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Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
This US holiday spot is being crippled by Trump's war on Canada
Overlooking picturesque Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, southern Maine, Barnacle Billy's has welcomed presidents, prime ministers and princes over the past six and a half decades. George HW Bush used to ferry world leaders, including Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev, on his speedboat across the bay to the seafood restaurant from his summer residence at Walker's Point. But now Tim Tower, the owner of the business, is more focused on a more prosaic clientele: Canadians. Nearly 800,000 Canadians crossed the border last year, spending almost half a billion dollars in the US. This year, Maine's businesses are bracing themselves for a 25 per cent drop, largely thanks to Donald Trump. His repeated suggestions that Canada should become America's 51st state, coupled with his tariff war, saw the number of tourists crossing over the Canadian border to holiday in the States drop by 157,000 in the first four months of the year. Canadians also did not take kindly to Mr Trump berating Justin Trudeau, the former prime minister, belittling the country on Truth Social and antagonising Mark Carney, Mr Trudeau's replacement, throughout the general election earlier this year. Sporadic reports of Canadians being interrogated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, having their phones searched, and even being detained at the border has many Canadians under the impression that Trump's America is not putting out the welcome mat for its friendly northern neighbours. One of the most popular spots for summering Canadians in the US is the northeastern state of Maine, home to a rugged, rocky coast, tranquil lakes and rolling, green mountains. With traditional industries like paper manufacturing and textile mills having gone long ago, tourism is vital to the state's economy. It even has 'Vacationland' emblazoned on number plates. It is Maine's business owners such as Mr Tower who are at the sharp end of Mr Trump's falling out with Canada. The son of the restaurant's founder, 'Barnacle Billy' Tower, trusts that generations of goodwill should shield the business from some of the fallout triggered by the US president's invective. But the future is uncertain in the town and southern Maine as a whole with fears that the once steady stream of Canadian cars heading south is slowing down to a trickle. Fewer Quebec and Nova Scotia number plates are being spotted on the roads down from Canada and far less French is being heard in restaurants and stores this spring, locals say. Like many business owners, Mr Tower is somewhat apprehensive about what the summer holds. 'Revenue will be down. And hopefully there'll be something to counterbalance it if indeed the Canadians don't show up in the numbers we expect,' he told The Telegraph. 'But I'm worried about Canadians in general [not] coming because of a negative feeling they might have.' Hoteliers have told him that Canadians who come to the seaside town of Ogunquit every year are giving Maine a miss this summer. The fear is that some may never return. 'If you were going to choose any country to have a border with, of all the countries in the world, Canada would always be number one,' Mr Tower continued. But he fears that the neighbourly goodwill has dissipated. 'I'm disappointed that one man or one administration could do something like that,' he added. John Clancy, who owns the Perkins Cove Pottery Shop, which has been in business for 41 years, fears the predicted 25 per cent drop in tourists to Maine could be an underestimate. 'I had a conversation with a [Canadian] tour operator,' he told The Telegraph. 'This past season, they usually were scheduled like about 100 trips a season all over the US. And this year, they were down from 11 to five . And I think once they were at five, they just decided to cancel all trips for 2025. 'All this sort of ridiculous talk of Canada becoming another state, the rhetoric is just dismissive of our friends in Canada. So I could clearly see that Canadians were just not coming to visit.' About 13 miles to the north, Ken Mason felt the cold blast of Canadian antipathy towards Mr Trump before the summer season even started. Canadians account for around 40 per cent of springtime guests at the Seaside Inn on Kennebunk Beach, which has been in the same family since 1667. 'Traditionally, we have quite a few of the same Canadians come back each year; we have about an 82 per cent return rate,' he told The Telegraph. 'Each year in November, I send letters to returning guests offering them first refusal to come back the following season.' 'Starting about the end of January, beginning of February, I ended up having enough Canadians cancel that I had to refund just under $7,000. 