Barnacle Billy’s Opening Day 2025

Tomorrow will be opening day at Barnacle Billy’s, our original restaurant.  I’ve been waiting all winter for this. It’s really the patrons, old and new, that make it so enjoyable to me. Of course, I love my employees as well. And, I have to say, the management crew we have now is the best crew we have ever had, collectively between both restaurants. That’s not to diminish Paul “Hez” Haseltine’s reign under my father. He alone was the one responsible for most of the things we do today, along with my father, of course. He is still my best friend and born with more common sense than anybody I have ever met.

New deck railings at Barnacle Billy's. Along with the stainless railing I had all the planking on the deck removed, the whole deck reinforced, and brand-new planking installed.

Still, this last winter was particularly telling as we had much to do. Our management staff were particularly helpful in making the winter the success that it was.

The biggest project involved the outside deck of Barnacle Billy’s (Original). For years I have wanted a horizontal high polished stainless-steel rail made by the locally famous, Michael Dumas, from Dumas Welding & Fabrication. This winter I finally got my wish after ear marking funding for the project to do so. I was lucky that I asked him early enough where I could actually get it completed in time. And it came out better than I expected. It’s truly a work of art. I have been very familiar with Michael’s work as he also built the railing for the garden patio at Barnacle Billy’s, Etc. He also custom made the railing for my deep-sea fishing vessel, the Bunny Clark, named after my mother. If I ever sell the boat, I want to keep the railing as a sculpture in my back yard. (Somehow, I don’t think my wife, Deb, would warm up to that idea though.)

My need for this new railing was three-fold. First, I wanted a railing that would add to the structural integrity of the deck overall. Second, I wanted something that was eye catching and easy to maintain. But mostly, I wanted a railing that would give our patrons a clear view of Perkins Cove and the boats in it. I have accomplished all three goals. The only issues I can see, if indeed these are any issues, are the sun reflecting off the highly polished stainless— and the top of the rail is rounded (tubing) so you can’t set a Barnacle Billy’s Rum Punch on the top to take a picture. You will now have to hold the rum punch to make that take perfect digital image!

Along with the stainless railing I had all the planking on the deck removed, the whole deck reinforced, and brand-new planking installed by Jayson Lessard & Son. This also came out better than I ever expected. These guys are masters of the art of building and construction. Along with that, Eric Littlefield did most of the organizing and staining of all the planking that was going to be used for the new deck. This was all accomplished inside Barnacle Billy’s with the heat on and completed in stages so each plank could dry perfectly before the application. Eric gave up his free time to do this without me asking him specifically to do so. You might know Eric from his years of working at both restaurants, but you might not actually know him, as he has been our top behind-the-scenes guy in the kitchen as our head chef and floor manager at Barnacle Billy’s, Etc. Indispensable, he helped us tremendously to get this project completed on time. Hats off to Eric!

Sarah Cannon & Micah Tower revamped our employee policy, dress code, and safety procedures over the winter. Along with those, they organized the merchandise we sell and added new items including coffee cups, new t-shirts, a handbag, etc. This was a lot of work, which they undertook on their own as an enhancement to the restaurants without my directive to do so. We had talked about it before. But it was their own initiative that got it done. Thank you both so much!

My go-to managers who keep the place rolling and who I rely on for ideas and information (Matt Pedersen, Stu Dunn, Danny Neumann, Travis Cutter, Sarah Yorke), although not highlighted here, are the cement that hold us together every winter on a regular basis. They, of course, are equally important to me. And it’s hard for me to pinpoint in detail all the extra things they do without going into a lot of detail which really doesn't have a place here. Suffice it to say, they do the detail work.

My sisters, Meg Tower and Cathy Koppstein also fit into the equation and guide me along the correct path in the control of the restaurants moving forward. Their countless ideas may not show up in anything that I can list right here, except to note that they are both my best advisors. And I would be lost without them.

I had several projects completed at Barnacle Billy’s, Etc. over the winter. The lounge was completely revamped with new carpeting, new stained and varnished wood, and totally repainted where it needed it. So many other items were addressed; it would bore you to explain it here.

We were sorry about our restaurateur ‘brothers’ at the Oarweed Restaurant with the restaurant burning to the ground this winter. I have offered assistance to them in order to expedite the rebuilding for their opening in spring 2026. We wish them all the best as they move forward.

So, tomorrow at 11AM will be the opening day. I hope to see you all there. You will also be able to see some of my heroes who worked so hard to get all this together for this day. I am so looking forward to seeing you all. They aren’t calling for the best of weather, but that never stopped all of you wonderful people who are our opening day regulars in the past. Please stay safe, all!