Ogunquit News
Poor Richards’ owners announce retirement
By Melissa Wood
OGUNQUIT - "How rude!" was the trademark expression in letters used by Richard Perkins, who announced this week that he and partner Robert Maurais are hanging up their aprons after half a century of running Poor Richard's Tavern.
Perkins, whose letters were widely read in the local paper, opened the popular restaurant with Maurais in 1958.
Both were honored with a retirement celebration at the Meadowmere last Wednesday, May 2.
It was not known by press time whether the restaurant has closed its doors for good or would open again under the direction of a new owner.
The restaurant's phone is disconnected and the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce did not have any information as the restaurant was not a member.
In a letter on Poor Richard's website, Perkins said he first placed an ad during the restaurant's fourth season in business, which received a decent response. But then the phone began ringing off the hook with people calling to inquire about when the restaurant would open, which led to the idea of a letter instead of a regular ad.
"So with quill in hand I sent my first letter off to the paper: Dear Friends, I guess you didn't see my $25 ad (a lot of money in those days). Yes we are open....blah blah blah, etc! Would you believe that 42 years later, I'm still blah blah blahing! How rude!"
In his letter this week to The Independent, Perkins said that the time had come to take on a less stressful life.
"However, I'm not ready to sit on the back porch and snap beans," he wrote.
Beginning this Thursday he will be hosting at the Front Porch Café, which will be celebrating a grand re-opening.
To read Perkins' full letter, see our Op-Ed and Letters section.
