“We are really stressed to the max here because we can’t find help,” said an employee today at The Smiling Cow, a long-time gift shop in the heart of Boothbay Harbor.  “It’s because of the government’s generous unemployment package.  They would rather collect that money than go to work.  I work 40  hours a week and could put in a lot more if I wanted to,” she said. Clearly she doesn’t want to.  “There are plenty of tourists around, but they won’t be here if they don’t get good service.  It’s time to stop that government handout now.”

“I think it will be a good tourist season for Boothbay Harbor if employers can get  help,” said Greg Knapp, who lives on the second floor of a nearby gift shop.  A former gift shop owner in the area, Knapp, is familiar with the challenges that employers have in hiring summer help.  “There used to be a lot of Jamaicans working in the area, but I haven’t see any so far this year,” Knapp said.  “There is not a large pool of school kids to work here. because there aren’t a lot of year round people here.  There are a lot of retired people living in the area.  They are looking for summer work for something to do,” he said. “Some go to work at Hannaford Supermarket.”

Trying to find a restaurant in which to dine is an iffy thing.  Making that more challenging for sure is the fact that Memorial Day when restaurants fling open their doors for the season is still several weeks off – which in some cases is extended late into the year because of additional attractions such as the popular 14 year old Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

A few tourists strolling near the waterfront enjoying the late afternoon sunshine and 70 degree temps were asking each other if they knew of a good restaurant that is open. The names most often mentioned were McSeagulls, the Boathouse Bistro and Mine Oysters.

This blogger walked over to the Boathouse Bistro, largely on the recommendation of a couple who dined there last night and recommended it highly.  The sign in the doorway said it was closed today, but there was an invitation to go to Mine Oyster, on Wharf Street.

Ralph Smith the congenial owner of both Mine Oyster and the Boathouse Bistro said that he is down about sixteen employees so far.  One employee at the Boathouse Bistro was unable to work today so that venue had to shutdown for today – his margin of employees is that slim. His shortage of seasonal help is largely due to the cancellation of student J1 visas  from overseas because of the pandemic.  Smith, a Rehobeth, Delaware native, usually hires summer help from Turkey, Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria.  But not this year.

Smith needs food runners, bussers, hostesses and dishwashers.  Dustin Greenlee, who is from Modesta, California, arrived in Boothbay Harbor less than a week ago to cook at Mine Oyster.  He said the pay is good and free housing is included.  “Housing is so expensive where I’m from in California,” he said. (See above left photo).

“I rely heavily on overseas employees for my two restaurants.  It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is.  It’s always been that way because there is such a small pool of young adults available for seasonal help.  That’s largely because so many of them work in family businesses during the summer.  Many crew on family lobster boats or find employment in other summer businesses,” Smith said, the ten year owner of Boathouse Bistro and Mine Oyster restaurants.

Following a truly outstanding and flavorful crab meat roll and some Pemaquid oysters for dinner, this blogger finished off dinner with another great scoop of homemade ice cream at the nearby Ice Cream Factory. To Be Continued.

For more background information on the lack of season help in Boothbay Harbor, please visit post herein dated May 6, 2021.