Bill Zolper, Owner of the Old Port Franchise, B. Good, an East Coast Company.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,526)

“We will be serving food made by people and not by factories,” said Bill Zolper, as he discussed the opening of his B.Good eatery in the Old Port yesterday afternoon.  The eatery has a soft opening tonight between 6 – 8 pm at which free hamburgers, fries and salads will be given  to those who stop in at the 15 Exchange Street address; that offer runs for tonight only.  Outside there will be music and other activities.

The likeable Zolper, who was remarkably relaxed under the circumstances,  is a Maine native, having grown up in Bangor where he played  high school basketball.   He earned a business and entrepreneurship degree from USM, Portland.  He also attended Cass Business School in London. Zolper has always wanted to be his own boss, because he likes the challenges involved in business ownership.  On this venture, his father, a doctor in Bangor at Northeast Pain Management, is his business partner.  “We’ve been working on this for about l l/2 years and it has worked well,” said Zolper, a Portland resident.

“We serve local food and local beer and wine.  That all starts on Thursday,” according to Zolper.  The beef and cheese come from Pineland Farms and the produce from Spiller Farms, Wells.  The beef chuck is ground on site which is unique in the area.  There are no fillers in the meat, so it’s all natural.  Local beers are on tap. And there will be wine on tap, the first eatery in the area to do that as far as Zolper is aware.

“Business school taught me to keep focused on today so that I can be sure there’s a tomorrow,” said Zolper, 23.

B. Good, part of a Massachusetts chain, is the first one to open in Maine. It will be open 7 days a week.  Monday – Thursday it will be open between 11 am – 10 pm; Friday – Saturday it will be open between 11 am – 2 am; and on Sunday it will be open between 11 am – 8 pm.  The phone number is 747-5355.

Check it out!