Dec. 22 – A fire in the Perkins Cove area of Ogunquit severely damaged an antique store and restaurant Saturday evening.
The fire broke out at 61 Perkins Cove Road just after 7 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the Ogunquit Fire Department.
The fire caused “major damage” to Uniques and Antiques and the Oarweed Restaurant, located at 61 and 65 Perkins Cove Road respectively.
No civilians were injured, but one firefighter was treated at the scene for his injuries, the fire department said.
Uniques and Antiques owner Rusty Rouleau, who leases the storefront, said he’s not sure if the building’s owners will choose to rebuild it. He said they are still figuring out if the insurance payout will be enough to rebuild under current codes.
Rouleau has operated the antique and Christmas store for 15 years, but the building has been a Christmas store for 52 years, he said.
“(The store is) my life. … I’ve been doing this for a long time, seven days a week. I put my heart and soul into the store, my identity,” Rouleau said in a telephone interview. “It’s just going to be tough.”
Oarweed Restaurant — a seasonal seafood restaurant and bar open since 1963 — posted a statement on Facebook Saturday morning saying its staff is preparing to reopen for the 2025 season.
“Everyone is safe and ready to do whatever it takes to get our beloved Oarweed ready to move on! Thank you to everyone for your support and love,” the message reads.
While crews worked to extinguish the fire, Central Maine Power shut off electricity in the area to prevent power lines from posing a hazard to firefighters.
Several fire departments from surrounding communities, including Eliot, Kittery, North Berwick, South Berwick, Wells, York and York Beach, also responded to the scene.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
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