Freakin’ out
Freaky Bean closes two locations in quick succession
The Freaky Bean Coffee Company closed two of its four remaining locations this past week, as rumors of big problems at the company swirl.
The Freaky Bean coffee shop at the Cabela’s complex in Scarborough, which had apparently been open only on weekends of late, was largely cleaned out several days ago and will not reopen. On Friday, Freaky Bean’s Westbrook location, the site of its micro-roastery, closed with no warning. Perplexed patrons arrived to find a board announcing the shop had been shuttered “due to unforseen [sic] circumstances.”
Freaky Bean’s new shop on Route 1 in Scarborough, and its shop on Broadway, in South Portland, are still open.
The phone at the company’s headquarters is no longer in service. An e-mail requesting comment was not returned.
Freaky Bean cofounder and owner Andrew Kessler sent an e-mail from his personal account with the following statement: “Andrew Kessler left day to day operations of the company in November. He has no ongoing communication with the board, the shareholders or the day to day operators of the business.” He wrote that he can make no further comment at this time “due to ongoing legal proceedings.”
Some vendors and former employees have been complaining of unpaid bills and bounced paychecks. Sources say legal action against the company is pending.
After an aggressive expansion last year, Freaky Bean appears to be slipping fast. For example, the Maine Roasters Coffee sign above the Cabela’s location never was removed, though MRC’s Web site (maineroasterscoffee.com) no longer redirects visitors to Freaky Bean’s site. At present, it’s a placeholder page hosted by Go Daddy.
— Chris Busby