'The only reason that any of them gave us was they just didn't like the rhetoric towards Canada and they didn't feel that they were welcome this year to come down to the States. 'They didn't like being called a little brother, they didn't like being called to the 51st state,' Mr Mason said. He added: 'And these are people that have been coming for decades and I know them and I call them back and try to let them know that they're more than welcome in the area. 'They're more welcome anywhere in the States to come but they just said this year because they didn't feel like they were being welcome, they just went to pass and go someplace else.' Old Orchard Beach, a seaside resort with an old-fashioned funfair, has been popular with Canadians for decades. It was singled out for a boycott by Mr Trudeau earlier this year. In early March, as Mr Trump launched his trade war, the former prime minister pinpointed the Maine resort as a target for Canadian retaliation. 'This is a trade war,' Mr Trudeau said. 'Canadians are hurt. Canadians are angry. We're going to choose to not go on vacation in Florida or Old Orchard Beach or wherever.' Canadians also boycotted other US products from bourbon to wine as feelings ran high. 'We definitely did have a bunch of cancellations in January and February,' Sean Nickless, who runs the Crest Motel, told The Telegraph. 'Some Canadians are still coming. At the beginning, I was a little more pessimistic, but now I'm more hopeful.' This is not the first time that Maine has fallen victim to Mr Trump's administration. During his first term, his trade war with China saw Beijing slap a 40 per cent tariff on US lobsters, dealing a mortal blow to one of the state's other key industries. Janet Mills, Maine's governor, who had a spectacular Oval Office row with Mr Trump over a transgender athlete, has tried to limit the damage to its tourist industry. To make Canadians feel wanted in Maine, the state has put up signs in English and French welcoming them to the state. She admits it is a small gesture. 'A sign can't stop harmful policies or rhetoric coming from Washington, but it can send a simple but powerful message – here in Maine, we value our neighbours, we will always treat them with respect, and we welcome them warmly to our state.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Leavitt Theatre at 100: From silent films to drag shows, still thriving in Ogunquit
OGUNQUIT, Maine — When the Leavitt Theatre first opened its doors in 1925, it was a pioneering hub for the latest cinematic innovation: silent films accompanied by live music. Now, in 2025, the iconic theater at 259 Main Street is a vibrant, eclectic venue, hosting everything from classic films and concerts to burlesque shows, drag performances, guest speakers, and stand-up comedy—all while still honoring its roots with screenings of silent-era legends like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Perhaps you've already done the math: this year, the Leavitt Theater is celebrating its centennial. 'The place is really important to me,' said Max Clayton, who manages and operates the theatre with his wife, Emily. 'My family has owned it now for almost half of its existence.' Max and Emily Clayton took over managing and operating the theater in 2017. For Max Clayton, 39, it marked the passing of a torch— his parents, Peter and Maureen, had purchased the theater in 1976, overseeing its operations for years. Though the elder Claytons still own the historic building, it's now their son and daughter-in-law who run the show. The efforts of the younger Clayton couple are paying off – which is a good thing, considering that, just a few years ago, Max Clayton was concerned that his beloved family theater might not reach its 100th anniversary. There were a couple of reasons, one of a business sort and the other of a more existential kind. Perhaps, having lived through recent history yourself, you can guess the latter one. But first, the business issue. To keep the theater going, Clayton had to pull back on its signature offering – new movie releases – and further diversify its calendar of entertainment. According to Clayton, a decline in moviegoing resulted in studios out west asserting that a single-screen theater, such as the Leavitt, would have to show new releases for longer stretches of time for the partnership to be profitable on their end. That's why, for example, the first 'Wonder Woman' blockbuster had quite a lengthy run at the Leavitt upon its release in 2017. Locking down one film for considerable weeks of time tied up the theater and limited opportunities to present other kinds of entertainment on screen and stage, Clayton said. To remedy this, the Claytons decided in 2019 to no longer show new theatrical releases and instead