KITTERY, Maine — After 34 years under the ownership of Michael Landgarten, Bob’s Clam Hut, an iconic Route 1 landmark, is slated to be sold to First Serve Hospitality Group.
The company set to purchase Bob’s Clam Hut bought Robert’s Maine Grill from Landgarten in 2016.
In a June 15 letter to friends and family, Landgarten said he has been looking for a buyer for a couple of years now. The closing date is scheduled for June 30.
Landgarten, 61, also owns Lil’s Caf and is a co-owner of The Corner Pub. He said selling Bob’s would slow his life down a bit.
Bob’s Portland location was sold to a separate group in early April and will operate under a different name.
Landgarten described First Serve Hospitality Group as passionate, effective, capable and caring restaurant owners with years of experience.
“Just about everyone who was working at Robert’s for me is still there, which says a lot,” Landgarten wrote in the letter. “First Serve intends to keep all the wonderful Bob’s staff and are excited about the opportunity to own this cherished institution. Robert’s and Bob’s will be reunited.”
Bob’s Clam Hut has always been more than a place to eat. It is part of the Maine experience. Heaping baskets of deep-fried seafood, bulging lobster rolls and a quintessential dine-in-the-rough motif, complete with lemonade and ice cream, have attracted fans of roadside diners and clam shack culture since Bob and Betty Kraft first opened the eatery in 1956.
By 1986, Bob’s had cultivated a legacy beyond its menu characterized by a strong work ethic and a compassionate environment that attracted Landgarten to the business.
“When I bought Bob’s, I thought I was going to leave after two years and be a musician,” Landgarten said. “I didn’t have any original dreams for the business, I just wanted to fit in with the family. They were so welcoming and wholesome; it was like Norman Rockwell in the best sense. They had great values, they were real and sincere, worked hard and cared for one another. It was non-capitalistic, family and community oriented, and it was healing for me.”
Over the years, Landgarten continued to write and play music, but stuck with Bob’s.
“I fell deeper in love then I expected,” he said.
These days Clam Hut staffers still follow the original recipes and Landgarten said he has strived to uphold the Krafts’ values.
Still, there have been lots of changes, especially when it comes to sustainability. The Clam Hut is now solar-powered and uses compostable paper and plastic alternatives.
Also, the number of guests has burgeoned. Landgarten estimated that as many as 2,000 customers pass through Bob’s on a sunny summer day.
Bob’s was named a “Great American Lobster Destination” by USA Today and was on Thrillist’s “50 Essential Restaurants Every American Should Visit.” Coastal Living recognized the lobster roll at Bob’s as one of the best in the state, and Yankee magazine spotlighted the Clam Hut as having one of “The 10 Best Fried Clams in Maine.”
“I have had such loyal family, friends, and supporters over these years. So many are passionate about Bob’s as well. Often, I am surprised to see friends or family hunkered down at a remote table at Bob’s, chowing down a fish sandwich, clam taco or lobster roll,” Landgarten said. “Most notably there was a gang of protesters, many from the do-gooder crew that ran Taste of the Nation for years, who saved Bob’s in 2005 from a serious threat. Thank you all for supporting me and Bob’s and taking part in the clammy joy.”
Landgarten also expressed gratitude for Bob’s vendors and staff.
“I have been so lucky to have hundreds of skilled and sincere people who have worked hard and long at Bob’s,” he said. “They are the ones who have made Bob’s thrive; a happy place and so well loved. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.”
“The process of letting go is overwhelming,” he added. “I have only inadequate words to express what the journey has been like and how much gratitude I feel. I will miss Bob’s and sincerely hope what has made Bob’s so magical for guests, staff and community continues.”
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