York Town News
Signs of the renaissance: York Beach landmark celebrates grand reopening
By Melissa Wood
For Peggy and Robert Fennelly, what a difference a year has made. The two just celebrated the grand reopening and complete refurbishment of their store, Bill and Bob’s, with Gov. John Baldacci, pictured here, who was with Peggy when she first witnessed the devastation from flooding a year ago. He called Peggy both tough and resilient and congratulated the couple. “Maine is open for business, but it’s open for business because of people like Peggy Fennelly,” he said.
Photo by Melissa Wood
YORK BEACH - The York Beach Renaissance came to life on Monday afternoon when Peggy and Robert "Bob" Fennelly celebrated the grand reopening and redesign of Bill and Bob's among a crowd of well-wishers that included local officials and Gov. John Baldacci.
Baldacci, who toured the business after the Mother's Day flood last year, said he remembers witnessing the initial shocking moment when Peggy first saw the damages of the rising waters to the couple's two businesses at York Beach, Bill and Bob's and Sweet Josie's Candy Shoppe, causing her eyes to fill up with tears.
"I walked into the store with her and witnessed what most would call devastation," said Baldacci. "After Peggy's initial shock wore off, I gave her a hug and let her inspiring attitude shine through. She immediately started making plans to put up new drywall, replace damaged or ruined merchandise and was thinking of when she could re-open."
Now, less than a year later, the store is not only open and ready for the summer tourist season but has also undergone a stunning redesign. On the outside, the brick façade is gone, replaced by a new stone one; new awnings provide shade from the summer sun, and glass doors welcome customers and provide a window to view the newly designed elegance within.
Inside the store, the new interior is now one wide open room instead of two separated by a wall. Sea-foam green walls provide a backdrop to the new bamboo flooring and, of course, a dazzling collection of jewelry is on display throughout.
"I'm very proud of the way it came out," said Peggy, who said they tore out everything for the redesign. "Everyone's impressed and so are we."
Despite all the of the renovations, the Bill and Bob's sign that been as familiar to beach visitors as saltwater taffy remains proudly in place.
The refurbishing is the first one the business has undergone in the 40 years the Fennellys have owned the store, which they bought for $200, owing $200 in rent, and had to borrow another $200 for merchandise. Peggy also owns Sweet Josie's, a couple of storefronts down, which also underwent a renovation.
Cathy Goodwin, president of the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, said the restoration and redesign of the stores is a great example of locally-owned businesses preserving the past while building an economic future.
"We want what's here to stay here," she said. "We want to make it possible for these businesses to stay in business because they are what makes York Beach."
The Fennellys celebrate 50 years of marriage this coming Labor Day, and Robert said the couple's children are following in their parents' footsteps. Daughter Cathleen owns a store called The Spot in Ogunquit, which sells clothing and silver, while son Kevin is a gemologist and responsible for the many of the designs on display throughout.
Robert said that 60 to 70 percent of their collection are unique designs and that the family visits Thailand every year to find new merchandise for both the York Beach store and the second Bill and Bob's store, now open year-round in the Fox Run Mall in Newington, N.H.
Robert said his wife and subcontractor Mark Dubois deserve the credit for making the redesign that started in December a reality that is ready for the summer season.
"It feels just wonderful," he said. "It's like a whole new building."
As nearby the sound of hammers and saws at work on the Atlantic House and other projects were a reminder of the renaissance still to come, Baldacci said that the resilience of the Fennellys demonstrated the ability of people and businesses in York Beach to bounce back after a disaster like the Mother's Day flood.
"It really says a lot about someone in how they deal with events like a disaster," he said. "You can either sit around and complain about it, or you can get back on the horse and start riding again. Peggy, York Beach and just about everyone in Maine will always get right back up on that horse."
Want to learn more about plans for the York Beach Renaissance? A public meeting on plans for York Beach Village Zoning will be held Thursday morning, May 10, at the York Beach Fire Station. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m.
