Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 4 18 M I D C O A S T / D OW N E A S T F O C U S O n a rainy fall day, as you enter Castine, it feels like you have walked onto the set of a Hallmark movie. Castine, a coastal town in Hancock County, is picturesque, and its residents say it has remained so for centuries. e town is steeped in history that predates the American Revolution and is considered one of the oldest towns in New England, fought over by the French, the English and the Americans. Even though I have written about Castine before, this was my first time visiting the town. As I set out on my day trip around the town, I took in the old buildings, the small downtown, people walking around and a cafe and bookstore were open — welcoming visitors into the warm space to enjoy a good read while sipping coffee and a homemade pastry. Matthew Powell and George Trinovitch, the owners of the Pentagöet Inn, were preparing for Maine Maritime Academy's homecoming weekend and finishing out their third season. However, despite locals telling Mainebiz that this was their best summer season, there has been some turnaround. Since I last spoke with the innkeepers and Castine store owners, the town has experienced significant changes, includ- ing the winter storms that brought dev- astating losses to the shore. Businesses are changing hands and new things are happening in the community. Coming off a strong summer e 128-year-old Pentagöet Inn & Wine Bar, at 26 Main St. is the coastal town's oldest summer inn. e bed and breakfast was built in 1894. It has a prominent three-story turret, gables, an adjoining 18th-century house and a wraparound porch with a view of Castine's harbor. In 2022, inn owners Powell and Trinovitch bought the Pentagöet Inn from Julie Van de Graaf and Jack Burke, who owned the business for 22 years. Since then, the inn owners and their dog, Mister, have been busy. As with the 2023 season, which brought a redesigned lobby, piano parlor, central staircase, main dining room, and restored Perkins House annex, the Pentagöet celebrated several new restoration projects and improve- ments for the 2024 season. e most significant project is completing the grand staircase restora- tion, which was made possible by the "Backing Historic Small Restaurants" grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express. e exterior corner staircase, part of the inn's original designs from 1894 by founder Lizzie Moon, was removed circa 1926 (reasons unknown), said the inn owners. But this project is only one of several improvements this 2024 season. In addi- tion, Trinovitch completed his redesign of the inn's back dining room, drawing inspiration from Victorian gardens and the traditional Castine sports of tennis, golf and sailing. e inn started offering drag events for the first time in April, hosting Bangor's Delicious Drag Divas. Powell and Trinovitch said they hesitated to bring this type of event to staid Castine, but the events have been wel- comed with open arms since they were first announced. Powell and Trinovitch said people remarked of the first event, "is is the most fun Castine has seen in decades." Across the street from the Pentagöet, Compass Rose Books owner Johanna Barrett, who acquired the downtown business in 2018, has been busy in her sixth year of busi- ness. She has expanded her book- store offerings, is trending to have her most profitable season to date, and has expanded to a second loca- tion, Compass Rose Cafe Orland, a 20-minute drive from Castine. e new location in the Community Center in Orland is a small cafe with a limited selection of books. It is around 400 square feet and has a commercial kitchen space, which allows it to pro- duce more food options. Back at the Castine store, Barrett this past summer added Ebee's Sweets, which is owned by pastry chef Erin Schmal. Barrett said she brought on the baker to help meet the town's need for a bakery. Castine at a crossroads, again F I L E P H O T O / DAV I D C L O U G H After strong summer, town sees another shift in business operations B y A l e x i s W e l l s Matt Powell and George Trinovitch bought the Pentagöet Inn in 2022 from Julie Van de Graaf and Jack Burke, who had owned it for 22 years.

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