Young’s Unlikely To Return For Summer

ORLEANS – Those hankering for a lobster roll at Young’s Fish Market may have to look elsewhere to get their seafood fix, at least for the coming season.

The market, which was torn down in the fall following an accident involving a crane at the neighboring bulkhead in November, is not expected to be rebuilt in time for summer, Natural Resources Manager Nate Sears told the select board Jan. 21.

On Nov. 7, a crane being utilized as part of the ongoing Rock Harbor bulkhead reconstruction accidentally struck the market, causing significant damage to the building. The building was left unsalvageable by the accident and was later torn down.

“There’s a significant part of the community that was pretty devastated about that,” Sears said. In a memo to Town Manager Kim Newman he wrote that Coastal Marine Construction, which owns and operates the crane, has “accepted responsibility for the incident.”

While Young’s owns the market, the building was situated on land owned by the town. Sears said the business has operated on a lease with the town “for decades.” The business’s existing lease with the town expires on May 31, according to Sears’ memo.

Young’s general manager Mark Achille said shortly after the accident that the crane “gave way,” leading to the damage. He expressed hope that a new building could be built in time for the summer season, but Sears told the select board last week that the market’s owner, Ron Harrison, is still in talks with the insurance company for Coastal Marine Construction, the firm that was operating the crane at the time of the accident.

In the meantime, Sears said, he has been in “constant” communication with Harrison on the matter.

“Basically it’s in his court right now,” he told the board. “I let him know that we’re ready to sit down and talk about all opportunities moving forward in terms of hopefully coming up with a solution for the future. But we haven’t had that conversation yet.”

Select Board member Mefford Runyon pointedly asked if there was any expectation for Young’s to reopen this season.

“No. I don’t think that would be realistic,” Sears said.

Sears also gave the select board an update on where things stand with the bulkhead reconstruction, which voters approved spending $9 million on at the annual town meeting in May 2024. 

The project involves the construction of a new commercial wharf allowing for end-in boat docking as well as a new floating dock system. Other aspects of the project include the creation of a public viewing area between the wharf and the neighboring charter fleet, the restabilization of a nearby stone wall and the installation of a mechanical hoist system for offloading catch.

Commercial fishermen began using the new bulkhead last summer, but certain aspects of the project have been delayed, including the transfer of utilities to the new facility and the installation of new pilings.

 Sears said “geotechnical issues” led to challenges driving the pilings into the ground onsite, adding that there was “significant variation in the substrate throughout.” Because of that variation, he said, a number of pilings needed to be supplemented with additional piping, which took some time to be delivered.

Despite those challenges, Sears said he anticipates the project will be substantially completed by the end of March. The town expects to officially unveil the new bulkhead around Memorial Day, he said.

“I’m confident and excited that we’re going to have a beautiful new harbor down there this spring,” he said.