Much Loved Aroostook County Restaurant Will Close After 50 Years

Say it ain't so....

Imagine owning a business for 50 years. Just going in every day, doing the same thing over and over.... but loving every minute of it. You'd have to. There'd be no other reason for doing it. Especially the restaurant business. If you can still slap a smile on your face at work for all those years, you deserve a medal.

Sadly, that's what's happening in October up in the town of Sinclair in Aroostook County. After all these years in business, Neal and Denise Martin announced their plans to close the doors on the Long Lake Sporting Club in October, according to a post on their Facebook page. They feel it's been an amazing run, but it's time to rest. In their own words:

It has been our pleasure serving you in that time. With that being said, we need a break. We need more time for our kids, our family, and for our health. We will be closing and our last day open will be October 17, 2021. We are unsure of what the future holds for us, but we are not going anywhere.

Some businesses are bigger than their location.

It's not like they only hosted folks from around the county. In fact, a lot of people from around the state have seen it as an oasis when travelling north. Be it headed to Canada, or up there hunting, or snowmobiling, what have you. A lot of folks almost see it as kind of like the Moody's Diner of the north.

It's sad to see any iconic establishment close, especially one with such history and meaning to folks all over Maine. But it's also nice to see someone know when it's time to call it a day. Not because the business is suffering, but because they recognize it's time for them to take care of themselves, after decades of taking care of Maine.