This is the second in a featured series of historic inns with restaurants for sale.
The interest in food and food travel has consistently grown across America mostly in the last decade. Some areas have tapped into this growth in a big way. One area is Southern Maine. Bon Appetit named Portland Maine the 2018 city of the year. The scene is not limited to the city limits but expands in an ever-widening circle. Kennebunk to Portland, 30 minutes.
The Kennebunk Inn has been an important mainstay of the community for over ninety years. Opening as ‘The Tavern’ in 1928. In those times when people travelled for food, a room came with it! The same is true today, the Kennebunk Inn has 23 guest rooms and a wonderful restaurant.
Open Table calls the Kennebunk Inn and the Inn’s restaurant, Academe, a ‘neighborhood gem’. Community participation is an important part of the success of any local business and this is certainly true of the Kennebunk Inn. Current owner/chefs have ‘worked the crowd’, meaning they participate in food festivals locally and nationally. And have received awards and recognition for their creative dishes. But their local crowd is just as pleased with the innovative and quality food as are the travelling crowd.
Just to get your mouth watering, some examples of their crowd pleasers.
A recent special:
‘Beautiful Maine Blue Fin Tuna fennel pollen crusted and seared with avocado mash, arugula, picked rhubarb, olive tapenade, buttermilk fried onion ring & chilled heirloom tomato water.’
All restaurants need a signature dish. This is theirs. Lobster Pot Pie
Some food trends are just that, trendy and short lived. This pot pie has proved to be a sticker, shipped across the US and the Pacific to Hawaii.
The Inn has 23 guest rooms which rounds out the business. 14 guest rooms and 9 suites. The rooms have been upgraded during the current owner’s tenure. The polished floors, new furnishings and fixtures in a majority of the rooms complement the historic surroundings that make this property so special. The suites are targeted for families and couples traveling together. The guest rooms for business travelers, vacationing singles and couples. The lodging part of the inn’s business is strong. There is an appeal in the fact guests can walk and experience downtown Kennebunk, take a trolley to the beaches in the warmer months and to nearby Kennebunkport. Plus take day trips to Portland, Freeport and LL Bean, the destinations are boundless. Then return to the Inn for dinner with the convenience of having your guest room steps away.
Hospitality is a business of love. The love of good food and drink, the love of providing warm and inviting public and private rooms, the love of giving. To quote one of the current owner/chefs: “The only reason what we do is love.”
That love translates to success at the Kennebunk Inn & Academe Restaurant.
If you are looking for love in all the wrong places? Maybe the Kennebunk Inn is the right place for you to look. Own a piece of history in a vibrant community that supports tourism and local businesses.
The B&B Team loves working with future innkeepers that have the vision and vitality to take an already solid successful Inn and restaurant to another level. There is always room for growth.
If you are an aspiring innkeeper who is considering a career in innkeeping with a full-service dining component take a serious look at the Kennebunk Inn & Restaurant. The B&B Team can help guide you through the process.
Thanks for Listening,
Janet Wolf
