Brendan Parsons is one step closer to opening his raw bar and retail shop at 68 Main St. in Newcastle after the Newcastle Planning Board approved his application during its meeting Thursday, May 18.
Parsons, a Nobleboro native, opened Damariscotta River Distribution, a retail oyster distribution center, in the building in March. He returned to the planning board May 18 to obtain approval for the next phase of the project, a raw bar featuring oysters from several farmers in the area.
In the raw bar, named The Shuck Station, staff will provide information on each oyster and its grower, including how each oyster is raised and what makes it unique. During a previous meeting with the planning board, Parsons said he plans to have a “taste the river” option, where customers will receive a map of the region and sample oysters from Great Salt Bay to South Bristol.
The Shuck Station will have both indoor and outdoor seating.
The menu will feature raw oysters, baked oysters, lobster rolls, and a local charcuterie and cheese board, as well as beer, wine, and soft drinks, according to Parsons’ application.
Parson plans to have lobsters and other seafood available at The Shuck Station in the future, according to the application.
A seasonal outdoor cooking area for steaming lobster and other seafood will be behind the building. Project Earth, a Newcastle-based food-scrap collection business, will pick up all compost generated by The Shuck Station, according to the application.
Parsons plans to open The Shuck Station by mid-June, according to the application. The Shuck Station will be open seven days a week, with food being served from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bar will be open until 1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday in the summer.
During the May 18 meeting, the board discussed Parsons’ plans to have live music at the restaurant. Parsons said in his application that outdoor music would not go past 9 p.m. and would not exceed the decibel limit in the applicable town ordinance.
As part of its approval, the board allowed for music to continue until 30 minutes after sunset, according to the approved application signed by planning board Chair Bonnie Stone.
In addition, the board stipulated that one of the required parking spaces be used for “motorcycles, tricycles, and bicycles,” according to the approved application.
The board unanimously approved the application.
