By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
STOCKHOLM — Local restauranteurs have opened their business to some of the best bands Maine has to offer, and the result has been some very happy customers.
Owners of Stockholm’s Eureka Hall George Pappa and Danielle Mazerolle have teamed up with Arootsakoostik founder Travis Cyr and the results have been met with full-house crowds and happy musicians.
It’s not very often when Mazerolle can spare a minute during the busy nights created by live music but every once and a while, she’ll take a moment to really observe the crowd.
“I’ll look around and people are laughing and clapping and stomping their feet,” she said thoughtfully. Having lived for years in Maui, Hawaii, Mazerolle explained that “the best way I can describe it is just that feeling of ‘aloha’ — the energy is awesome.”
Having their restaurant become a destination for good food and good music wasn’t something Mazerolle or Pappa originally foresaw when they purchased the business about five years ago, but the concept began taking shape about two years ago when Cyr began booking music for the hall.
Working with Cyr was a natural fit, as Mazerolle and Pappa had attended Arootsakoostik, the annual summer music event at Thomas Park in New Sweden, during previous years and found that they loved the diversity of the grassroots styled bands featured at the event.
“Being a restaurant owner, we’re here a lot,” Mazerolle said, gesturing to the immaculately kept main dining room. “We figured that if we’re going to be here, we’re going to have great music that we enjoy and great food that we enjoy.”
Coming to The County from Hawaii, Mazerolle and Pappa brought with them recipes from Maui’s cultural melting pot and secrets they’ve picked up from their chef friends. The new flavors have been well received at the restaurant and, every Thursday and Sunday, the couple’s unique cooking is fused with their favorite local bands to bring a memorable experience to a smile-filled house.
The Arootsakoostik festival has grown over the years to developing a dedicated following of all ages, and Cyr sees that happening at the Eureka as well.
“At Arootsakoostik, especially after this year where we had more kids than ever, it really feels like we’re building community through music — and I think that’s what’s happening here as well,” Cyr said.
Scanning the audience on any busy night, Cyr routinely recognizes folks from Grand Falls, Fort Kent, Presque Isle and throughout the St. John Valley — which is how he knows that the Eureka has become a destination.
“They’re coming here for the music and for the food,” Cyr said with a knowing smile because he also knows why the bands head up to the Eureka even from the bottom of southern Maine.
As a musician himself, Cyr knows that Pappa and Mazerolle are very hospitable and the crowds are very receptive to the homegrown music the performers create.
The downstairs of the historic hall has been transformed in recent years to accommodate the bands and a bar area, and the room’s layout creates a space atop the doorway ramp that overlooks the performers.
“Oftentimes there will be bands and musicians playing, and over their shoulders there will be six or eight kids — It’s a great thing to have young people witness,” Cyr added.
In addition to the cuisine and the music, Cyr cited more reasons the Eureka is set apart from other music establishments in the area: “we’re a restaurant, so you can bring kids, and music here is always free; there isn’t a cover charge.”
Most often, Cyr books acoustic bands to perform at the hall.
“It generally seems to be the most popular from the little ones up to the older folks, it has a good message and it’s family friendly,” he explained.
The Eureka Hall Restaurant and Tavern is located at 5 School Street in Stockholm and can be reached by calling 896-3196 or by visiting their Facebook page.
