King Eider’s Pub owners Todd Maurer and Jed Weiss are giving their regular customers a chance to purchase their way into a slice of local history – sort of.
The two brothers-in-law have reached a milestone – sort of – in their “Mug Club.”
They are now auctioning off mug No. 500 to the highest bidder.
“It is sort of a unique promotion. We thought people would want to have mug 500 because, well, because it is No. 500,” said Weiss.
The owners predict the price for No. 500 could go as high as $1000. The winning bid will be sent to the winner’s favorite charity.
“This pub is part of the community and we like to give back to the community,” said Maurer.
For the record, the pub, located in the middle of downtown Damariscotta, has 499 mugs hanging from the ceiling.
They are owned by regulars who pay $75 for the handmade mug thrown by potter Malley Weber of Hallowell.
After buying the mug, the club members then pay Maurer and Weiss to fill their mug with beer or ale. Of course, the two owners add, the mugs are 20 oz. imperial pints, rather than the usual 16 oz. pints in other watering holes.
Club members do receive some benefits, like their draft beers and ales are purchased at a discount on Monday, which is Mug Night. On the other nights, the first beer is poured at the regular price, the second, and subsequent beers get a 50-cent discount.
In the event the pub is closed on Monday night, the specials are shifted to Wednesday, said Maurer; however, that rarely happens unless there is a snow emergency.
Mug Club members also get to attend special promotion events, too. Like special dinners with special food and music, like Oom Paa Paa bands on German night and accordion players on Italian night.
Okay – for the No. 500 auction mug promotion deal, the winner gets several promotional gifts, including tickets to a Boston Celtics game next year, pairs of lift tickets to Sugarloaf and Saddleback, two overnight stays at Sugarloaf, a Long Trail snow board (less bindings) and a picnic basket from Stella Artois Beer.
The auction will begin on Wed., Feb. 17, known in the pub as St. Practice Day (a warm up for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17).
Prospective customers can offer their bids in person, over the phone, 563-6008, via email at Todd@kingeiderspub.com or on Facebook.
