood-fired pizza place and bar that opened March 19, on the back side of the Brambles building at 2 Cross St.
While the food is upscale pizza with the farm-to-table vibe, the space is warm (from the pizza oven ) and cozy with plenty of light and views of the harbor. The tiny bar area, with multi-colored stools,… Read more
Young entrepreneur opens Pizza Permare in Northport
NORTHPORT—The little building on Route 1 just past Wentworth Grocery has been a number of businesses in the last couple decades, but entrepreneur Bryant Hall is confident that his latest venture is the right fit at the right location. Pizza Permare is a wood-fired pizzeria that opened nearly two weeks ago and is already getting some swift word-of-mouth attention from the locals.
“It may not be right in the middle of things, but it’s got a lot of visibility,” said Hall, who remained… Read more
The ‘Shop Local’ gift guide: Three locally made wearables $20 and under
For the holidays, we’re continuing our series to shine the spotlight on Maine craftspeople who make products by hand. This week it’s all about locally made wearable gift ideas. Each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Karyl’s Jewelry Silver Filigree Earrings
The back story
… Read more
The ‘Shop Local’ gift guide: Three locally made food/drink gifts $20 and under
For the holidays, we’re continuing our series to shine the spotlight on Maine craftspeople who make products by hand. This week it’s all about locally crafted food or drink items. Each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Maine Beer Company ‘Lunch’
The back story
This small family business began between two… Read more
The ‘Shop Local’ gift guide: three handmade gifts $20 and under
For the holidays, we’re continuing our series to shine the spotlight on Maine craftspeople who make products by hand. It’s important to support innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive in this state. This week it’s all about green, sustainable and upcycled handmade products. Each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Goat Soaps
… Read more
New food truck, ‘Wich Please, coming to Rockland
ROCKLAND — ‘Wich Please, a sassy, comfort food sandwich truck will soon be rolling up to Rockland.
On Nov. 18, with fewer than three days to go in his crowd-funding Kickstarter campaign, local food blogger Malcolm Bedell blew through a $25,000 goal to fund his food truck project. The campaign ended on Nov. 21 with $29,457 raised, just shy of… Read more
New Midcoast food truck hits the streets this spring
ROCKPORT — What does the fox say? It says: “I’m hungry.” The Midcoast just gained a new gourmet food truck with the launch of Fox on the Run, owned by Lauren Jellison and assisted by her partner, Kevin Allen.
The bright red truck with the sprinting fox logo will be easy to find once Jellison finds the ideal spot. She’s kicking off her soft launch in May in downtown Belfast, then moving to Rockport Marine Harbor for the summer. On weekend nights, she’s working on securing a late night… Read more
Union woodworker creates guitar picks with funny little personalities
CAMDEN — At first glance, the little faces Chris Gray has carved into his handcrafted guitar picks reveal big personalities. Are they pensive? Wincing? Smiling? Hard to tell, but whatever they’re “thinking” they’ve become the signature look of his most recent entrepreneurial venture, Riff Wood Picks.
Riff Wood Picks are upcycled and handmade hardwood picks for guitar, bass guitar, ukelele and mandolin. Gray and his wife are originally from Tennessee, but moved up to Union seven years… Read more
Hideaway Diner, a warm and comfortable place with a big menu
NORTHPORT — Doris and Ed Moran didn’t know what type of business they were looking for when they decided they wanted to move from Ohio “back east to Maine,” only that they were on the hunt for a business for sale in the area and that Hideaway Diner happened to be for sale.
The pair took over the business in 2001, and said things have been going well since
In an effort to attract new customers, Doris said the restaurant has expanded its menu to include pizza and fried chicken… Read more
Out of the Woods
BELFAST — If you’re looking for a piece of beautiful wood product crafted in Maine, look no further than Out of the Woods, a retail store born from a desire to help members of the Maine Wood Products Association sell their products.
The selection in the store varies widely, from carefully crafted furniture to character ornaments fashioned from lobster claws. The store only has one set criteria for products: They must be made in Maine, according to manager Colleen Marsh.
The… Read more