Owning a fishing wharf had been a lifelong dream for Waldoboro resident Derrick Parlin. That dream came true when he purchased Osier’s Wharf in South Bristol and reopened the business on June 16 as Parlin’s Lobster Wharf.
When he learned David Osier was retiring and selling the wharf, Parlin said he was ready for the opportunity to buy the business. He had been lobstering since the age of 12, had been fishing out of Osier’s Wharf for the past 15 years, and owned the 54-foot boat F/V Killshot.
Parlin said he thought those experiences gave him a strong understanding of what it would take to run the wharf successfully.
Parlin’s Lobster Wharf maintains the tradition of a fishing wharf in South Bristol, and is now lobsterman-owned and operated. Parlin said the wharf will continue offering services to local lobstermen and summer visitors alike, and will be building on Osier’s legacy by running a kitchen, convenience store, and gas pumps, plus buying catch from local lobstermen.
Osier bought the wharf in fall 1997. He started off buying catch from two boats, and ended his almost 30-year tenure with more than 20 boats fishing out of his wharf.
Osier said he was grateful that the business was continuing to serve the local community as a fishing wharf rather than being bought for another purpose.
Parlin said that he has received lots of positive support from the community following the opening of his business in June. While it can be challenging to buy a business as beloved as Osier’s Wharf, Parlin reflected that the South Bristol community has been great.
Parlin has three children and said he hopes that they can get involved in the business as they get older. He said he intends to keep the business as a spot for fishing as well as a family-friendly location for dining. He said his hope is that the location remains a fishing wharf for years to come, and part of his passion behind buying it was a desire to keep the business for this purpose rather than turning it into something else.
Parlin said he will be introducing some new menu items and exploring options for the upstairs space, as he is hoping to open a bar or a restaurant in the building like there had been in previous years.
Parlin’s Lobster Wharf is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
For more information, call 207-644-8101 or find Parlin’s Lobster Wharf on Facebook.