KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — After 63 years of being owned by Kennebunkport native Sonny Hutchins, Port Lobster changed hands last week when Kennebunkport native and town Selectman Allen Daggett bought the retail fish market that has been a mainstay in town for well over half a century.
Daggett also owns Cape Porpoise Lobster Company Inc., Cape Pier Chowder House and Cape Porpoise Bait Company.
Sonny Hutchins founded Port Lobster in 1953. The market was originally housed in the former Peabody’s Boat House across the street from the current building on Ocean Avenue.
“I had been in the lobstering business before I went into the Army, I grew up in it, my father was a lobsterman for 44 years and then I fished too. I thought by doing this (selling retail and take out) I would be getting into the easier part of it — but I found out it wasn’t,” Hutchins said with a chuckle, explaining how he got into the retail end of the business.
Just like Hutchins, Daggett also grew up in the business. He began lobstering at the age of 12 and fished until his early 20s when in 1969 he began selling lobsters doing business as “Daggett’s Lobster Company.”
Eventually he gave up fishing to sell lobsters full time and over the years he expanded and ventured into other fish related businesses such as the Chowder House he runs on the pier in Cape Porpoise.
Daggett and Hutchins are no strangers. Both are Kennebunkport natives from longtime lobstering families and Daggett’s father grew up with Hutchins.
“I’ve known Sonny for as long as I’ve been on this earth. We use to live next door to each other,” Daggett said. Hutchins laughed and commented. “That’s for sure. We go all the way back.”
Port Lobster had been on and off the market over the years with a couple of interested buyers, but nothing ever panned out. Hutchins said one day he and Daggett were talking and he asked Daggett “Why don’t you buy the business?”
“I guess he thought about and decided it would be a good idea,” Hutchins said.
Although the business has changed hands, both Daggett and Hutchins agree that nothing will change. Hutchins will still be there every day as he always has and his daughter, Kathy Anueszweski will still manage the place.
All of the employees and associates will also stay on.
“Allen and I both feel if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” Hutchins said. He added, “I am happy to have someone local who knows the business buy it.”
Daggett said he is equally happy that it all worked out the way it did.
“I’m not worried about a thing. It will be business as usual. When you walk in and do business here, you’ll never know anything changed at all. Sonny has been good to me over the years, and I feel real good about buying this place.”