By Abigail W. Adams
Aunt Gin’s, the long-awaited restaurant in Whitefield, opened its doors for business on Aug. 10. Staff took a break from prepping the restaurant for dinner to pose for a picture Friday, Aug. 14. Pictured from left to right are John Dumas, Samantha Peaslee, Steve Dumas, Krystal Albert, Ashton Scott, Alex Dumas, and Austin Gardner. (Abigail Adams photo) |
The long-awaited restaurant in the location of the vacant ice cream stand on Route 17 in Whitefield has opened its doors. Aunt Gin’s officially opened for business Aug. 10, owner Steve Dumas said.
The restaurant’s first week was not without bumps, which included losing power right in the middle of dinner service, Dumas said. However, the enthusiasm of customers for the reasonably priced, homemade comfort food on Aunt Gin’s menu, combined with the professionalism and dedication of the restaurant’s staff, has enabled the restaurant to weather the growing pains, Dumas said.
“I cannot stress enough how great the staff is,” Dumas said. “I could not do this without them.”
In April, landowner Stephen Smith informed the Whitefield Planning Board of his intention to convert the addition to the ice cream stand on Route 17, originally intended for use as storage and office space, to a restaurant.
Dumas, of Steve Dumas Catering, expressed interest in the property as a potential location to expand his already successful catering business to include a restaurant.
Dumas had initially hoped to open the proposed restaurant, Aunt Gin’s, by the end of May. However, there were several delays in the project, despite support from local and state government, Dumas said.
“We didn’t run into a single piece of red tape,” Dumas said. “The town government, the health inspector, the fire marshal’s office, the code enforcement officer were all extremely helpful.”
There were several unforeseen complications, however, including the purchase of kitchen equipment through a direct sale that was worthless, Dumas said. “It seemed like everything that could go wrong, did go wrong,” he said.
According to Aunt Gin’s customers, however, the restaurant is doing something right. During its first week in business, when the restaurant lost power because a Central Maine Power Co. transformer overloaded, the customers stayed, lit candles, and had a great time, Dumas said.
Cars passing by the restaurant honk their horns and people wave and give staff a thumbs-up, Dumas said. The restaurant’s chicken and ribs, slow-smoked in a handmade smoke pit built by John Dumas, are a favorite with customers, Steve Dumas said.
John Dumas’ coleslaw recipe, known on the menu as Cousin John’s coleslaw, is also highly praised.
The food and drink served at Aunt Gin’s are predominantly from local vendors, Dumas said. Produce from Sheepscot General Farm and Store, in addition to meat, fish, and produce bought from other area farms, are the primary ingredients in the recipes on the menu. Beer from Sheepscot Valley Brewing Co. is on tap and locally roasted coffee is on the burner, Dumas said.
“We don’t do canned, frozen, or microwave food,” Dumas said. “We’re trying to keep it as local and organic as possible.” Approximately 34 staff have been hired from the local area to work at the restaurant, Dumas said.
Despite the complications experienced in the restaurant’s first week in business, Aunt Gin’s is already interested in expanding. The restaurant hopes to soon be able to add additional hours to serve breakfast Saturday and Sunday, Dumas said.
By next summer, Aunt Gin’s hopes to resurrect the ice cream stand as an addition to the restaurant and host a farmers market on the property, Dumas said.
Aunt Gin’s, located at 48 Augusta Rd. (Route 17) in Whitefield, is open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call Aunt Gin’s at 549-4600.
