and each day he’s thankful for the opportunity to provide a place close to home where those in the community can enjoy a great meal, listen to music, have fun, and meet old friends or make new ones. That place is called the East Shore Tavern and Bancroft has transformed what was a small family diner into an establishment that everyone can feel welcome to visit.
Located at 1248 Roosevelt Trail in Raymond, East Shore Tavern was rebranded in February after about 15 years of being known as Café Sebago. Bancroft bought the business three years ago after it had been on the market for some time and it is rapidly becoming a favorite gathering place for local and visitors.
“I was born and raised in Raymond and I’m a hometown guy,” Bancroft said. “I live in this community, and I work here in this community and to me, the best thing about all of this is being able to have a business in my hometown and elevating it for the future. When I purchased Café Sebago from the previous owner, I promised to keep it as Café Sebago for several years and I kept that promise.”
Along with his staff, Bancroft gathered several years of helpful information prior to rebranding the tavern to offer customers exactly the kind of place they wanted.
“We had to figure out who our customer base is to give them the type of atmosphere they could enjoy,” he said. “We took over after coronavirus had shut the business down and had to make changes slowly to bring it across the finish line. We had to roll everything out in sections.”
Bancroft has assembled a top-notch team to assist him in running the tavern.
“We’re a small-knit team but it was important to find qualified people who wanted to engage in the business and wanted to be part of the team,” he said.
One of the changes Bancroft has made during the transformation of East Shore Tavern is to liven things up and bring some nightlife to Raymond.
According to Bancroft, now, there’s something fun going on at the business every time a customer visits. Tuesdays at East Shore Tavern features karaoke, Wednesdays are game nights, and Thursdays are open mic nights. On Friday nights, there is a DJ spinning your favorite tunes and every Saturday there are live music performances. The dining room opens at noon each day with the dance floor available at 9 p.m. The tavern is closed on Mondays.
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| Formerly named Cafe Sebago, East Shore Tavern in Raymond has been a local staple for great food and a friendly atmosphere for almost 20 years. They have made many updates inside and out over the last couple years and invite you to come and enjoy amazing food and nightly entertainment. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
Another task facing Bancroft and his team in transforming the business was how to best revise the menu to provide great and affordable food that customers preferred.
“We offer flavorful twists on pub-style food and have homestyle specials daily,” he said.
Since rebranding the business as East Shore Tavern, Bancroft said customers have embraced the changes and are liking what they are seeing.
Online reviews have been exceptional for the tavern.
“Fun place great staff. Highly recommended.” Donnie Sarazen
“A local great spot. Awesome food and drink!” Michael McGrath
“Love it! Always great food, drinks, and atmosphere!” Kate Latini
“Best food... great chef named Luisa. Prompt service by Ashley and Jazmyn, love this place, give it a try you will be back!” Kathleen Pierson
Bancroft said he’s happy that so many people have expressed how happy they are that Raymond at last has a place to go for fun and entertainment, and that all the work that has been put into making the tavern’s transformation to this point is connecting positively with local residents.
“We believe everyone will like it here,” Bancroft said. “People are coming out, having a good time, and having fun in a safe environment that’s clean and really is for everybody now.”
To learn more about East Shore Tavern, call 207-655-6481 or find them on Facebook under East Shore Tavern. Also be sure to follow them on Tik Tok @ eastshore207. <
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