When this family compound for sale in Lovell was a German restaurant, it was a favorite of famed Maine novelist Stephen King.
“He just really liked to frequent the place and became friends with the people that ran the restaurant there,” the property’s listing agent, Kimberly Clarke, said. “He spent time there writing and just enjoyed it.”
King, who still has a home in the western Maine town, referenced the restaurant, Melder’s German Restaurant and Brathaus, in one of his many novels, Dark Tower VII.
Melder’s was opened by Ed and Charlotte Melder in 1976, according to the Lovell Historical Society. Clarke, a broker with Keller Williams Realty, wasn’t sure when it closed. The property was sold to the current owner in 2003, and they have used it as a full-time residence.
The new owner of the 3-bedroom, 4-bathroom home was a master mason, Clarke said. He added stonework throughout the main building, redoing its facade and adding stone details in its basement. The owners built a function hall on the 4-acre property in 2015, installed new windows and appliances. They also began work on a second residence but never finished it.
All those buildings, as well as the property’s proximity to Route 5, several lakes and ponds, Sunday River, snowmobile trails and an RV hookup out back, mean that the compound could once again be used at least in part as a commercial venture, Clarke said.
The property was listed Wednesday. Within 30 minutes, the broker was receiving calls about it. One prospective buyer was interested in acquiring the property as a rental business or a place to throw weddings or events, Clarke said.
“It’s just very unique to find a property like this, that has the opportunity to either be a family home, or just a way for somebody to run a business but still live on their site,” Clarke said.
The property is on the market for $1,075,000, though more money will be needed to complete the unfinished second residence on the property as it’s only been designed and framed, Clarke said. Other attractive features include a basement bar, its large garage and lawn and only being 20 minutes from North Conway and a mile from the boat launch at Kezar Lake.
“It’s a special place. I think the owner knows literally thousands of people, because so many people would stop in and feel welcomed in this compound,” Clarke said. “I know that they’re happy to be able to introduce it to the next family that wants to go and enjoy it.”
