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.
Last minute ‘shop local’ gift ideas
For the holidays, we’re continuing our series to shine the spotlight on Maine craftspeople who make products by hand. It’s important to shop locally and support innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive in this state. So each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Leather Coffee Cup Jacket Insulator
The back story… Read more
Woodland ornaments, a KnockOut Bixby Bar and handcrafted coffee set
For the holidays, we’re continuing our series to shine the spotlight on Maine craftspeople who make products by hand. It’s important to shop locally and support innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive in this state. So each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Woodland ornaments
The back story
Nautical chart luminaries, upcycled keyracks and cutting boards you can play checkers on
For the holidays, we’re continuing our series to shine the spotlight on Maine craftspeople who make products by hand. It’s important to shop locally and support the innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive in this state. So each week, until Dec. 25, we will bring you this series until you can’t take it anymore. Ready. Set. Go.
Chart luminaria
The back story
Terra Optima Farm Market pulls community and fresh food together in Rockland's South End
ROCKLAND — Cheryl Denz, owner of Terra Optima farm in Appleton, which she's run for more than 15 years, had bigger dreams for the farm's community outreach. She initially opened a small, independent store after her eponymous farm in Thomaston, but recently relocated to the Main Street space left vacant by Sweets and Meats in South Rockland. Last week was her soft grand opening. With The Good Tern at the most northern end of Rockland and now Terra Optima at the South End, people don't have to… Read more
This is Mama... and these are her boys
ROCKPORT — It's not that easy to see from the road on Route 90 (in the building that formerly housed L.O. Gross & Sons), but Mama's Boys has been open a month and is fast becoming an eatery people are seeking out for sandwiches and pizza.
Mama, aka Vivienne Larmor, is the matriarch of the business. "The word of mouth has been awesome; it's been a nice and steady build," she said. Her five boys range in age from 9 to 17, and they have been an integral part of the business — even… Read more
Belfast’s eatery Scallions takes take-out to a whole new level
BELFAST — The concept is astoundingly simple, yet no one in the Midcoast has ever done it before. This past winter, a little take-out place called Scallions opened up in the Reny’s Plaza mall in Belfast, but lest anyone equate the idea of “to go” with fast food, this eatery is setting itself apart with its fine dining options.
Scallions describes itself as “restaurant quality prepared food to go.” For 14 years, Diana and Charles Evans husband owned The Rhumb Line, a fine dining… Read more
Rockland's 3Crow hangout features modern American food with a Southern spin
ROCKLAND —With the recent opening in Rockland of 3Crow Restaurant and Bar, Executive Chef and Owner Josh Hixson’s latest restaurant, it appears everything has come full circle.
Hixson and his family have lived in Rockland for the last 10 years, and opened their first retail store, Sage Market, there in 2006. When that business eventually closed, Hixson opened his first restaurant, Brevetto Kitchen & Wine Bar, in Camden in 2008, transitioning that to 40 Paper Italian Bistro… Read more
Camden ushers in new pizza restaurant
CAMDEN — Seabright in Camden is the new kid on the block. At 7 Public Landing, the space occupies what was once Paolina’s Way. Brian Hill, owner of Francine Bistro, opened the new restaurant that specializes in pizza.
Though not scheduled to officially open until April 1, Hill and staff hosted a soft opening allowing friends to sample what the restaurant will be like.
“Just pizza,” said Hill. “And it’s simplified further than that."
Seabright will offer five… Read more
Latin flavors sizzle with Camden’s latest restaurant, Comida
CAMDEN - For many people, owning one’s own restaurant is the American Dream. Night after night of working in someone else’s kitchen, chefs can’t help dream of what it would be like to run their own kitchen, come up with their own menu, and introduce regional flavors to a new community.
Tom Sigler’s time has finally come. He is the chef-owner, along with his wife, Lisa Laurita-Spanglet, of the new Latin-inspired restaurant Comida on 31 Elm Street in Camden next to Zoot Coffee. They’ve… Read more
Handcrafted local gifts in honor of children everywhere
Folks, it's the last week to shop local and in honor of the innocence of children everywhere, this last series is dedicated to crafters who make special things for kids by hand. All of these items can be found through the unique Maine (and green) resource, The SunriseGuide. It’s important to shop local and to support the innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive. Happy holidays to all!