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In wake of other closures, decades-old Yarmouth restaurant is shuttering for good

Photo / Peter Van Allen The Muddy Rudder is located at 1335 U.S. Route 1 in Yarmouth.
By Alexis Wells

It has been a rough couple of months for Yarmouth's restaurant scene. Thoroughfare, a burger joint, and the Garrison, a high-end restaurant, have closed.

Now the Muddy Rudder, a Yarmouth seafood restaurant that dates to 1976, is also closing, effective immediately.

In a social media post Thursday, owner Michael Kessock said the “Rudder" — a nickname local residents gave it — “was not just a place to serve food and drink; it was a place of human connection. Our guests and crew alike shared many memories that I will never forget.”

Kessock bought the restaurant, on U.S. Route 1 near the Freeport town line, in 2011.

“The biggest thank you for the last 13 years,” he continued. “It has truly changed my life. You made a man’s dream come true and for that, I will be forever grateful. Although my heart is broken, it is also overflowing with gratitude.”

Rudder patrons and others expressed sorrow online about the closure, with many sharing memories of the restaurant as a gathering spot for the community of 8,500.

Other closures

Chef Christian Hayes has faced similar difficult business decisions, closing three Yarmouth businesses recently.

After shuttering the Garrison two months ago, Hayes announced Tuesday on his social media page that he has also closed his Main Street burger restaurant Thoroughfare and the adjacent Dandy’s Handy Store. 

Photo / Peter Van Allen
Thoroughfare in Yarmouth included the Handy Andy's store. They were located at 367 Main St.

Hayes said the shut-downs became necessary when the businesses couldn’t make payroll.

“As the global pandemic passed, the slow realization that the roaring 20’s of the hospitality industry that we all hoped for so desperately simply wasn’t going to manifest in the way we wanted it to,” said Hayes. 

“Real estate, cost of goods, cost of labor, shortage of labor, utilities, supply chain, cost of living for the communities around us and our employees — they are contributing to a massive storm that is relying on this antiquated ecosystem of a business model that will be the death of this industry as we know it,” he continued. 

When Hayes announced in July that he was closing the Garrison, located in the former Sparhawk Mill in Yarmouth, he also cited money problems. The Garrison will now be available for rent for private events and popups. 

As for what the future holds, Hayes said he plans to focus on his Dandelion Catering business, which has been operating for 16 years. 

“The clarity that is gained from this forceful downsizing is allowing us to focus on repairing everything around us and finding focus in each day forward,” he said.

The town of Yarmouth's community and economic development director, Tori Hill, said in a statement to Mainebiz, "The town was incredibly disappointed to hear about the recent unanticipated closings of The Garrison, Thoroughfare and the Muddy Rudder.

"These establishments, along with all of Yarmouth’s restaurants, weren’t just places to eat; they were gathering spots that fostered connections, celebrated local culinary creativity, and built community. These closures raise important questions about the challenges facing the restaurant industry, particularly in today’s economic climate. Many establishments are still grappling with the aftereffects of the pandemic, rising costs and shifting consumer habits.

"It’s crucial for the community to support local businesses in whatever way we can, whether through patronage or public support for Town-led programs that directly benefit Yarmouth-based enterprises. As a community, we’re committed to further collaboration with our business community through direct support and look forward to Yarmouth’s emerging food scene."

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1 Comments

Anonymous
October 3, 2024

So the question looms - is this the beginning or the end? Is Maine especially headed for the long predicted downturn? The damage from all the closures due to CDC's mandate during the pandemic is just now becoming apparent - just like the PFAS epidemic slowing working its way into the grounds we live on.
All Hail Caesar!

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