The restaurant and pub at the Thistle Inn in Boothbay Harbor has been closed indefinitely, according to owner Max Ross.

“It just wasn’t financially feasible anymore,” said Ross. “In the last year and a half I’ve seen a steady decline in revenue.”

Ross purchased the six-room inn in 2006. He will continue to rent rooms and provide breakfast to guests only, as he seeks a potential tenant for the popular eatery. He anticipates the restaurant will reopen at some point in the future but can’t say exactly when.

“I have had some interest from a couple different parties who were looking to move forward with the lease,” he said. 

In the 10 years he has owned the Thistle Inn, Ross has never sought a tenant for the restaurant. Doing so will allow him to focus energy on the lodging.  He hopes the goodwill and reputation he built will attract a group dedicated to a high level of cuisine and service. Another deciding factor was finding help as Ross encountered a high turnover in staff.

“Staffing is quite an issue in Boothbay Harbor,” said Ross. “It’s not just here but throughout the area.”

The decision did not come lightly and he realizes the impact the closing has on longtime customers who have flocked to the eatery both in the high season of summer and the slow winter months.

“It was not a knee-jerk decision,” said Ross. “It’s been emotional. The restaurant has been such a staple of the community but it will be back. You can’t kill the Thistle.”