Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
FAMILIAR NAME — The Million Dollar View name has returned to southern Aroostook County thanks to Donna and Weston Lord, who have opened Weston’s Million Dollar View. The one-time restaurant is now a gift shop and will soon feature a take-out area for ice cream and other snacks.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
WESTON — After years of sitting vacant, a building that once served as one of the more popular eateries in southern Aroostook County is getting a new lease on life, albeit in a somewhat different form.
Weston and Donna Lord recently opened Weston’s Million Dollar View gift shop in the iconic location. A consignment gift store, Weston’s Million Dollar View features items from vendors hand-picked by Donna to be displayed in the store.
“Most of the items mostly come from Aroostook County,” Donna said. “Some of it is from the Danforth area and other pieces come from Gray and Lincoln.”
Standing on the deck of Weston’s Million Dollar View, it’s easy to see how the location got its name. Located along U.S. Route 1, just north of Danforth, visitors are treated to breathtaking views of Peekaboo Mountain, which provides an overlook of Grand Lake into the spectacular western mountainous region of New Brunswick.
The road is the primary corridor between Aroostook County and Downeast, Maine and features plenty of wildlife.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
OPEN FOR BUSINESS — Donna Lord arranges some items on a shelf at Weston’s Million Dollar View gift shop on U.S. Route 1 in Weston.
The Lords, who also own Greenland Cove Cabins, decided to purchase the building as another way to give back to the community.
“I used to come here as a child from Brackett Lake,” Donna said. “My husband came to me and said he hated to see this building empty. He had a gut feeling that we should buy it.”
Donna said she chose to go with consignment, instead of simply filling the shop with inventory, because it was an opportunity to showcase some of the many talented crafters in the area.
“Their work just amazes me,” she said. “We have a little bit of everything. Paintings, cookbooks, pine cone wreaths, something for everyone.”
In one corner of the gift shop sits a collection of photographs, many of which were taken by Weston. Other items include wooden spoons carved by a man in Bridgewater, maple syrup collected in Danforth.
Weston is the jack-of-all-trades for the business. Aside from his photography, he also built all of the furniture found in the shop and has spent a great deal of time renovating the building. The Lords also plan to restore the exterior to the log cabin style that it used to have.
The take-out portion of the business will feature ice cream, smoothies, hot dogs, mini tacos, chips and soda. The take out business should be open in a few weeks.
Response thus far has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Folks are coming in and saying they are so happy that the Million Dollar View is back open,” Donna said.
Weston’s Million Dollar View opened June 22 and will be a seasonal business, from spring to fall. The gift shop is now open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Once the take-out opens, hours will change to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
For more information, call the Lords at 448-2441 or e-mail wmdv@pwless.net.
