KENNEBUNK – As it celebrates its first year on the corner of Main and Bourne streets, The Blue owner Danielle Sharp reminisces on the inaugural year of her coffee shop.
“It’s been a really amazing year,” Sharp said. “Starting a new business is always scary, but we’ve been so lucky to be welcomed into the community.”
Walking in to The Blue, the warm dark wood and comforting color on the walls – blue of course – provide an inviting place to spend a quiet afternoon. A long bar separates the two seating areas, each with a collection of leather armchairs.
Above the bar is a chalkboard listing of the offerings at The Blue, featuring drip coffees like a Kenyan medium roast and a Wood Island dark roast, lattes both hot and iced, chai’s, and teas.
The Blue offers specialty drinks, like a beverage referred to as “the Cassie,” which features a double shot of espresso over ice with chocolate sauce and half and half, a decadent coffee perfect for sitting with a book in one of the leather arm chairs. The Blue also provides wine and craft beers on tap.
The shop serves an array of food, including a new appetizer menu, a daily soup and sandwich, muffins, and breakfast sandwiches until 11 a.m.
The breakfast sandwiches take on a unique quality due to the unconventional way they cook their eggs: in a waffle iron. The sandwiches are traditionally served on a bagel, however the shop has started offering a rosemary focaccia for the sandwiches, pairing the eggs and meat with Cabot white cheddar and a garlic aioli.
“It is the best breakfast sandwich you can get,” said Sharp with pride.
And Sharp wasn’t the only one singing the praises of the food at The Blue.
“This muffin is life,” said 4-year-old Hadley Puffer as she enjoyed the gluten-free “morning glory” muffin with her mother and younger sister.
Sharp lives in Kennebunkport with her husband, Thad, a U.S. Naval officer, and their two daughters Morgan and Nina. Though originally from Michigan, Sharp and her family bounced around all over before settling her six years ago.
“With a husband in the military, we moved around a lot,” Sharp said, working behind the counter of her own shop, chatting while she pours hot water over coffee grinds to make a pour-over for a customer. “But we really love it here.”
Sharp has a long history of working in customer service, and its with a service-first mentality that she runs her business. When asked about what it has been like running her business in Kennebunk, the people are what she references the most.
“We’re very lucky,” Sharp said. “We have the best regulars, and we’ve really been welcomed into the community.”
When deciding to open her own business, there were two things she wanted the shop to be known as.
“Dependable,’ said Sharp. “And consistent.”
It is with this attitude that Sharp chose the name “The Blue,” choosing it for the connotation of the color itself.
“Blue symbolizes strength, and confidence, and being trustworthy,” Sharp said. “And those are all things that I want us to be known for.”
The Blue celebrated its one-year anniversary with a party on May 10, featuring a band inside the restaurant. A free pint glass, emblazoned with the logo, was given to the first 25 guests of the day.
“The community has really welcomed us,” Sharp said. “When you’re a new business, people don’t expect you to last, so it’s been nice that we have the support to do so well here.”
When asked to name some of her favorite moments from the last year, Sharp smiled fondly as she spoke about her patrons, including two of whom who became mothers.
“We thought for a minute there she would have the baby right here,” said Sharp, chuckling at the memory. “She was having some pretty crazy labor pains in here.”
Although Sharp had very basic coffee knowledge when she began the business, she said she has enjoyed learning more over the last year.
“There’s a lot of chemistry that goes into it,” Sharp said. “When we first started, I didn’t really know much, except that I loved coffee. Now I know a lot more.”
Looking to the future, Sharp said she hopes to do more within the community, especially with the school system. Sharp’s daughters Nina and Morgan are a senior and sophomore of Kennebunk High School, making donations to the school a priority for the company.
“I don’t think we’ve said no to a single fundraising group that’s come in this year,” said Sharp. “The schools are so important in this community. We already give, but I’m hoping to be able to do a lot more this year.”
The Blue is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the shop and its upcoming events, visit The Blue Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thebluecoffeehouse/.

Contact Staff Writer Abigail Worthing at news@kennebunkpost.com.

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