present classic ones, from those silents of the 1920s to such modern greats as 'Jaws,' 'The Goonies,' and 'Dirty Dancing,' to name a few. Now, freed from the lock 'Wonder Woman' and other Hollywood blockbusters had on the Leavitt's single screen, the Claytons were able to truly diversify their entertainment offerings. While the Leavitt has been known for showcasing more than movies throughout its history, the theatre in recent years has varied even more in the entertainment that it offers: concerts, guest speakers, burlesque and drag shows, stand-up comedians, a weekend festival, holiday festivities, and more. This season, there'll even be an illusionist coming to town, according to Nell Kevlik-Brown, the events director for the theatre. To expand the Leavitt's appeal even further, the Claytons have renovated the balcony area of the theater into a full-service bar and lounge, complete with a unique dinner menu and a cozy, speakeasy feel. 'We really try to curate an experience that's very singular,' Kevlik-Brown said. 'It's innately cool. It's a 100-year-old theater, a stone's throw away from an award-winning beach ... You get to come in and experience a cultural moment and this really elevated, but quirky, food and beverage program.' Alice Pearce, the executive director of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce, vouched for the Leavitt's food when asked to name something that has stood out for her during her visits to the theatre. 'Their fancy grilled cheese is absolutely killer,' she added. Kevlik-Brown provided some details about that grilled cheese sandwich when describing the Leavitt's menu. 'It has tangy peppers and four different types of cheeses,' she said. Clayton, who is skilled in trades, was doing some carpentry work in the theatre in early 2020 when he heard something troubling on the radio. People would be safe from COVID-19, the new, deadly, and unpredictable virus, if they avoided enclosed spaces where mass gatherings occur. You know, places such as restaurants, bars, and movie theaters. The Leavitt, of course, was all three. 'I thought it was curtains at first,' he said. 'That year, I really thought I was going to close.' But that did not happen, thanks to a silver lining that the global health crisis produced: outdoor dining. While the Claytons were not showing movies or offering live entertainment during the pandemic, they were able to host outdoor seating, right there on Main Street, and serve drinks and meals from the new dining area they opened in some adjoining space that had recently been vacated by a Rococo ice cream shop. That exposure brought the Leavitt's unique food and drink menu from high up in the balcony area inside the theatre to outdoors on Main Street for all to see and enjoy. Now, just a couple of years after the pandemic, the Leavitt Theatre is alive and well for its centennial, thanks to the diversification of its programming, the introduction of the balcony-area bar and lounge and downstairs dining space, and, of course, the support of the community. Pearce called the theatre a 'mainstay' of the community. 'It endures today, thanks to the stewardship of the Clayton family, who have continued to evolve the venue,' Pearce said. 'We are looking forward to celebrating with them this season!' For all the changes and renovations at the Leavitt in recent years, the beloved theatre maintains its historical roots. Walking into the place, you can still look around and imagine what it must have been like for people a hundred years ago to go to the theatre to see the latest comedy by Harold Lloyd. Classic movie posters fill the walls, including one whole area dedicated to the film noir genre known for its crime and detective stories. But there are modern classic movie posters, as well: "Jaws." "Rocky." "Alien." "Grease." "Ghostbusters." The theatre's original movie projectors also can be seen on display. And those seats. They're the same ones on which viewers sat a century ago. During a tour of the theatre Kevlik-Brown pointed out the undersides of the seats. 'On the bottom, there are hooks for men's top hats,' she said. 'We have a little bowler hat, and you can see how it fits right in.' Then there is the living history, currently embodied by Clayton, who, at 39, has spent much of his life inside the theatre, even living in its upstairs apartment when he was a toddler. Clayton said he can remember peeking through a hole his father had made in the kitchen wall and watching some of the movies that the Leavitt showed. 'We couldn't get the full audio, but I do remember eating Cheerios or pasta and watching movies through the hole in the wall,' Clayton said. 