The Heart of Kittery Point

Jul 12

For generations, Pepperrell Cove has been part of everyday life in Kittery Point.

When Donna Ryan, chef-owners Henry and Eides Ares, and Ann Kendall purchased Pepperrell Cove in 2017, they weren't simply taking on another restaurant project. Donna would oversee restoration, events, and business operations; Henry and Eides would lead the culinary vision; and Ann would manage the opening of the Provisions shop.

"We had one goal," Donna says. "Bring this historic waterfront back to life as a place where people could gather."

They began by restoring the building that now houses the event venue and Provisions shop before opening their first business on the property in 2018. From there, they turned their attention to the neighboring building, continuing the transformation one structure at a time. Rather than replacing Pepperrell Cove's history, they worked to preserve its role as one of Kittery Point's gathering places while preparing it for the next generation.

Today, Pepperrell Cove is home to Frisbee's Wharf, Bistro 1828, The Ski Club, The View, Provisions, and an ice cream window. Boaters arrive by water. Families stop for lunch. Wedding guests celebrate overlooking the harbor. Friends meet after work. Visitors often wonder how they missed it for so long.

"It was really important that people had access to the ocean," Donna says. "It’s here for everyone to enjoy."

The work didn't stop with the buildings. Pepperrell Cove has never required food-and-beverage minimums for weddings and events, making the waterfront accessible to more couples and families. Ryan and her partners also hire teenagers as young as 14 because they remember what those first jobs meant in their own lives.

"We were given opportunities that allowed us to learn a great work ethic and be the entrepreneurs that we are today," Donna says.

Pepperrell Cove now employs roughly 60 people year-round and more than 120 during the summer season, many of them local students working their very first jobs.

"It's a really simple recipe," Donna says. "Buy the best ingredients, put out incredible food, make a great drink, and create a friendly environment."

At Frisbee's Wharf, guests will find New England classics, fresh seafood, seasonal specials, and harbor views just steps from the water. Inside, Bistro 1828 offers a more refined dining experience, while The Ski Club provides a casual gathering place overlooking the cove.

Ryan says they once experimented with live music and televisions but eventually realized guests wanted something simpler.

"They just want to gather, socialize, look at the view," she says.

Nearly a decade after Donna, Henry, and Eides began restoring Pepperrell Cove, it has become the kind of place they hoped it would be from the beginning. Not because they built something new, but because they understood what belonged there all along.