Beloved Kittery, Maine, Restaurant Is Officially Leaving Its Landmark Location

Barring a drastic change, it appears the seacoast is set to say goodbye to another seafood landmark.

After 83 years, Warren’s Lobster House in Kittery Maine announced it is preparing to close its doors. In a statement posted on Facebook, Warren’s said;

“We have signed an option agreement to sell the property in Kittery and will have a better idea of what the prospective buyer’s intentions are by early September if not sooner.  A great deal of thought and consideration has gone into this decision and it has been incredibly difficult for many reasons.  We are not selling the business, the intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, etc) or the right to operate as WLH at a different location (it is early in the process and we haven’t fully considered the various possibilities).  We are still considering all options.”

The restaurant’s owners, the Cunningham family, say they plan to keep Warren’s in business well into 2024, and urge customers to eat there as often as possible. What’s even sadder, though, are murmurs in the community that the iconic building could end up being torn down by a developer.

This would be just the latest in a troubling trend here in New England. While iconic businesses out West and even in New York still stand, our own region seems to have a knack for tearing down.

To some, it’s nice to have the giant cactus from the Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus. But to me, it’s bittersweet to have the Yoken’s sign in Portsmouth…but no Yoken’s. Is Warren's the next sign that will bring back melancholy memories?

It's always great to hear a business will continue. But...what about its beloved spot?