Sam and Betsy Graves, the longtime owners of Harborside in South Bristol, sold the business in August to Scott Magnuson and Shaaren Pine, of South Bristol and Washington D.C.
Magnuson was busy at Harborside on Labor Day. “Shaaren had to go back to Washington to get our daughter, Ana, started in first grade,” Magnuson said. “I’ll be heading home shortly.”
Magnuson and Pine have been summer residents of South Bristol for about nine years, but Pine has connections that go back to childhood.
Her grandmother, Hilda Hamlin, was the inspiration for the beloved book “Miss Rumphius” by the late children’s author and South Bristol resident Barbara Cooney. “The house illustrated in the book was her home,” Magnuson said, “and it is still in the family.”
When Magnuson and Pine came to South Bristol for their summer vacation they had planned a relaxing time in their home on Middle Road. “We had no plans to buy a business in town,” said Magnuson.
When word reached them that Sam and Betsy Graves were selling the business, they swiftly took action. There were special factors that made the purchase appealing.
The store comes with a house and a large field on the property. Cianbro Corp., the contractor that will replace the South Bristol swing bridge, has leased the house for two years and rented the field as a staging area, Magnuson said.
Part of the agreement states that Cianbro will restore the field the way that Magnuson and Pine would like it after it finishes the bridge project. “We want to use part of the field to make a community garden,” Magnuson said. “The seventh-grade class at South Bristol School can use it to garden and make money for their eighth-grade trips.” Plans also include creating a community picnic area.
The store and restaurant will see some changes over time, but willl remain open year-round. “We want to keep it a community store, but with a more old-fashioned feeling,” Magnuson said. “We’d like to increase the inventory to make it possible for residents to find what they need here, instead of always having to make the long trip to Damariscotta.”
Harborside will be managed by longtime employees of the Graves family, Donna MacDonald and Esther Norwood. “We couldn’t leave it in better hands,” said Magnuson.
Magnuson and Pine also own The Argonaut, a Washington, D.C. bar and restaurant. The Argonaut
“It’s a community-driven neighborhood gathering place, just like we hope to have Harborside remain,” Magnuson said.
A public “thank you” gathering in honor of Sam and Betsy Graves and their daughter, Haley, will be held at the Union Church Parish House at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7. All are welcome.
“We are really excited about owning Harborside,” Magnuson said. “We plan to keep it a place for local residents to gather, while offering resources for tourists as well. It’s a great adventure and we are happy it can be here in South Bristol.”
