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BIRDWATCHER'S STORE & CAFE |
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This business is for the birds BY CAPTAIN D Do what you love, say the career advisors. Do what you would happily do free. Nobody heeds this advice better than Carol Upton and Jim Ferry, proprietors of Blue Hill's Birdwatcher's Store and Cafe. Carol has loved watching birds ever since she was a little girl growing up on Cape Cod. She introduced Jim to it a few years ago, and now his enthusiasm matches hers.  Turning this enthusiasm into a paying proposition has required a bit of imagination, but Carol and Jim seem to be on the right track. While birdwatching is an important component of their enterprise, it isn't quite the whole thing. They hadn't spent their entire lives watching birds; both brought to the table talents with more immediate commercial applications. For many years, Carol had worked in restaurant management; she had been in charge of well-known, high-end restaurants in both Massachusetts and Maine. Jim, on the other hand, brought versatility. He had had what he calls a "mixed background,” having worked in real estate, food and beverage management and marketing, as a SCUBA instructor and manager at a dive shop and as a seller and installer of solar hot water systems. "We thought a blend of our talents and interests would be a good marriage," Carol says. So far it looks like she was right. Their unique mix of culinary, retail, and educational has generated strong local acceptance. Early on the Blue Hill Chamber of Commerce gave it a stamp of approval with the presentation of a plaque for Best New Business of the Year. Located on Water Street next to the hospital, Birdwatcher's Store and Cafe boasts a primo view of Blue Hill Bay. Carol describes the food as "simple fare," with fresh daily baked goods, soups, salads and sandwiches. At times, however, it can tend towards the esoteric. Typical specials can include such items as northern Italian white bean salad, Greek pasta salad and frittattas (Italian omelets). Carol says Jim has brought a wealth of creative cooking to the venture. There is indoor seating for 18 and room for as many more with seats on the front deck. For people on the run, Carol packs box lunches and does custom catering to go for groups, parties, and private dining. Over on the retail side, they offer resources for wild bird and backyard nature enthusiasts. This includes bird seed, feeders, binoculars, educational videos, books and more. On hand are bird-theme gift items, ranging from mugs to puzzles, and stationery to clocks. Specific brands in stock include EdenPure Infrared Heaters, Wingscapes BirdCams, and Bear-Proof Bird Feeders. They will ship items anywhere, including special-order gifts. Last, but far from least, is the educational. Stan Richmond, rehabilitation specialist from the wildlife sanctuary Birdsacre, has lectured here and the Audubon Society has held open houses. Plans are to host seminars by professional and local birding enthusiasts. |
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