The new owners Bill and Karen Palladino purchased the Potting Shed from Stan and Carol Smith in January of 2003. Bill and Karen hope to bring new energy to the thriving success that is the Potting Shed. Bill and Karen are excited about the new era preparing the Potting Shed’s Staff and faculty for the opening of dinner service scheduled for mid-June 2003. Karen, a Saco, Maine native of 44 years, is well connected to the dinning needs and likes of the growing Maine public. Her organization skills honed for 10 years while employed for the US Postal Service and friendly demeanor compliment the warm friendly service already present at the Potting Shed. Bill a native of North Andover, Massachusetts, President of Mechanical Air in Lawrence, MA, a commercial heating and air conditioning service brings his many years of business experience; coupled with his families experience as restaurant owners at Boston’s Faneuil Hall Market Place to the table. Bill was also instrumental in opening and operating an USDA Production facility in Everett MA. with his brother. Bill a father of three boys who now reside in Bradford, MA.

Bill and Karen were married in July of 2002 and have enjoyed working together on the Potting Shed expansion project. Karen and Bill’s first date was at The Potting Shed. “I have a fondness of Maine and while working in Massachusetts longed to return to my roots”, states Karen. There is nothing like the peace and quite of the Lake Region, I look forward all week to coming to our cottage in Maine and relaxing by the lake” reflects Bill. “We wanted to share our love for Maine and give something back at the same time. We believe in the family values that thrive in Maine looked for a project that we could share as a family. The Potting Shed is that realization of that dream.”

The duo feel a reasonable priced quality driven restaurant in Acton Maine is an attractive feature to the evolution to the scenic area. Self-proclaimed “lovers of great comfort food", Bill and Karen profess their fondness for fresh food and their attention to detail in preparing handcrafted Seafood, Steaks in an relaxed atmosphere. “We live very close to the Potting Shed and found it difficult to travel 30 minutes for dinner and then wait in line for 45 minutes during the high season”, exclaims the personable Karen Palladino. “Introducing a fresh, satisfying dinner restaurant will fill much needed niche in Acton Maine.” “Thus far it’s been a rewarding venture,” states Bill Palladino. Potting-up excitement is not far away for this multitalented pair.