Category: Business Spotlight

New Restaurants Liven Up Sanford’s Dining Scene

OTTO Pizza is hiring for its newest location in South Sanford. Photo: Zendelle Bouchard By Zendelle Bouchard Several recent and upcoming restaurant openings are offering Sanford and Springvale residents new choices for dining out. Downtown In the Main Street Marketplace (formerly known as the Midtown Mall), Ted’s Fried Clams opened in the former home of Bubba Frye’s the last week of September and was met with such a rush of customers they ran out of food on multiple days. In…

Guerrero Maya

Brother and sister Antonio and Lusmy Zavaleta operate Guerrero Maya in Sanford. Photo: Gail Burnett Spicing up the Sanford Restaurant Scene By Gail Burnett Before he opened Guerrero Maya on School Street in early July, Antonio Zavaleta was a little concerned about how quiet downtown Sanford seemed to be. Would there be enough traffic to keep his new Mexican restaurant busy? It turned out he didn’t have to worry. Diners found their way to the former Back Street Sanford (originally…

Business Spotlight

Jeff Hanselmann Attends Culinary Institute of America Pastry Course Photo: Ayn Hanselmann By Lisa Blanchette Four years ago, Jeff Hanselmann changed careers. People do that all the time, but Jeff made a very big change during a very difficult economic time. He went from a 20-year career in construction to opening Frannie’s, a mini-donut shop on Main Street in Sanford. He didn’t have a culinary background but had the support of family and friends who helped with business management expertise. He was…

Paras Pizza: Making Pizza and Memories for 60 Years

Peter and Michelle Mitropoulos, owners of Paras Pizza, are celebrating their business’ 60th anniversary this year. Photo: Ericka Sanborn By Jenna Smith, Grade 7 - St. Thomas School “Paras Pizza is a staple in the community.” These are the first words that come to mind when Peter Mitropoulos, the current owner of Paras Pizza, reflects upon his business, which is gearing up to celebrate its 60th anniversary. That’s six decades of mouth-watering pizza, Italians and memories. Back in 1964, Peter’s…