Photo / Courtesy Heidi Kirn Photography
Updates to the guest rooms include new furnishings, color palettes, natural wood detail and fabrics.
July 8, 2025
With new owner and a makeover, Kennebunkport's Breakwater Inn reopens
Photo / Courtesy Heidi Kirn Photography
First Serve Hospitality Group recently completed a makeover of the Breakwater Inn in Kennebunkport.
First Serve Hospitality Group, a Kittery firm that's acquired and renovated a number of southern Maine properties in recent years, completed a makeover of a Kennebunkport inn that dates back to the 1880s.
The Breakwater, a 35-room boutique hotel, reopened July 1.
“When First Serve acquired Breakwater Inn, the property had good bones and a strong reputation to be in such a great location amongst the community, but was in need of significant aesthetic and structural updates,” Mary Pugliese, First Serve’s director of operations, told Mainebiz.
First Serve acquired the inn, at 127 Ocean Ave., from Lafayette Hotel Groups in January for an undisclosed price. Roger Daigle of Daigle Commercial Group brokered the off-market deal.
The property fits with First Serve’s portfolio, which includes Harbor Burger Shack and Bob’s Clam Hut, both in Kittery, and Robert's Maine Grill and Mabel's Lobster Claw and Mabel's House, both in Kennebunkport.
In neighboring Kennebunk, First Serve recently completed renovations of a general store formerly called H.B. Provisions and now repositioned as KPort Provisions.
White granite
The Breakwater's renovation included updates of the original 20-unit inn building and the 15-unit Harbor Building.
Before renovations, the Harbor Building guest rooms reflected “a more dated, traditional coastal aesthetic,” said Pugliese.
Updates to the guest rooms include new furnishings, color palettes, natural wood detail and fabrics. Amenities include using a type of granite called “Bethel white” on the bathroom vanities, Gilchrist & Soames bath products and silk robes.
A restaurant and two bar areas were added, and rooms in the restaurant area that were previously underutilized were updated for events of different sizes.
The two bar areas, both in previously underused spaces, are still to be unveiled.
Interior design was provided by Christina Hawkes of Hurlbutt Designs in Kennebunk.
In addition to regular guests, the property is advertised as a setting for weddings and special events, with indoor and outdoor options, event rooms, multiple bars and tented setups for up to 150 guests.
Cross-promotion
First Serve looks for properties “that have strong bones, a compelling story and prime locations where they can enhance the guest experience through quality design and highly elevated food and beverage offerings,” said Pugliese.
Photo / Courtesy Heidi Kirn Photography
Renovations included repurposing underutilized space as a bar.
The Breakwater stood out thanks to its waterfront location, 1880s architecture and potential to become an integrated hospitality experience combining lodging, dining and events, she said.
The renovations and dining are expected to “significantly enhance the property's appeal for local residents, visitors to Kennebunkport and also to event clients,” she said.
The hotel is now better positioned as a year-round destination, she said. Additionally, the waterfront location and integration with the broader First Serve portfolio is expected to allow for cross-promotion and loyalty across sister properties, boosting overall visibility and repeat business.
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