WESTBROOK — Don’s Lunch, a food truck in Westbrook since 1976, is again looking for a new place to operate weeks after opening at 925 Main St.
Its business license was revoked by the city.
As a condition of operating at Friendly Gas, Don’s Lunch owner Craig Bernier was to install a fence between his business and the condominium building next door by June 21. He didn’t do so, and his license has been pulled.
The fence requirement, as well as closing down the mobile food unit by 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 10 p.m. during the week, were the conditions imposed on Bernier by the City Council on May 21 after neighbors next door complained about noise and the late-night behavior of some of the customers.
Bernier declined to comment about why the fence was not constructed. The only thing he would say about the situation is that he was “extremely upset with the city.”
In a letter to Bernier dated June 27, Deputy City Clerk Ashley Rand wrote: “As of today, the conditions have not been met. Because of this, you no longer have a valid license to operate Don’s Lunch (mobile) in Westbrook. The business must remain closed until the City Council reviews the conditions, which is scheduled for Monday, July 2.”
The revocation was brought up at that meeting, but no action was taken.
Nancy Litrocapes, one of three condo owners at 917 Main St., told councilors in May that since the business began operating at the gas station in 2015, she and her neighbors have been particularly concerned with the late night crowd. She described those customers as noisy and often intoxicated. It was not uncommon, she said, to find people wandering onto the condo property searching for a place to eat or relieve themselves.
Bernier indicated on Don’s Lunch Van’s Facebook page that this latest issue has caused him to look elsewhere to operate.
“Not going to fight with neighbors on an annual basis when it’s time to renew business license every year, we will move on and find another place to continue our tradition of 43 years,” he wrote in a June 28 post.
Bernier said the future of his mobile unit is still being contemplated.
“At this time, I’d rather not comment until we 100 percent figure out where we are going and what the future is of Don’s,” he said.
Bernier said he is working with another community to bring Don’s Lunch there.
Michael Kelley can be contacted at 781-3661, extension 125, or at:
mkelley@keepmecurrent.com Twitter: mkelleynews
Send questions/comments to the editors.
