ASHLAND, Maine — The town of Ashland recently welcomed Crown-O-Mane Bar and Grill as a new business on Main Street, with owners Lenny Duckett and Martin Hilton excited to form friendships and close community ties.
Both Duckett and Hilton are originally from Michigan and met through their service in the U.S. Army. Duckett fought in the Gulf War during the 1990s, while Hilton served in Germany, Korea, Iraq, Louisiana and Texas throughout his career before retiring this past spring.
The friends moved to Ashland in May 2019 and after finding out that the building at 18 Main St. was for sale they immediately saw an opportunity to pursue their business.
“We’ve talked about doing this for years and now are excited to start a new chapter in our lives,” Duckett said.
The newly opened Crown-O-Mane Bar and Grill in Ashland features both table and bar seating as well as a pool table and karaoke machine.
(Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Crown-O-Mane Bar and Grill offers a full-service bar, a pool table, karaoke machine and meals such as stuffed cheeseburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. The restaurant features nearly 30 table seats, as well as bar seating, and is available for private group reservations. In the future, they hope to provide outdoor tables for the warmer months.
Duckett and Hilton opened Crown-O-Mane on June 15 and also would like to use the restaurant for local fundraisers to support the Ashland Area Food Pantry, college scholarships for high school students and other causes.
“We wanted to keep the menu simple and focus on having really good food and a great atmosphere for people to come enjoy a Coke or beer with their friends,” Hilton said.
The Crown-O-Mane Bar and Grill, which has opened on 18 Main Street in Ashland, features both table and bar seating and a menu that includes sandwiches, hot dogs and stuffed cheeseburgers.
(Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Despite being newcomers to the business world and to northern Maine, Duckett and Hilton said that the Ashland community has been welcoming and supportive. They hope that Crown-O-Mane will add something unique to the town and provide area residents with tasty food and drinks and fun memories.
“I think this is one of the best places we could’ve picked,” Duckett said. “The community has supported us 100 percent. Everyone we meet already feels like family.”
Crown-O-Mane’s regular hours are from noon to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday. They can be reached at (207) 435-7120.
