MADAWASKA, Maine – A St. John Valley restaurant specializing in Asian, Italian and American food has closed its Madawaska location after its founder and owner, Sami Manirath, died earlier this month in a vehicle crash.
On Wednesday, Jan, 24, Sami’s Cuisine and Cocktails announced via social media that the Madawaska location would close that day, but another location in Fort Kent will remain open.
Manirath opened the Fort Kent restaurant in late 2022 and then later opened a Madawaska location. She hosted several community events at her establishments, including “The Voice of Northern Maine,” a contest for local artists. Her death saddened many in the community.
Shortly after Manirath’s death, the business had said that it planned to keep both the Fort Kent and Madawaska locations open. But the update this week stated that it would not be sustainable to keep them open simultaneously without Manirath.
“Sami always dreamed of owning a restaurant,” the post read. “Sami’s in Fort Kent was the pride of her life and she was extremely excited to open a second site in Madawaska. With her passing, we will not be able to provide the quality and support that she would expect or want to sustain her dream.”
Roughly a dozen people were employed at the Madawaska location. The Jan. 24 post stated that many of these employees will be joining the Fort Kent team.
“We are excited for the future and look forward to serving you,” the post concluded. “Please help us to keep Sami’s dream of bringing her amazing flavors to the people of the St. John Valley alive.”
A phone call to the Fort Kent restaurant was not immediately returned.
