HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Community Golf Club is searching for a new operator for its Lakeside Restaurant.
For the past four years, Bill Roderick and Nancy Levin operated the Lakeside Restaurant, but the couple told golf officials in early January that they would not be returning for the 2020 season.
“Bill and Nancy helped us create a fine dining experience on the shores of Nickerson Lake, the likes of which had never been seen,” said Jamie York, president of the Houlton Golf Club. “They will be missed by us all.”
York said the golf club restaurant provides a unique opportunity for the right candidate to come into an already established business with only a small amount needed in the way of startup expenses, under the umbrella of the golf course.
“The Lakeside Restaurant is owned by the golf course, but we do not want to be managing a restaurant,” he said. “We [the golf course board of directors] tried doing it for a number of years and it just didn’t work.”
Roderick and Levin were no strangers to providing fine dining cuisine as the two previously operated The Horn restaurant in Island Falls and later in Houlton.
“When Bill and Nancy came along, it was a great stroke of luck for us,” York said. “They were really skilled at what they do and we had absolutely no complaints on anything they did. They brought a fine dining experience to the area.”
York added he hopes the club will be able to find a similar arrangement with a budding chef in the area that is willing to continue to offer fine cuisine. The vast majority of the customers are not golfers so people come to the restaurant for the dining experience.
“With the right candidates, we would be happy to discuss the business structure, compensation, responsibilities and any other details,” he added.
The golf course typically opens in May and continues through to October. The restaurant is also seasonal in its operation. Anyone interested in obtaining information about the restaurant can email houltongolf@gmail.com.
