The kitchen of the popular Governor’s restaurant is calm Tuesday morning before the hectic lunch rush. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
Fans of Governor’s Restaurant and Bakery won’t see any visible changes when Jason Clay takes over as the new owner of the group of Maine restaurants May 22.
Randy Wadleigh announced the transition last week as he gets ready to retire. He reportedly considered selling to a merger-and-acquisition company, but ultimately decided Clay, an employee for the past 17 years, would be the best choice for the company’s future.
“We have a very strong time-tested brand, and I’ve been operating the businesses for several years already,” Clay told the Buzz on Monday. “While change is inevitable, there is nothing major on the horizon.”
Clay said he is purchasing the business but not the real estate at this time.
The Wadleigh family owns five of the locations: Old Town, Bangor and Lewiston, and Ellsworth and Waterville, which are leased.
Clay said there is a sixth in Presque Isle that will remain an independently owned franchise.
The Wadleigh family started the business as an ice cream stand in 1959 and called it Creemee’s, but decided a full-service restaurant open year-round would be a better choice. Founders Leith and Donna Wadleigh struggled to find a better name for the new venture.
According to the company website, Leith Wadleigh would greet customers with, “Hi ya, governor.” So they decided to name the restaurant in honor of everyone who came in. The phrase is also a Cockney term for “boss” or man in charge, and is a classic East End London expression.
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