Staff Writer
HOULTON — Two downtown businesses held their ribbon cutting ceremonies on location last Thursday.
Pioneer Times photo/Ben Austin
NEW OWNERS — Kayla Schools stands in the back of Raspberry Beret sizing up the ribbon just before cutting through it. In the photo are from left: Anne Callnan, Debbie Henderson, Barrett Potter, Schools, Lori Weston and Sue Tortello.
Zippy’s, owned by Mike Hurley of Temple Theatre fame, held its ceremony in front of the stand, after being open for the last two weeks.
The new eatery, positioned adjacent to the Temple Theatre, serves a variety of quality foods. Zippy’s serves everything from burgers and various kinds of hotdogs, to quesadillas.
“Right now the quesadillas have been a hit. We are going to look at expanding the menu as we go. We’re still looking to get fried dough … and we’ll keep experimenting to see what people really want to have,” explained Zippy’s manager Patrick Blanchette.
The placement of Zippy’s could not be any better for movie-goers, as you can buy a meal at Zippy’s and take it inside the theatre to enjoy a movie.
“We always thought this was a nice position downtown. by the bridge, with the theatre here. The whole idea is to get people hanging around here, downtown,” said Blanchette.
Hurley’s family even made the trip up from New Jersey for their first visit to, and to join in on the opening ceremony of, Zippy’s.
Pioneer Times photo/Ben Austin
IT’S OFFICIAL — Mike Hurley, owner of Zippy’s, celebrates by holding up half the freshly cut ribbon just outside the eatery. In the photo are, front, left to right, Annie Hurley and Taylor Gervais, middle row, Dan Hurley, Mike Hurley and Lori Weston, and peering out of the window of Zippy’s is Patrick Blanchette.
Zippy’s is open seven days a week, Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday-Tuesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The second ribbon cutting of the day was on the opposite corner of the downtown square, at the Raspberry Beret.
Although the Raspberry Beret has been open for about a year and a half under the current name, and nearly 10 years under the name of Mother Hubbard’s, a recent change in ownership called for a fresh new opening ceremony.
Kayla Schools bought the store from previous owner Rachel Upton on July 1. Schools says that she has had no difficulties changing roles from employee to owner, and that she plans to keep the store basically the same as it has been.
“There won’t be extreme changes. I’ve got new stuff in, different from what Rachel had, but no dramatic changes,” said Schools
The Raspberry Beret is open Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
