The Black Birch & Chapel + Main Co-Owner Ben Lord on Kittery Foreside's Evolution, Downtown Dover's Glow-Up & Why So Many Restaurants Fail!

The best restaurant on the Seacoast?

Some will tell you it's The Black Birch.

Tucked away in Kittery Foreside, this gastropub is a fan favorite lauded for its deviled eggs, short rib, cocktails, and intimate setting. In fact, when Ben Lord and Gavin Baudry started dreaming of having their own spot while both serving tables of Anneke Jans, the vision they'd laid out is nearly identical to what "The Birch" has become.

From Kittery Foreside, Ben Lord and host Troy Farkas discuss what led him and his business partners to open The Birch 14 years ago, its role in the evolution of Kittery Foreside, how the Birch has enjoyed 14 years of success, the state of the Seacoast restaurant industry, the labor shortage, and the key role his other restaurant, Chapel + Main, has played in the revitalization of downtown Dover.

CHAPTERS:

• The appeal of the restaurant industry (00:00)
• Working at Anneke Jans (05:40)
• Why they opened The Black Birch (10:00)
• Bridge closures & Kittery Foreside's evolution (14:02)
• SPONSORS: Sea Love Portsmouth & Chinburg Properties (21:55)
• Why people love The Birch (24:50)
• EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club & Seacoast Singles (33:55)
• Chapel & Main's role in revitalizing Dover (35:10)
• The state of the Seacoast restaurant scene (42:30)
• How do you want to be remembered? (57:30)

EVENTS:

• Seacoast Singles Dating Show at The Press Room on Saturday, 9/13. Presented by Oomph Salon. ⁠Sign up here.⁠
• Seacoast Stories Dinner Club in Kittery on Wednesday, 9/17. Meet your new best friends by ⁠signing up here.⁠

SPONSORS:

• ⁠⁠Sea Love Portsmouth⁠: Get 20% off your Portsmouth candle-making experience by saying "SEACOAST STORIES" in store. Book online today.
• ⁠⁠⁠Chinburg Properties⁠⁠⁠⁠
• David Higgins: The official investment office of "Seacoast Stories!" Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started on the path toward better investment.

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