Staff Writer
The Presque Isle-based cab company Brownie’s Taxi is expanding its borders and offering its service in the Caribou area on September 10 after having their Public Taxi License Application approved by the Caribou City Council.
Owners Larry and Ryan Brown stated that they “decided to expand their service to Caribou after they received 18 calls in one day from Caribou.” The Browns were pleased to announce that they received their first Caribou customer shortly after they received approval from the council.
The Browns hope to attract more customers in the Caribou area by offering service that is both affordable and safe. Ryan Brown stated that all of the taxis are well maintained with “cleaning occurring twice a day, and maintenance being done every week.” The taxi service will bring any two people anywhere within town for $3 dollars with a dollar extra per mile being charged after the car reaches the town limits. There is no extra charge for trunk space, and children under 10 ride free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. “The more the merrier,” Ryan Brown commented.
While the Browns currently don’t have enough cars to have a taxi based in Caribou 24 hours a day seven days a week, the father-son duo does plan to have a car outside of Jade’s Palace on the weekend. If Caribou residents need a ride at any time day or night they can give Brownie’s Taxi a call at 764-4567 at any time day or night, and the Browns will try to have a car there within 5 to 15 minutes. The business currently has four taxis on the road, and seven employees including four drivers. Ryan Brown stated that he is currently looking to hire a few more drivers.
Brownie’s Taxi located on 34 Exchange Street in Presque Isle is enjoying their fifth month of service to Aroostook County residents. The Browns started the company after hearing Presque Isle resident “complain” about the current taxi services available. Ryan Brown also wanted felt that the business was a “second chance for his dad” and a tribute to his grandfather, Howard Worthington, who was the owner of W.B.K. Taxi in Presque Isle. The Browns said deciding on a name for their business was easy as the title of “Brownie” is used by their relatives across the state. Ryan Brown’s grandfather, Waldo, ran Brownie’s Wrecker Service in Caribou and Presque Isle, and Brownie’s Automotive Service is run by a cousin, Darrel Brown, in Skowhegan.
The Browns offers their service from the Canadian border to the towns below Presque Isle. As their business grows, the Browns hope to eventually expand their company as far as Houlton. Currently, Brownie’s Taxi will go as far as a customer requests for a drop off but they can not pick up clients in towns that have an established taxi service unless they present a formal request to the town’s city council.
The Browns would like to offer a “special thanks to Melanie Philbrook of Presque Isle who was their first customer, and all of the dedicated clients throughout Caribou and Presque Isle.”
Aroostook Republican Photo/Hailee Morin
RYAN, LEFT, AND LARRY BROWN, owners of Brownie’s Taxi stand between two of the cabs that will be serving Caribou after their Public Taxi License Application was approved by the Caribou City Council on September 10. The father and son duo decided to “expand their service to Caribou after they received 18 calls in one day from Caribou.”