'It was always really cool.' For Clayton, the top-to-bottom responsibilities of running an entertainment venue like the Leavitt are something with which he has been acquainted his whole life. To this day, if he finds himself sitting in the ticket booth in front of the theater, he is often recognized as the small kid who used to sit in his father's lap in that very spot as his father sold tickets throughout the 1990s. 'Yup, that's me,' he tells them. For Clayton, the centennial is a shining moment that he is glad his family's theater could reach. There are not a lot of old, historic movie theaters left in America, truth be told. They've long been replaced by multiplexes, complete with IMAX screens and stadium-style seating, and even some of those have closed in recent years, due to the pandemic but also to people streaming movies on their large, flat-screen TVs at home. Clayton said venues like the Leavitt are important to American communities and are a part of the country's cultural contributions to the world. 'The old cinema movie theaters are part of American history,' he said. 'Honestly, if you think about it, movies and cinema and Hollywood are pretty significant offerings to culture, globally, from America.' This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Leavitt Theatre celebrating 100 years of entertaining Ogunquit
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kennebunk's White Sails Inn opens the Shipwreck Pub to the public: Be our guest
KENNEBUNK, Maine — New to the area, Susanne Lillis wants to get to know her neighbors on Fletcher Street and her fellow residents throughout the community. This week, she acted on an idea she hopes will work: she opened The Shipwreck Pub, the lounge inside White Sails Inn, to the public. 'Anybody can come by,' Lillis said. Lillis owns and operates the inn, which she purchased from its previous owner, Armand Boudreau, in 2023. The pub is painted with a deep, soothing blue and adorned with paintings of a nautical nature, keeping in step with the inn's tribute to Kennebunk's beloved history of shipbuilding. Behind the counter, there's a full bar, complete with gluten-free and non-alcoholic options in addition to the usual staples. 'We have a little bit of everything,' Lillis said, adding that the pub serves drinks only and not food. Oarweed Restaurant to rise again: Beloved Ogunquit landmark set for 2026 comeback A large, round table sits in one corner, right by three windows, offering lots of daylight when the sun is shining. It's the only table in the place, and that's the point: it's where people can gather around, socialize while nursing cocktails, enjoy a beer, or even play one of the board games that are stacked on a nearby shelf. Two standalone chairs rest against the opposite wall for those seeking a sense of solitude with a newspaper, a magazine, or one of the books that line a shelf underneath those board games. A widescreen television is affixed to the wall, ready to broadcast a game or some other programming to entertain guests or provide additional atmosphere. Lillis said the pub is home to two book clubs she hosts, both of which meet during the last week of the month. Add it all up, and you have a meeting space that Lillis describes as 'inviting.' 'It's cozy and a little bit sophisticated,' Lillis said. 'Warm is the word.' When the weather is nice, the pub's sphere will spread to the inn's front porch and to the firepit that's surrounded by Adirondack chairs in the front yard. For years, the pub was available only for the inn's guests and was a key part of the bed-and-breakfast spot's appeal. Lillis opened the pub to the public for the first time on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and plans to keep it open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. 'If it proves a hit, we can certainly look at expanding,' Lillis said. Lillis' career in the hospitality industry goes back 25 years. She was born and raised in Denmark and began working in the industry during the nine years she spent in Germany. She and her husband moved to the United States in 1999, settling first in Oregon and ultimately making it to Rangely, Maine. While Sails Inn – formerly the Elizabeth Rose House – caught the attention of Lillis by its location, she said. 'It's close to the ocean,' she said. 'I grew up on the ocean.' The inn, a longtime presence of Fletcher Street, has guest rooms on its upper level and has enough space on the first floor to hold such events as wedding receptions, baby showers, and more, according to Lillis. When Lillis learned that the inn was for sale in 2023, she booked a room and arrived in Kennebunk as a visitor. Upon her arrival, she did not announce her curiosity about potentially buying the place, but she knew that would become her plan the moment she stepped inside. 'When I walked through the front door, I knew I was home,' she said. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kennebunk's White Sails Inn opens the Shipwreck Pub to the public
