The Harpswell Schoolhouse, an upscale eatery at 506 Harpswell Neck Road, has announced that it is closing indefinitely.
In a March 16 email to patrons, the restaurant’s operators expressed gratitude toward their customers and sadness about the closure.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that the Schoolhouse will be closing its doors for the foreseeable future,” the letter says. “Serving this community has been a true privilege.”
The property and restaurant are owned by Helen Norton, a local philanthropist who also owns the Two Coves Farm property on Harpswell Neck. Two Coves, a rare example of commercial-scale agriculture in Harpswell, also shut down recently after a dispute between Norton and the farm’s operators, Laura and Joe Grady, about rent payments and other issues.
In an email, Norton said she is recovering from an accident this winter, which required her to put “everything other than recuperation on hold.”
“It is my hope that sometime in the future the restaurant will reopen,” she said. “We miss serving the public and all the customers who have been so loyal.”
The building at the corner of Harpswell Neck Road and Mountain Road housed The School House 1913 from 2019-2023. That restaurant closed after a fire broke out in an upstairs apartment in November 2023.
Norton opened the Harpswell Schoolhouse in April 2024. The business has gone through management changes and intermittent closures during its two years of operation.
“Over the years, your support, laughter, and presence helped turn the Schoolhouse into something far more meaningful than just a place to gather — it became a shared home for so many wonderful memories,” the email to customers says. “We are incredibly grateful for every visit, every conversation, and every moment you spent with us.”
