Adding pub in Penobscot will not threaten town’s character
Town can ‘preserve its rural charm while supporting the small businesses that help keep it alive,’ says store owner
Oct. 14, 2026
By Jamie MacNair
As the owner of Northern Bay Market, a lifelong Penobscot resident, and someone whose family roots run generations deep in this town, I feel compelled to respond to the letter published in The Rising Tide regarding my desire to open a pub behind the market.
I was born and raised in Penobscot. This is where I grew up, where I chose to raise my own children, where I own a business, and where I have invested my time, energy, and livelihood. I love this town deeply and share the desire to preserve the qualities that make Penobscot special.
Northern Bay Market has been part of this community since 1985. We have worked hard to carry on the tradition of a small, locally owned, mom-and-pop business. We are also proud to be Penobscot’s largest private employer, providing local jobs and contributing to the community that has supported my family for decades.
The idea of adding a pub to Northern Bay Market is not new. It has been a topic of conversation since we purchased the store in 2017, and it became a more realistic possibility when we obtained our agency liquor store license in 2019. It was a project we had hoped to pursue, but we ultimately had to put it on hold following our son’s cancer diagnosis. Our family needed to focus on him, and understandably, the project had to wait.
Now, as we revisit this long-standing idea, I find it disappointing that an effort to expand a local business is being portrayed as a threat to the very town that I have spent my life loving and supporting.
There seems to be an assumption that allowing a small, locally owned pub would somehow erase Penobscot’s history, invite reckless behavior, or turn our community into something unrecognizable. I respectfully disagree.
A small neighborhood pub is not a nightclub. It is not an invitation for people to drink irresponsibly. And it certainly is not the beginning of the end of Penobscot’s rural character.
In fact, throughout New England’s history, small taverns and gathering places have been part of the fabric of our rural communities. They were places where neighbors met, shared stories, enjoyed a meal, and built friendships.
That is the vision: a place for our neighbors to gather, enjoy a pizza, have a beer if they choose, and spend time together right here in their own hometown.
I also take exception to the suggestion that allowing a local business to grow somehow means surrendering Penobscot’s uniqueness. Our town’s character is not defined by whether someone can enjoy a beer with their pizza. It is defined by the people who live here, the way we treat one another, and the pride we take in our community.
Preserving Penobscot should not mean preventing Penobscot from evolving.
I respect everyone’s right to have an opinion and to vote accordingly. I welcome questions, concerns, and thoughtful discussion. That is how a small town should operate. But I hope those conversations can take place without fear-based assumptions about the intentions of a local business owner or the character of the people who might enjoy visiting a neighborhood pub.
If you have questions or concerns, I invite you to stop by Northern Bay Market have a seat on the porch and talk with me. I would welcome the opportunity to have a thoughtful, respectful conversation, listen to your perspective, and help you understand what we are actually proposing. We may not all agree, but I believe we owe one another the courtesy of seeking understanding rather than relying on fear-mongering or assumptions.
For me, this is not about changing Penobscot into another town. It is about investing in the town we already have, creating opportunities, supporting local employment, and giving our neighbors another reason to gather and enjoy their community.
I have no intention of changing what makes Penobscot special. I am one of the people who has spent a lifetime helping keep it special.
I believe we can honor our past while making room for our future. I believe a town can preserve its rural charm while supporting the small businesses that help keep it alive.
And above all, I believe Penobscot is strong enough to welcome a small pub without losing its identity.
Penobscot isn’t just where I only do business. It’s my home. It always has been, and I hope it always will be.
With love and respect for my hometown,
Jamie MacNair
Owner, Northern Bay Market
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