Romeo’s restaurant on Business Route 1 in Damariscotta is under new ownership and management. Angelo Papatonis and Mario Panagos finalized their purchase of the business in May.
Papatonis and Panagos are both from Rhode Island. The two owned separate restaurants for many years and have been friends and competitors for 40 years.
Ten years ago, Papatonis retired as a restauranteur and went into construction. Three years ago, Panagos gave up his Bravo Restaurant, so named for its location directly across from Emmy Award winning Trinity Square Repertory Company in Providence, and went to Greece.
Rhode Island was in a financial slump with high unemployment. The two men made choices for their families’ futures that did not include owning a business in a poor economy.
Both restaurateurs are highly regarded as both managers and chefs as evidenced by many online and print reviews of their businesses in Rhode Island. “There, the food was eclectic, with Mediterranean influence,” said Panagos.
When Panagos returned from Greece, the two friends decided they missed cooking and the high energy of the restaurant business. They began to look for a place where they could work together, searching in Rhode Island and in the Boston area.
A real estate agent convinced the two to “take a look at this place in Maine.” They drove four hours and were impressed with Romeo’s, but went back to Rhode Island thinking it was just too far to relocate everyone.
However, the two kept coming back to the idea of Romeo’s and they traveled again, this time deciding to take a chance on a new area. They closed the deal with the former owner and made the purchase in May.
They are living locally to get things going and make plans about relocating their families.
Gradual changes to the menu will reflect their specialties and recipes but things will be relatively unchanged this summer. They have started making and using their own dough recipes and minor recipe changes.
Change is planned to be slow and methodical. They are learning about purchasing locally: seafood and farm produce.
Other than one staffer who left for reasons unrelated to the change in ownership, they have been able to retain the existing staff of the shop. “Two seasonal employees went to their summer jobs, but we are expecting them back in the fall. They have been doing this for several years,” said Papatonis.
The new owners are getting familiar with local events and preparing for the summer. “We are pleased to be here,” said Panagos, “and we hope people will stop in to say ‘hello’.”