Newry, ME – One-time Sunday River owner Les Otten has partnered with Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer to open a new eatery near this Maine ski resort.
Kramer announced the partnership in revealing the pair’s plans for “Rockin’ & Roastin’ Café & Restaurant – At the Mountain”. Kramer, who for the past three years has been peddling his own organic coffee label, plans to open the new facility this December at the site of the Phoenix House & Well in Newry.
“Les Otten is a legend in skiing, and I couldn’t be more amped to partner up with him in this venture,” Kramer says. “When I started Rockin’ & Roastin’ in 2012, I always hoped it would lead to opportunities in the restaurant industry and this one is a dream.”
The restaurant will feature a coffeehouse, dining room and bar with views of Sunday River Mountain.
“I’m very much looking forward to this partnership with Joey, and his Rockin’ & Roastin’ team,” says Otten. “Since I graduated college, the Bethel and Sunday River areas have been such a huge part of my life and I’m thrilled about this new and exciting project.”
As owner of Sunday River, Otten formed American Skiing Co., which used debt to acquire mountain resorts across the U.S. including The Canyons in Utah, Killington and Mount Snow in Vermont, Heavenly in California/Nevada and Steamboat, Colorado. As the company’s debt became unmanageable, Otten left the firm and became vice chairman of the Boston Red Sox as American Skiing Co. was dissolved in 2008.
To complete the new restaurant, the exterior of the building will be reskinned, and the interior will undergo a total revamp. Among the unique memorabilia on display will be Kramer’s drum kit from the recent Aerosmith “Global Warming Tour” – a hand painted, glow-in-the-dark ensemble.
Among other renovations, the Rockin’ & Roastin’ Café & Restaurant will extend its prow front to the edge of the property with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains and with the addition of a unique built-in bar with unobstructed views of the Sunday River Resort. The venue also will feature two other bars, live music and it will be open year-round.
Downstairs, there will be a casual café concept where baristas will prepare a variety of coffee drinks using Rockin’ & Roastin’ Guatemalan, Ethiopian and Sumatran brews, a signature espresso, an all-natural Swiss water-based decaffeinated version, organic flavored coffees and cappuccinos. For those looking to snack, it will offer fresh baked goods including coffee cakes, Danishes, pastries and muffins that will be baked in-house as well as gourmet sandwiches. The menu items will be named with fun twists on Aerosmith hits such as “Janie’s Got a Bun” and “Livin’ on a Wedge.” Upstairs, there will be a full-service dining room that will dish out fare that will include a series of steaks and seafood.
“Our goal is to provide a dynamic ‘must see’ family-friendly venue with great food, great music and great views,” says Frank Cimler, a co-founder of Rockin’ & Roastin’. “We feel this will be a fantastic addition to the region, and hope to bring forth an unforgettable experience for residents and tourists alike.”