Last updated 30th March 2010 About the Maine Grind….. The Maine Grind is committed to offering great, casual light fare in a comfy atmosphere. As a Maine owned business, the Grind purchases many of its food and retail products from local vendors within the state. We’re localvores who work hard to distinguish ourselves from national chains by spending money with other Maine based businesses as much as possible. It’s neighborly to spend money locally. It’s Local First! Enjoy your visit! About this Building…… This photographic image was taken on June 10, 2006, the day that the current owners purchased this building from the Masons. The room in the photo is what is known as the local café, Maine Grind. Up until 1933 this location on Main Street housed the Hancock County Registry of Deeds. A devastating fire in 1933 destroyed the historic building, however the property was purchased at the time by the local chapter of the Order of Masons. Local building contractor EL Shea built the architecturally designed building and in 1937 the Masons opened the doors of what became locally known as the Masonic Hall. For 70 years the Masons and their female counterpart, the Eastern Star, used this building as their lodge. Known among the Masons as the Lygonia Lodge they had almost 500 members making them the largest Masonic Lodge in Maine. In 2006 the current owners approached the Masons with the idea of purchasing the property from them. After several months of negotiating the Masons sold the building to the new owners, who opened the Maine Grind. The Masons built a smaller, more energy efficient building for themselves on Route 1 in Ellsworth. Much care and respect has gone into the restoration of this property by the current owners. Systems have been replaced and updated, all of the windows are new, the outside front area has been replaced with granite steps and a handicap ramp, along with landscaping. A new roof has been put on and many other features added to the property, enhancing its appeal. Coincidentally the same contractor that built the building is still in business here in Ellsworth. They still have many of the original templates of the extensive woodwork so replacing and rebuilding those elements of the building have been easy to achieve. Today this building houses a n number of businesses, hosts many community events and has become a vital part of the hub of Downtown Ellsworth. It is projects like these throughout the US that are preserving our downtowns. With hutzpa, energy, vision and an eye to preservation, projects like this are opportunities waiting to happen in Ellsworth. The owners of this building are most thankful to the City of Ellsworth for their flexibility and support towards this project. It is shared visions and partner ships with citizens and municipalities that are the root of the success of restoration projects like this one.