Village Tavern In West Kennebunk, Maine Closes After 13 Years

Another longtime local restaurant has closed its doors, and this one is going to hit home for anyone who has spent a night at the Village Tavern in West Kennebunk, Maine.

The restaurant, located at 110 Alfred Road in West Kennebunk, has permanently closed after more than a decade in business. According to reporting from Seacoast Online and the Portland Press Herald, the Village Tavern opened in 2012 and served the community for roughly 13 years.

The restaurant announced the closure on social media, saying that rising costs had made it increasingly difficult to stay open. The owners also said their landlord informed management that the lease was being terminated, making Wednesday, August 19th, the restaurant’s final day of service.

One local wrote on social media, "You, your staff and amazing sustenance have offered such a warm, wonderful respite from the world. You were our family’s favorite place to bring my mom, and for our own special occasions. We will miss you greatly. Thank you for everything."

And another said, "OH NO!! This is my favorite place to eat! Every time I went I would get the crab cakes and beef short rib dinner."

The Village Tavern was known for its upscale menu featuring dishes like seafood, filet mignon and duck magret. Chef Calvin Karparis took ownership of the restaurant in 2025.

But for many locals, restaurants like this are about much more than what's on the menu. They're where people celebrate birthdays, meet up with friends, enjoy date nights and create memories… and that's exactly what the Village Tavern highlighted in its farewell message.

“Thank you to all who continued to support, saw our potential and where we were headed,” the restaurant wrote, adding that they were “deeply grateful for the friendships, celebrations, and meals we have shared with you all.”

It's another tough goodbye for the local restaurant scene, and a reminder of just how challenging it can be for independent restaurants to keep their doors open.

If you have a favorite memory from the Village Tavern, we'd love to hear it.