CARIBOU, Maine — When Chris Richards opened The Par & Grill Restaurant in 2002, all he wanted was to give customers a fun place to enjoy a round of golf and great food.
For years Richards and his friends had traveled an hour north in the winters to play at the nearest golf simulator in Madawaska. Those experiences inspired him to start a restaurant featuring its own golf simulators for enthusiasts of the sport.
He never expected that The Par & Grill would become a community staple, let alone one that remains popular 20 years later.
“That first night we opened, we were absolutely packed,” Richards said. “We knew then that it wouldn’t just be a place to play golf. It was going to be a full-on restaurant.”
After several years Richards left his full-time management job at a local car dealership to focus on the restaurant, which had continued to grow its customer base.
Par & Grill manager Judy Richards (middle) poses with servers Amanda Schcerman (left) and Katelyn Dombroski at the restaurant. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)
His wife, Judy Richards, soon became the manager. The couple, along with their servers and kitchen staff, got creative by featuring different lunch and dinner specials every day. The golf simulator, which features 41 world-famous courses, continued to draw in frequent golfers looking to hone their skills year-round.
To this day, Par & Grill is known for its “American casual” menu of steaks, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, pizzas and seafood. Chris Richards credits the variety of food, including homemade chicken dishes and fresh burgers, with making customers want to return.
“Our staff is great at coming up with different ideas. It makes us unique because not every place has daily specials,” he said.
The Richards’ biggest challenge came about at the beginning of the COVID pandemic.
Just after purchasing the building they planned to renovate and move the restaurant to, located at 6 Carroll St., the lockdown of March 2020 hit. They were forced to close the existing restaurant on Bennett Drive.
They soon got to work on renovations at Carroll Street, a much larger space, and reopened their new doors in August that year.
Like other restaurant owners, the Richards have dealt with increased food prices and difficulties with finding qualified workers. But they credit the restaurant’s 25 employees with stepping up to the challenges and making each day a memorable experience.
“Some [employees] have been with us since the restaurant opened,” Judy Richards said. “They’re like our second family.”
The Par & Grill’s location near snowmobile trails means that even during the coldest months, people from near and far will stop in to enjoy the food and conversations with friends. The couple said the restaurant’s laid-back atmosphere has kept people coming back year after year.
“It’s a place where people can relax and enjoy themselves. The friendships that have been made here are the best parts,” Judy Richards said. “If you weren’t friends with someone when you walked through the doors, you’re going to be friends when you leave.”
The Par & Grill Restaurant is located at 6 Carroll Street in Caribou. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)
