Chamber ribbon cutting welcomes Chew 62 to Dover-Foxcroft
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A dream has come true for a new restaurant owner. Having previously worked in kitchens, Chew 62 owner Tejai Lee now has his own establishment, Chew 62, on North Street in the remodeled former home of the Nor’easter.
Lee was welcomed to the community with a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony during the afternoon of Jan. 5.
Chamber Executive Director Denise Buzzelli said she wanted to welcome Chew 62 to the town and the Chamber family. “We’re thankful this is the place you chose to accomplish your dream,” she said.
CHEW 62 — Chew 62 owner Tejai Lee makes the cut during a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 5 at the North Street restaurant in Dover-Foxcroft.
The name Chew 62 was inspired by a Bible verse from Galatians, chapter 6, verse 2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” This is meaningful for Lee because he is passionate about people and serving the community.
Buzzelli told the attendees about a conversation she had with Lee when he was a chef at Kobe Ninja House in Bangor. “I asked him what his dream was ‘who are you, what to do you want to do, who do you want to be?,’’ she said, joking these questions were not just because the talk was one of the first she had with her daughter’s boyfriend.
“The reason I asked that question is because I saw something in him, I saw an entrepreneur, I saw a dreamer, I saw a visionary,” Buzzelli said. The Chamber executive director said she has a knack for sensing peoples’ traits, “and there is just something about him that I just knew there was something bigger for him than what he was doing on the day we had that conversation.”
“The Buzzellis are proud of you, the Chamber is proud of you and we are for you as a Chamber and board of directors,” Buzzelli said. “We want to see you succeed and fly high and go on that journey with you.”
Opening late last month and serving lunch and dinner, the mission of Chew 62 is to be recognized as a family-friendly, community-driven restaurant prioritizing unmatched customer service through ongoing employee development, and fresh, delicious food made with “love in every bite.” Menu items include locally sourced fresh food when possible, made to order, not pre-processed or previously frozen. Customers can expect a modern twist on classic, home-style food, with culturally diverse specials and a fun children’s menu.