Historic Naples pub and eatery fulfills buyer's dream
Courtesy / Malone Commercial Brokers
Bray's Brew Pub and Eatery, located in a Victorian-style farmhouse in Naples, is well-positioned to catch Lakes Region traffic.
Courtesy / Malone Commercial Brokers
Bray's Brew Pub and Eatery is located in a Victorian-style farmhouse in Naples.
NAPLES — Gary Skellett fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning a small restaurant and pub when he purchased the popular Bray’s Brew Pub and Eatery, located in a Victorian-style farmhouse at 678 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302).
The 6,240-square-foot building has an outdoor deck, plus a bar and stage on a 0.90 acre lot. The property sold for $480,000, lower than the original ask of $549,000. John Doyon of Malone Commercial Brokers represented sellers Mike Bray and Sonja Larochelle; Bray started the establishment in 1995, with Larochelle eventually coming on as co-owner. Skellett represented himself. The transaction closed May 9.
The turn-key property went on the market in the spring of 2016, said Doyon.
“Selling a restaurant is not always a fast endeavor,” he said.
The year-round establishment is known, he said, as a great entertainment venue, bringing in local, regional and national acts. It’s well-situated at the start of Naples’ downtown district, with views across Long Lake to the White Mountains. Route 302 is a major route to Shawnee Peak Ski Resort as well as several New Hampshire ski resorts and theme parks. The town’s year-round population of about 4,000 greatly expands in the summer due to the number of summer cottages, overnight camps, boating enthusiasts and leisure travelers.
It’s also known for the brews crafted by Bray and Larochelle, who sold the property in order to focus on brewing. They’re now leasing the brewing space, and Larochelle is staying on as restaurant manager, said Doyon.
The restaurant offers indoor seating for 75 and an outside bar area with for 50. The parking lot accommodates 50 vehicles.
Originally hailing from Massachusetts, Skellett summered as a child with his grandparents, who had a place in Wells. He had a career in finance, holding senior positions at J.P. Morgan and Stone Coast Fund Services. He also served in the Massachusetts National Guard. He and his family now have a home in Wells, as well as a place at Point Sebago, not far from Naples, where he plans eventually to retire.
He was overseas serving with the National Guard when he learned Bray’s was on the market.
“My lieutenant came in and said, ‘Don’t you have a place up by Bray’s?’” he recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘It’s for sale.’ So I started negotiations when I was overseas.”
Today, he’s “pretty much retired” from his day job and only has a few months left with the National Guard.
“I want to take it easy and live the Maine life,” he said. “I’ve been in the service a little over 23 years, so it’s time to call it a day.”
There’s been a tavern on the spot dating to 1750, and the current structure dates to 1888. The building is sound, says Skellett, who started some renovation to expand the dining room for additional seating, renovate the kitchen and reconfigure the bathroom set-up to make it more family friendly. He plans to tweak the menu to make it more affordable for everyday eating.
“It’s exciting because it’s brand new,” he said. “I’m reinventing myself. I love the people and I love this area. The regular patrons are a big part of the reason why I wanted to do this.”
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